Q:  My company contracts management services to hotels and with the coronavirus, we have almost no work at the present.  My job is to schedule “freshen” crews for properties and I am very good at choosing which teams are best for which properties.  I’m sure that I’ll be out of a job soon.  What other jobs would I be able to do?

A.  You haven’t said how long you’ve worked at your current job, but you do say you are very good at it.  If you’re a good employee, there’s a possibility that you may be allowed to work in a different role for the time being so you can hang onto your job and your benefits.  Talk with your team leader or your HR manager to see what’s available.  Stay positive and polite through all your conversations so that even if they let you go, you can come back later.  If there is absolutely no chance that your company can keep you, there are some markets that are thriving during this time.
Being good at scheduling means that you are good at analyzing needs, and since you say you also take into consideration which teams to send to which properties, that indicates that you are also able to communicate well to learn what each property needs and plan around their schedules.  In the current job market, there is a tremendous need for people with your strengths and experience to assist in deliveries of all kinds.  Consider looking at major suppliers that are looking for help scheduling deliveries, i.e., Amazon, Instacart, large grocery chains, and so on and go to their websites to look for job openings.  Also go to the websites of local companies that have switched over to deliveries, including nonprofits such as food banks.  Remember, it is always important to network, so talk to people, not companies, whenever possible.

QUESTION: Should I get letters of recommendation when I apply for a new job? My old boss said she would write one for me.

ANSWER: Honestly, I do not advocate the use of unsolicited letters of recommendation. They should be provided only upon request of the employer.

Letters of recommendation are quaint holdovers from gentler times when methods of communications were slow and employers often took a long-term interest in their employees.

Going to an interview in the modern, fast-paced marketplace armed with letters of recommendation can reduce the time you have to present yourself. And if your interviewer requests them, this gives you another chance for a conversation!

QUESTION: My company eliminated my position and told me that I could use the services of an outplacement firm as part of my separation package. I don’t know what to expect, or what I should do in advance. I already have a resume. Should I still contact the outplacement firm?

ANSWER: Yes, you should absolutely contact the outplacement firm! There is much more to outplacement than… Read more.