My Contract is Ending: Now What?
As the saying goes, “All good things come to an end.”
Approaching the end of your contract is not always an easy task, especially when the future lies in uncertainty and you haven’t found the next job yet.
When approaching the end of your contract, the best thing to do is just sit down, plan an action of an attack and follow through with it. This can be done in small increments - as undertaking a large goal can be quite overwhelming.
For me specifically, my overarching goal is to find another reliable employment opportunity. My sub-goals include:
1) Updating my resume to reflect current skills
I am setting aside time at home to casually tweak my resume. The main one is very broad but concise, but lines can be added or removed depending on the specific job I am applying to.
2) Updating cover letter to correspond with resume
I am also setting aside time at home to update the cover letter and have tweaked it to match the requirements of the job I have applied to.
Your cover letter will need to match the same font and formatting as your resume. Having worked in Human Resources in the past, I’ve seen recruiters screen out applicants just for the formatting alone.
3) Maintaining existing relationships
I’ve made friends and acquaintances across many environments. It can be quite hard to make sure that people remember you, so do your best to say “hello” if you see these people or send a quick email to catch up on “old times.”
This was something I mostly maintained while working but still struggle with sometimes as everyone has varying schedules!
Plus, it helps to directly let your immediate friends know that you are on the prowl for new jobs!
4) Networking to curate new relationships
On the weekends, I am attempting to immerse myself in networking events from my local and former university. They have alumni events, so I’ve been attending events just to rub shoulders with others. I’m not really doing this to get a job, I just like the idea of learning new perspectives from others!
If it helps me find a job, I’m all the more welcome to it.
5) Immersing oneself in casual volunteer opportunities
You’re probably wondering: why would I do this? I’ve always been a lifelong learner. I’ve always maintained some level of volunteerism outside of working hours. I’ve amplified my interest in joining more groups in the community for four reasons:
- It gives me transferable skills into the job I want (for example, data entry).
- It gives me opportunities to network with like-minded individuals for a noble cause.
- It pads my resume in case I don’t find a job right away.
- It allows me to explain to prospective recruiters if there are any gaps in your resume.
6) Staying in touch with the Recruiter/Hiring Manager
Be transparent. Let the recruiter or manager know that you are still interested in working with them.
Overall, here is to hoping that both you and I will find something. If you’re not feeling motivated, make sure to reward yourself, take it easy and enjoy life (in between job applications of course).
