Covid Job Search

Submitted by Rob Mapley

Shifting careers in the midst of a pandemic

Just about everyone has a COVID story. My wife, Heidi, and I are no different. 

As working parents with two kids, a daughter in college and a son in high school, we never expected to find either one of us, let alone both of us, looking for a new job in the midst of a pandemic. But here we are. Both of us have been laid off, so we're looking for work. Our attitudes? Bring it on!

One of our children has been schooling from home for a while, and the other just arrived home from college and will be staying through the New Year's holiday. So we're organizing for success ... which just happens to be Heidi's specialty. Here's our plan of attack which other working parents may find useful as we all strive to juggle supporting our online students with working from home (or in our case looking for work from home). 
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• Exercise
  I walk. A lot. My dog Presley joins me and together we hit the streets. It clears my head and gets my creative juices flowing. Meanwhile, Heidi does burpees, squats, lunges, and other physical activities at our local gym's daily boot camps. These activities keeps her in shape, motivated, and mentally fit.
  
  
• Apply 
  Our LinkedIn profiles and resumes are updated.
  Our cover letters ready to be customized and delivered based on opportunities.
  Job boards like ZipRecruiter, Indeed , and Vitamin T are checked daily. 
  
  
• Network
  We're reaching out to our contacts for leads and asking them for assistance as we apply for positions, especially when they're able to act as references with hiring managers.

 
These tried and true techniques have always worked in the past, and most people we know would agree that 2020 has been a very different year. We believe that we may need to wash our hands of the 'tried' and social distance ourselves away from some of the 'true' and mask up some modern approaches as we navigate new careers during this time.

Rob Mapley is a father, husband, and brand/advertising professional. He has Agency experience as an Associate Global Account Director for Chevrolet and OEM experience as a Marketing & Incentives Manager for Chrysler. Rob earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Oakland University in Michigan. 

Heidi Mapley is a mother, wife, and an operations / administrative / project management professional who has worked in a variety of industry fields. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University. 

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