Laid Off During The Pandemic?
By: Sheila Musgrove
Tags: Resume Writing, Job Hunting, Career Advice, Resume, Jobs

Laid Off During The Pandemic?

Illustration by the talented Bro Ojrot.

I’d admit it. When the pandemic hit Canada in mid-March, I think we were all a little scared. I sure was.

I have a staffing and recruitment firm. The only way my company makes money is if I get people out to work. Overnight, I saw my business start to dwindle. I knew that if I was feeling worried, there would be loads of others feeling the same way.

I felt I needed to do something.

Something to help the loads of people who were laid off as a result of the pandemic — and the loads more that were frightful of losing their job at any moment.

Back in April, I launched a webinar series for job seekers. The content was based on my first book, “Hired! How To Get The Zippy Gig. Insider Secrets From A Top Recruiter.” I’ve delivered my lively action-packed, in-person keynote to well over 5000 job seekers throughout Canada and the USA.

I chopped my keynote into three, lively (yes, resume writing & interviewing webinars can be lively!) 30-minute webinars. I thought I’d deliver the series once and we’d be done with the pandemic and back to business as usual. Boy, was I wrong!

20 webinars later — I’m thrilled to have had nearing 1000 job seekers from around the world on my webinars. Attendees joined from throughout Canada, the USA, France, Germany, England, Bermuda and even Japan.

It felt good to help alleviate some of the stress of job searching.

I started each webinar with the message of “let’s focus on the things we can control.” We can control what your resume looks like and how well you interview. Those are the things that will help you to be hired. Let’s get you ready for when companies are hiring again. Set a bit of the worry aside. For now.

Hiring managers and recruiters like to see current dates on your resume. If you were laid off at the beginning of the pandemic, your last role would have been 9 months ago. That’s a bit of time.

Here’s the thing. You likely haven’t been binge-watching Netflix throughout the last 9 months. GRIN.

In my resume and interview coaching program — I’ve worked with job seekers who’ve done some incredible things during the last 9 months.

I’ll bet you have too!

Have you:

Home schooled your kids?

Started on a fitness program?

Learned how to do a home renovation project using You Tube?

Taken on an extensive gardening project?

Took on line courses or done volunteer work to do a career pivot?

Started a new business?

Learned a new language?

Rather than leaving that big blank on your resume — write this on your resume:

COVID Lay Off — and then add the dates — March 2020 — present

And, list your achievements. We all know how hard these last 9 months have been if you’ve been out of work. Talk about all of the things you have accomplished. Be proud of what you’ve done outside of your traditional career. You’re showing a hiring manager that you’re resilient and creative during these times.

Thank you for reading! I’m re-running my “Hired!” webinar series in January. Here’s the link to register: https://tinyurl.com/y7pqao4o Please share freely.