
With upheaval in the federal government, many workers are now hunting for jobs in a landscape that involves online applications, social media and video interviews. For some, the job search may differ drastically from what it was like when they last embarked on one.
It can be difficult to even begin the process, especially for anyone dealing with a range of emotions in the aftermath of a firing. J. Gerald Suarez, professor of the practice in systems thinking and design at the Smith School, says feelings of confusion during times of ambiguity require strategic focus. Reevaluating your options “will redirect your attention away from unproductive worry and shift your thinking toward potential benefits. Reframing forces reflection and can spark a reassessment of your future.”
People instinctively try to be strong and steady when faced with a challenge, but Suarez believes the opposite should be true. The greater the force felt from the environment, the greater the need for malleability and flexibility. This belief is echoed by Kerry Kidwell-Slak, senior director of graduate career coaching in Smith’s Office of Career Services (OCS). She says recently fired federal employees should, “Stop, pause, think and reflect.” She says ask yourself, “What are you most proud of and what did you most enjoy doing in your past jobs? Maybe it’s a chance to say ‘what if I did something new and reinvented myself,’ while leveraging the things you enjoyed in previous jobs to move in a new direction and do something different.”
Widely cited Smith research has determined that artificial intelligence is the fastest growing job sector in the United States. In May, the Smith School launched a free, online certificate program in Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment, created to benefit federal workers but open to anyone looking for their next career opportunity.
There are 10 modules in the course and OCS Assistant Dean Kim Rice DeGross, BSOS ’87, JD ’90, hosts the module on Job Search in the Age of AI. “It features four recruiters from big companies giving advice on what to do to find a job amidst an unexpected career shift,” she says. They talk about making sure you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile that has descriptions of past jobs that speak to the skills you bring to the table. “Not just what you did, but what were the outcomes? What did that successful project lead to?”
Both DeGross and Kidwell-Slak recommend using AI to help explore new career opportunities. Let it create questions that help you prepare for a job interview and use it to refine your resume and correct grammatical errors in both your resume and cover letter. However, DeGross cautions against using the technology to write cover letters. Employers want to know your authentic story. “That has to come from you,” she says.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.