Author Jennifer Folsom is partnering with Know Your Value’s A-list roster of experts to launch REBOOT Camp, a series featuring women who have lost their jobs amid Covid-19 and are struggling with their employment search amid uncertain times.
We are following their journeys, their highs, and lows, in hopes that sharing their experience will help others looking to reboot their careers as well.
When we last checked in with our Rebooters, we saw the rollercoaster of each of their job search experiences. Every job search runs the gamut of emotions, but like everything else during Covid-19, they seem to be magnified.
Tonya Johnson, a former federal contracts manager with years of experience, thought she would have no problem getting a new role right away. But she quickly found she wasn’t getting many bites on her applications. Anne Nichelson, a single mom in Massachusetts who worked with non-profit organizations, continued to do all the right things, like growing her network and scheduling informational interviews, but wasn’t getting enough potential new opportunities in her “job pipeline” to get to the right role. And Dana Taylor wasn’t quite sure where to begin in her search for an organizational development or leadership position, particularly while supervising virtual kindergarten for her 5-year-old daughter.
We connected these Rebooters with experts in job search strategy, resume writing and communication. As a result, their searches got better, and they became more focused and realistic about their options. But like the 2.4 million women in the U.S. who have lost their jobs during this pandemic, they still find themselves unemployed.
My advice to them – and to you, if your struggling with your own search – is to remember that you can do all the “right” things and not feel immediate success. According to Indeed, a global job board and career resource website, the average job search is nine weeks. And what we’re seeing anecdotally, it can be even longer during a pandemic. But don’t give up. It’s important to manage your expectations, and make a plan for getting through a longer-than-hoped-for period of joblessness.
For example, I recently spoke with Johnson and her frustration was palpable. “I keep talking to companies who want me in the office, five days a week, with a really long commute and a significant pay cut,” she said. We discussed a few different strategies, and I pointed her to LinkedIn’s free Job Seekers resources. Not only free, these resources show job seekers how to best use the LinkedIn platform to connect with recruiters and hiring managers and provide the much-needed “behind-the-scenes” do’s and don’ts of what these employers want to see.
When I checked back in with her a week later, Johnson had two great interviews that resulted in second interviews, both for roles with compensation at or near her most recent level and that were going to stay remote. “I don’t mind a minor pay cut if I’m not commuting two hours a day,” Johnson admitted.
Likewise, Nichelson continues to network, apply, and interview with organizations and roles in the community impact and social responsibility space. She is the embodiment of staying positive. “It’s really helped that the boys are back to school now,” said Nichelson. “I have solid blocks of time where I can really focus on the search and make those important connections.”
And as a result of her introductory post, Taylor has reconnected with a number of individuals who are eager to help guide and support her job search. “People kind of came out of the woodwork, and everyone wants to be helpful,” said Taylor. “I felt a lot more comfortable telling my story, and being able to describe what it is that I am looking for in my next role, as well as talking about the kind of work-life flexibility I am going to need.”
If you also find your job search dragging on, here are five strategies to keep the momentum going.









