Did You Lose Your Job During COVID-19? Here’s What to Do

First of all, know that you’re not alone in this. About 20.6 million Americans have lost their jobs during the pandemic, taking the unemployment rate up to 14.7%, (highest since The Great Depression in the 30s).

The number of lost jobs is also higher than that of the Great Recession in 2007-09, when 8.7 million US citizens became unemployed. Another report states that the jobless rate is higher than in the post-WW2 period, which was estimated to be 10.8% in 1982.

Hence, it’s clear that the Americans have never had such a drastic collapse in the economy before. If you have lost your job during the pandemic, there’s no need to get devastated, as you’re anything but alone. Once you get the confidence that you can improve your current status, getting employed again won’t seem that impossible.

However, you need a lot of things besides motivation to get on with it. Let’s help you in that regard.

File for unemployment benefits immediately
This is the foremost step you can take at this moment. Even if you haven’t been completely laid off by your current employer, you can apply for these benefits that may help your situation a little. Although the process differs from one state to another, the compensation from the government can be as high as half the money you were making at the job. This apart, you can also make more money under certain conditions like family responsibilities and dependents. Further, the CARES (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security) Act offers additional benefits to eligible individuals, so make it a point to apply as early as possible.

Contact your insurer and seek financial assistance
The next important step that you should take is getting in touch with your insurer and ask them if they can pause the premium for the moment to help you overcome the financial hurdles. Opt for financial assistance programs, if there’s any. As COVID-19 has thrown many businesses off balance, there’s a rise in empathetic behavior among the professionals, which you can vouch for. If you share a good relationship with your insurer, they may even issue a waiver without fulfilling the primary conditions, like being unemployed for a specified period.

Utilize your time and upgrade your skills
Prevent going into depression and utilize your time and resources effectively in upgrading your skills for a new job. People are still being hired in the emergency departments and essential service areas, so you can try your luck in them if your budget is tight and needs are high. However, if you have enough savings in your bank, you can sit back and take some time out to invest in upgrading your skills or reskilling. This certainly increases your chances of employability when things get better. Learn a new language or take a professional course to up your skills online. You can also reconstruct your resume according to the jobs available at the moment, especially if your qualifications match their eligibility criteria.

Keep a tab on job postings
It’s not that the job portals are all taking an indefinite break just because fewer jobs are available at the moment. Take a look at some of these portals and register there to get regular updates on available job vacancies. As the notifications start pouring in, you’ll feel more confident and get the energy to start looking for a new job even during the crisis. Don’t forget to tweak your resume a bit and update it according to your last experience. Also, mention the reason for losing your job as ‘COVID-19’, so that your potential employers understand your current status better.

Look for open roles
Owing to the threats of community transmission of the virus, a lot of remote jobs are opening up. If applicable to you, look for open job roles that give you the scope to work from home. Many organizations are taking temporary contract-based employees to complete certain pending tasks, and this is the right time for you to apply for the same. Stay safely at home, spend time with your family, and earn. If you have been planning to start a freelancing career for some time, this is the time to embark on the journey, provided you have enough savings to meet your expenses for a few months, at least.

Also Read: 10 Remote Working Jobs That Are High in Demand

Get comfortable with video interviews
Many people suffer from photo consciousness, which renders them somewhat incapable of staring at a camera and speaking fluently. As most of the communications are being conducted through videos these days, you should get used to the same to ace your interviews with confidence. Practice mock interviews online and ask someone, a friend or relative, to volunteer as an interviewer for the same. You can also start practicing for video interviews by speaking in front of the mirror and garner the confidence required to face a team of hiring managers online. This is one of the important skills that you should adapt to get a job during the pandemic.

Also Read: 10 Tips to Help You Ace an Online Interview Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

Wrapping it up
Pandemic or not, losing a job is never the end of the world. However, in the current situation, every employer is aware of the reasons for high such unemployment rate, so you don’t have to seek refuge in lies to explain your position. All you have to do is pull up your socks and get updated with the current trends to improve your eligibility for a new role.

Just stay calm, have patience, and keep searching. Who knows, you may even land your dream job soon!