Anxious about the Unpredictable Job Market? Don’t Be Scared; Be Prepared

By Christina McKenna

For months, economists and market watchers have been warning that a recession is on the horizon. Now, a growing number of layoffs, buyout offers, and hiring freezes seem to give credence to these predictions, and point to a recession coming sooner rather than later.

At Bluestone, we’ve seen our own indications that disruption in the labor market is underway, with an uptick in executives seeking our advice not only on positioning their organizations, but also on positioning their careers amid the fallout. 

Executives know that when it comes to running a company, the best way to survive disruption is to prepare for it. And they recognize that the same is true on a smaller scale, when it comes to managing one’s own career.

Here are five ways you can protect your career by following the playbook savvy corporations­–and their leaders–use to ensure that no matter what comes their way, they’re positioned to come out on top.

1.  Be ready to define your “brand.” Spend a bit of time examining what three or four skills, strengths, or attributes best define the value you bring, based on your achievements, technical skills, education, and experience. These are the “brand elements” you should be reinforcing on a regular basis, whether you’re looking for a job or holding steady where you are. Now look at these brand elements through the lens of the emerging economy (where technology, agility, flexibility, and collaboration have added importance.) Consider whether you need to adjust any elements to better align with where you can bring value in the future.

2.  Assess your social media. When it comes to communicating about your career, your LinkedIn profile is prime. So, leverage your LinkedIn profile page and the format’s other features to highlight your accomplishments and show you’re interested in future-facing aspects of your industry. Then scrutinize your other social media accounts (which are easily searchable by hiring managers and everyone else) to ensure they don’t undermine, but rather, reinforce the brand elements you’re trying to convey.

3.  Update and align traditional marketing assets. Take a critical look at your resume, work samples, and (if you’re in a creative field) your website, making sure these critical assets are up to date, have a modern feel, and emphasize the brand elements you’ve determined best distinguish your value. Add, subtract, and adjust components of each to show that you understand what’s most relevant to the modern work world and that you’re ready to play an important part.

4.  Activate your network. When it comes to making a hiring decision, often references carry more weight than anything. Think about who you know who carries influence in your sphere and consider whether you can enlist these people to vouch for your value and attributes. If you know them well enough to impose a bit further, consider arming them with information on the brand elements you most want to convey, to be sure they’re ready to reinforce the brand you’ve carefully outlined and emphasized across your marketing assets, social media, and all else.

5.  Be your own best advertising. If you’re working, look for ways to bring added value, especially in areas that align with your brand elements. But whether you’re currently employed or not, be ready to sum up your “brand” with one or two sentences that describe what you do and, more importantly, what you’re ready to do next.

Want more help preparing for what changes might come your way? Click here to access our Disruption Readiness Plan, a great first step in ensuring you’re ready for whatever the job market brings your way.

Give it a try and let us know if it works for you or if something else has worked better. For more great ideas and tips for rock solid communication, visit us at bluestoneexec.com.