WIB-Greater Boston: From Layoff to Liftoff – Leveraging Your Network and Resume for Career Success

On May 5, we hosted a virtual event to give people on the job market (especially those recently laid off) actionable steps to help on the job hunt and stand out in today's competitive job market through personal branding and networking. Approximately 100 people joined as Drew Rennie and Chris Passmore from TSP Talent Solutions launched into a discussion of the current job market landscape and actionable items people could take to find their next position. Throughout the presentation, Chris and Drew answered questions in the chat, and, at the end of the presentation, invited the audience to ask questions both in the chat and live, graciously staying online overtime to give advice and address concerns about finding a job in the current market. 

Chris and Drew stressed that connection is key to finding their next job and were encouraged to reach out to reconnect with previous acquaintances or colleagues, connect with recruiters, and attend events that let them network. Focusing on human connection is essential to make interactions more memorable. This is done by being curious and thinking, "How can I build this relationship?" and always following up after a conversation. Develop a brand and have an elevator pitch that can be naturally incorporated into conversations, telling people: who you are, what you do, what you're passionate about, and what you're looking for in your next role/career. 

Attendees were most surprised by the advice to use the "open to work" tag on their LinkedIn profile to help them find their next position. In the chat, they brought up a lot of mixed advice about whether or not the tag helps, including some concerns about it being a deterrent. Chris and Drew went into an in-depth explanation of how recruiters use the tag to identify people to contact about employment opportunities. Both Drew and Chris conveyed an optimistic attitude, reminding attendees that even though there is a lot of uncertainty in the job market, there are jobs and opportunities out there, and to take risks by reaching out to people in different organizations (companies, recruiters) because people want to help.

Submitted by Emily Scott-Solomon