If you unexpectedly lost your job tomorrow, would you be prepared to cope with the consequences?
Losing your job can be debilitating. If you are facing an unplanned career transition, you may be dealing with the loss of identity associated with your former position. There is often a period of shock followed by mourning and even depression.
Let the American Geophysical Union (AGU) be a resource for you. We offer a wide array of resources for members and nonmembers alike. Whether you are currently unemployed or want to be prepared for the unexpected, AGU’s unemployment resources will reduce the impact of any workforce displacement.
It is important that job seekers stay engaged. AGU can help facilitate the transition back into the workforce. With a community of more than 60,000 professionals in the Earth and space sciences, AGU is a key tool in the job seeker’s toolbox. Here are five steps to take after losing a job, along with AGU resources to help you.
1. Stay Current
Stay up to date in your field by reading AGU’s open access articles in GeoHealth, Earth and Space Science, Earth’s Future, and Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. In addition, all AGU articles published in 1997 and after are open access 24 months after online publication.
Stay current with the latest news in Earth and space science with Eos.org and Eos Buzz alerts. Keeping engaged will help you stay relevant so that you can provide meaningful contributions during an interview or a networking meeting.
2. Make Yourself Visible
AGU members seeking employment are encouraged to create a profile on the Career Center job board. Creating a profile will allow you to search and respond to job listings, upload and instantly transfer your resumé to recruiters and hiring managers, and set up notifications when jobs meet your search criteria. In addition, creating a profile that includes your CV or resumé will allow our participating recruiters to find you by searching our job seeker database.
Students may be disproportionally hard hit by increased competition for employment. Gaining practical experience through internships or even temporary contractor positions can boost your skills and get your foot in the door. Internships and contracted positions give you experience, allow you to demonstrate your capabilities, and allow you to try out an organization’s work environment. AGU connects students with internships and other employment opportunities via the Career Center job board.
3. Expand Your Network
Networking is vital to the job hunt. AGU meetings and conferences are great venues for connecting with new professional contacts or reconnecting with previously forged ones.
If you plan to attend Fall Meeting, make sure to stop by AGU’s Recruiters Row, a vibrant part of the Exhibit Hall, where you can interview with prospective employers and network with company representatives. In addition, in the AGU Career Center, you can gain essential job search skills, have your resumé reviewed, or practice interviewing.
Being active in the AGU community by attending Fall Meeting can help grow professional networks and increase opportunities to discover available positions. For virtual opportunities, join the AGU group on LinkedIn and take part in discussions on the AGU Connect-β platform.
4. Hone Your Professional Skills
AGU Webinars broadcast live each Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at no cost. AGU Webinars provide useful skills and training for Earth and space scientists. Topics include career development, science communication, and science policy. Every third Thursday features a professional development topic. Webinar recordings are posted online approximately 1 week after the initial broadcast. See webinars.agu.org for a list of upcoming and archived topics.
AGU’s On the Job blog features career advice and workforce guidance to geoscience students, early-career scientists, and established professionals interested in pursuing professional enrichment. You can also visit Eos Career Tools & Resources for a collection of job search and professional development advice articles curated by the Eos editorial team.
5. Ask for Help
One of the most intensive resources AGU offers is the Job Seekers Group, where currently unemployed members virtually meet each week to discuss strategies that will help them find and secure that fulfilling position. During each meeting, time is allocated to discuss the progress and struggles of each member and to share suggestions for overcoming barriers. If you are interested in joining, email [email protected].
AGU is here for you and committed to supporting our members during tumultuous times. With a vibrant, helpful, and well-connected Earth and space science community and an array of career resources, we can help you minimize the impact of a job loss and secure a new position.
If you find yourself facing unemployment, remember to utilize our resources to help get you back on your feet. For a full listing of unemployment resources, visit unemployed.agu.org.
—Leslie Marasco (email: [email protected]), AGU Student Programs Coordinator; David Harwell, AGU Talent Pool Director; and Nathaniel Janick, AGU Career Services Coordinator
Citation:
Marasco, L.,Harwell, D., and Janick, N. (2017), Unemployed? AGU can help, Eos, 98, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017EO077119. Published on 30 June 2017.
Text © 2017. The authors. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
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