Turning Time Out of Work from Pain to Gain — 5 Ways to Capitalize on Time for Professional Development

Losing your job can feel like losing your purpose in life.  You used to have a list of urgent tasks driving you from the moment you woke up throughout the entire day.  Now, you wake up, watch the Today Show and then drag yourself back to the job search.  It’s no wonder you’re dreading each new day.  It’s like a slow, painful death of your professional self.  If this sounds like what you’ve been going through, don’t despair.  You’re not alone, and there is a better way.

Instead of listening to the traditional view that your job search must be a full-time endeavor, try spending part of each day focusing on developing your professional competencies and network.  This is an opportunity to invest in your own professional development since you never had the time when you were on the job.

Build your professional network.

Except for those in sales, we tend to miss the regular association meetings and after-work get-togethers with our coworkers and professional colleagues.  Your network is one of your most valuable tools in a job search, as well as in your ongoing career, so taking time to build it and nurture it will pay off for quite some time to come.  Attend association meetings and/or events.  Volunteer on committees to build deeper relationships within your peer group.

Venture into the world of social networking.  Blogging has become an incredibly easy way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise to a wide audience.  Take some time to familiarize yourself with the format and process for blogging, and then have at it.  Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites to promote your blogs and join discussions with people of similar interests.  These sites are becoming increasingly popular with recruiters, too, so you may even come to the attention of someone who can help you secure the next position.

Learn new skills and competencies.

Do an honest evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses, especially from the perspective of a prospective employer.  This is a perfect time to work on your weaker areas.  You can do internet research and participate in social networking discussions; read books and professional journals; and participate in free webinars and attend workshops, seminars or classes to increase your understanding of specific subject matters.

Achieve additional degrees and/or certifications.

If finances allow, this is also an excellent time to further your formal learning.  Adding a new degree or professional certification makes you that much more attractive as a job search candidate.  So, if there is an area of your expertise that you would like to highlight to prospective employers, especially if it’s an area in which you have little or no practical experience, this is an excellent search strategy.

Take on temporary projects to gain new experience, even if it’s on a volunteer basis.

You can also increase your professional experience by taking on volunteer projects that demonstrate skills and attributes desired by employers, whether these are technical or general in nature.  For example, most employers value project management skills, teamwork, leadership, and communication skills, all of which are generally transferable skills that can be developed in short-term project work.  There are many non-profit organizations that will benefit greatly from the volunteer efforts of people who are in transition and seeking to be productive.  Not only will you have the ability to continue developing your skills and capabilities, but you’ll also get a strong sense of accomplishment and value from the experience.

Reassess your career goals and research interesting companies to continue your targeted job search.

Sometimes people get on a career path by accident, and this is your opportunity to make sure your next step will take you toward a conscious career objective.  You may reaffirm that you’re in the right field and just focus on what will be the right next position.  Or, you may decide that you want to make an industry shift or a broader career change.  Whatever you decide, having a clear career plan will help you work toward a targeted position, rather than just taking the first position that comes available.

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In addition to the benefits of each of the activities described above, you will find that the greatest benefit is the emotional lift you will feel when you make your own development a primary goal of your time in transition.  Instead of feeling like a loser, as so many of us  do when out of work, you’re likely to feel more confident in your potential value to the next employer, and believe me, confidence sells.