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There's a lot of uncertainty around jobs right now. 

U.S. employers slashed more than 170,000 jobs last month — the biggest February total since 2009, which was in the midst of the Great Recession. Thousands of federal workers have been fired and thousands more are fearful their job could be next. 

Avery Bardell, workforce development manager with 

, which offers job training and career support, told MPR News preparation is key in this turbulent and anxiety-inducing time. 

“We all like a resume that looks really good, is formatted beautifully. I think of that as ‘for the human eyes resume,’” Bardell explained. The second should have no formatting, “so the AI doesn't get tripped up by bullet points, by lines and bolding and things like that.”

“Networking is good for you, but networking is also good for the people that you're connecting with,” Bardell said. 

Frequent networking connects you with your fellows, keeps you up-to-date on your industry and can link you to job openings. 

“So I wouldn't think about networking with your peers, with your friends, as, ‘Oh, I'm only doing this because I am potentially going to get laid off and I need a job,’” she continued. “70% of job offers that happen are not through cold, online applications. They're actually through networking.” 

“Everyone in a different [stage] of their career has different challenges,” Bardell said. “If you've been in your career longer and you're more experienced, a big challenge is making sure to find a company that respects and appreciates your experience and expertise.”

Some companies invest time in college career fairs, attracting new hires who they can mold into their ideal employee, she said. Many small-to-mid-sized companies prefer applicants with prior experience. 

Bardell suggests looking at companies that both align with your values and appreciate the experience you have. And again, networking is your friend. 

Cathy Wurzer

Host

Gracie  Stockton

Author

Avery Bardell, workforce development manager with Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota, which offers job training and career support, told MPR News preparation is key in this turbulent and anxiety-inducing time. 

Avery Bardell, workforce development manager with Goodwill Easter Seals, which offers job training and career support, told MPR News preparation is key in this turbulent and anxiety-inducing time.

As federal firings stir uncertainty, here's expert advice to prep for a potential job loss

Protest-Washington-DC-OPM-against-Layoffs-and-Musk

As federal firings stir uncertainty, here's expert advice to prep for a potential job loss

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