The title picture is from Visual China, this article is from WeChat public account: FastCompany (ID: FCChinese) , author: Elizabeth Saige Lan, translation: Limei Yu

The epidemic pressed the pause button for the global economy: from Austria to the United States, the number of unemployed surged everywhere, reflecting from one side the worst economic recession in peacetime since the 1930s. The ILO warns that if the epidemic is not controlled, nearly 25 million people worldwide may lose their jobs.

The data released by the U.S. Department of Labor on April 2 shows that as of March 28, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits for the first time in the United States reached a record 6.648 million, more than double the 3.3 million in the previous week, which is far higher. Yu economists forecast. In just two weeks, nearly 10 million people in the United States have applied for unemployment benefits for the first time, highlighting the rapid deterioration of the labor market.

In the face of the strongest wave of unemployment in history, how can ordinary working-class people survive the crisis? How to find another way out after being forced out of work? Recently, Fast Company’s special contributor Elizabeth Segeran (ElizabethSegran) in her new book “Year of Ascension”, based on her own The experience has brought some useful suggestions to people facing employment choices.

The following is the text:

Seeing the global economy stepping into recession step by step, many people worry that their careers will be off track due to a financial crisis. I understand this mood.

Last economic recession (Started in 2007, which triggered the 2008 financial crisis) After IAfter graduating from graduate school, determined to become a professor of Indian literature, but the job market at that time (especially academia) the situation is grim. I applied for every academic position in my field, but there is no following. This incident hit me hard. Over the years, I have been dedicated to pursuing my academic dreams. Now, it is difficult for me to believe that I can enjoy any other job. I complained about myself for a while, but soon, I cheered up and started applying for other positions. During the economic downturn, in order to accumulate experience and earn money, I did a lot of work in different industries. This tortuous journey took me to “Fast Company”, where I happily worked as a special writer for six years.

My story is not uncommon. A few days ago, my new work “Year of Ascension” (The Rocket Years: How Your Twenties Launch the Rest of Your Life) was published. In the process of writing this book, I explored how laborers can successfully survive the financial crisis, such as the period we are currently entering. After digging a lot of economic research literature, I found that economic recession often causes workers to change jobs frequently, they are forced to leave their original positions, experience a period of unemployment, and then assume new roles, some jobs for them It is overkill. Although the process of frequent job-hopping is exhausting, in the long run, this may be a strategy for finding a good job.

The benefits of job-hopping

There are certain benefits to doing many jobs in a short period of time. You can quickly collect knowledge about various career paths. You can acquire specific skills in a company, such as programming, event planning or budgeting, even if you do not plan to stay in this industry for a long time. One of the biggest setbacks for newcomers in the workplace is the inability to accumulate experience because of no employment experience. Job-hopping can help you overcome this vicious circle.

After graduating from graduate school, I often wonder if job-hopping is harmful to my career. I worry that in the eyes of future employers, I may appear impetuous and aimless. But in fact, many employers do not particularly care about job applicants ’resumes that list many jobs. A survey of 300 human resource managers found that only when the candidate changed jobs 5 times within 10 years (Well above average) , recruiters will start to be surprised.

In fact, even if the economy is in good condition, it is normal for workers to change jobs frequently. A survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that Americans who are currently approaching retirement are on average 11.9 jobs between the ages of 1 and 50, and nearly half of the jobs were completed before the age of 25. Workers between the ages of 25 and 34, on average, only work for three years.

Economists agree that it is wise to quit a job to pursue a job that suits you better, especially in the early stages of your career. Each new job will bring you one step closer to your ideal job. Economists also cited other benefits: changing jobs will allow you to acquire a variety of skills, which will be more attractive in the eyes of future employers; it will also help expand your professional network and help you find the next jobs.

However, changing jobs too often can create uncertainty and anxiety, which is an indisputable fact. Young workers are able to deal with these challenges relatively calmly because they are unlikely to bear the burden of family and economics. But as you get older, this process will make you more and more tired. Another interesting finding is that people who frequently change jobs tend to have more negative attitudes towards current jobs or companies. Some economists believe that people who are always looking for new opportunities elsewhere often do not have time to appreciate the positive side of any job.

Big material and small use

In our entire career, sometimes resigning to find another high is not a choice, but a need. This may mean that you must accept a job that does not match your talents.

If you cannot find a job in your favorite field, then you may have to choose a new industry. Restarting usually means that you must start at the grassroots level and accept a job that is overkill for you. Economists call this “underemployment”, which means that the formal education you received, your skills or work experience exceeded the level required by the job. Researchers estimate that depending on different economic conditions, 10% to 40% of young people in underdeveloped countries are underemployed at any time. This ratio is quite high. Data shows that people who are not fully employed are very satisfied with their jobs. This is, of course, a Qu’s job every day, and it is really hard to be satisfied in this kind of life.