Last weekend I had the pleasure of conducting a virtual brunch via Instagram Live on our By Her Own Rules handle (please go follow us) to discuss ‘How to Pivot in Your Career During a Recession.’ Those who’ve recently lost a job, seeking new opportunities and/or desire to launch a business were encouraged to join the discussion. Global Career Development Consultant, Chandria Lucious Harris, also joined us to provide her expert opinion on best practices in order to do all of the above.
The conversation was well received. So much so, I wanted to provide you with some key takeaways:
- Given the current economic climate, Harris suggested you take a moment, take a deep breath, and put your worries aside for a moment. What’s happening in the global market right now is not your fault. Taking a deep breath may also assist with any feelings of anxiousness.
- In order to position yourself to pivot into a new role or field, analyze your soft and hard skills that are transferable across functions and industries.
- Leverage Google search to find examples of soft and hard skills, in case you’re wondering what they are, and begin to update your resume.
- If you’re considering starting a business, you must first identify the need for that business. Are you interested in starting a product based or a service business? Think about what problem you would be solving or how you could differentiate yourself from the competition in a saturated market.
- LinkedIn is the #1 job market platform so you should create a profile, if you don’t already have one, update it, and build relationships in your industry. Don’t be afraid to make introductions with people you’ve connected with or want to connect with in your industry or companies you’re looking into. They could be potential colleagues or clients.
- Nothing beats determination. Determination and having the right attitude and approach can open more doors than just your skill-set and education.
- In order to successfully navigate corporate culture you must first learn what your company’s corporate culture is. Learn their systems and processes. Assess and understand the dynamics and where your role and contributions fit into the overall division and company goals. Be someone who comes up with solutions and ideas to reach goals for your individual, division and overall company success. It may be the key difference in having a career and not just a job.
We hope you find these tips useful and can apply them to reach your own career goals. Also, here’s a list of companies currently hiring despite the pandemic.
Download the full list of companies hiring now
Meet our guest speaker Chandria Lucious Harris:
Chandria Lucious Harris (@thegethiredguru) is a Global Career Development Consultant and Certified Career Services Provider who has served in roles both at Fortune 500 companies and in higher education. She is a certified professional resume writer with over 5 years of experience in recruitment and Leadership & Development.
Chandria holds a Masters Degree in Counseling/Psychology from the University of West Alabama and a Bachelors of Science in Social Science from Mississippi University for Women. Recently recognized as Nashville 100’s Top HR Training and Development Professionals, and featured on national syndicated news stations and talk shows (Sister Circle) in several magazines ( Rollingout, Black Enterprise, Madame CJ Walker’s Legacy Foundation) for her relevant career insight and advice, Mrs. Chandria Harris is committed to helping professionals of color discover their talents and land desirable career opportunities.
