Covid-19

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How To Successfully Change Careers After A Layoff

For most workers, being laid off or furloughed is a scary thought, and, unfortunately, this scary thought became a reality for many professionals who had their jobs impacted by COVID-19 and the recession that followed. However, for some, losing their job is the push they need to make a career change.

It's not as crazy as it sounds!

Some people need a change but are too afraid to make one, and losing their job is the perfect opportunity to do so. In addition, many workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis may find it difficult to get back into the industries they were working in.

Making a career change isn't easy, but with an organized approach, it can be done successfully. It won't happen overnight, but with patience and commitment, you can ultimately end up in a better place.

Here's what you need to know about the career change process as you embark on the job hunt after a layoff...

Commit To A Career Change Plan

Before committing to a career change, make sure you're ready to close the door on your current career.

A career change should not be an impulse decision or strictly driven by the trauma of a layoff. So, it's important to take some time to really think things over.

But if your decision comes from a prolonged period of career unhappiness, then the time may be right.

Identify the new industry that you're looking to get into and then create an interview bucket list of 10-12 companies where you would like to work. Take a self-inventory of yourself and identify the transferable skills you possess that would also apply well to this new industry. Identify where you need to upskill.

What skills are you missing for this new position? Come up with a plan for gaining these skills. Attend training courses, workshops, classes, or certification opportunities.

Changing Careers Is About Who You Know

Man talks to a colleague about making a career change

Now that you've drafted a career change plan, the real challenge begins: building your network.

When applying to a new industry, it's not enough to just apply online and pray that you'll get an interview. You have to put the work in.

Go to the company's website or LinkedIn account to identify the human resources manager and the company's key players. Try to make an actual connection. Tap into your current network to see if you already know someone working at the company or have a friend who knows a current employee.

Use any connection you make to learn more about the company and to tell your career storyâwhere you've been, and why you are choosing to change careers. Any connection that you make is a foot in the door.

This is a much more efficient way to conduct a job search, rather than just applying for every online job posting (spraying and praying). Most resumes don't even make it past the applicant tracking system (ATS).

In addition to trying to secure an interview, putting in this work will also help you build networking skills and expand your professional network. No matter where you are in your career, it always pays to network. This would also be a good time to update your LinkedIn profile, too.

Ease Your Way To Your Dream Job

Young professional moves into her new office after getting a new job

What if you could get a job at the company you want to work for, just not in the position that you wanted?

That would actually be a career victory. When it comes to career changes, very rarely can you just switch lanes and land your dream job. Sometimes you need to ease your way in.

If you're struggling to get the position you want within a certain company, research other positions at that company to see if there are any positions that better fit your current skill sets. If there is, apply for that position. That way you at least get a job at the company.

From there, you can figure out a way to gain the skills that you need, so that you can one day move into your dream position.

Beware! Career Changes Come With Salary Implications

Confused businessman ponders whether or not he should take a cut in salary

This may be hard to believe, but when it comes to a career change, sometimes salary is the last thing that you think about.

That's because the career change process is so involved. It takes a lot of effort to come up with a plan and eventually secure an interview. Salary considerations are something that gets placed on the temporary back burner.

But if you've reached the point in the process where it's time to discuss salary, you've done something right and don't want things to unravel.

Depending on the type of industry you're going into, you'll be looking at either a salary increase, decrease, or match. It's essential that you do your research about the position and the average salary for such a position in your geographical area. Websites such as Salary.com and Glassdoor can be good resources for this information.

Having this information could be helpful in salary negotiations or, at the very least, mentally prepare you, particularly if you're facing a salary decrease.

It's also important not to lie when asked about your current salary in order to get a higher salary. It never pays to be dishonest.

Being laid off and then deciding to change careers is a lot to take on. If you're organized and committed, you can do it, but you don't have to do it alone!

Need more help making a career change after a layoff?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Successfully Change Careers After A …

Job, Career, Or Calling: Which One Do You Need?

If you read my article from last week, I talked about COVID-19 career PTSD. There are so many people who are stuck in their careers right now and can't figure out what to do next. I know from 20 years of career coaching that the answer lies in figuring out whether you need a job, a career, or a calling.

The Difference Between A Job, A Career, And A Calling

@j.t.odonnell Do you need a JOB, CAREER or CALLING right now???? @j.t.odonnell #careers #jobs #jobtok #careertok #tiktok #howto #dreamjob #workitdaily â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

A job is something that just pays the bills. It's serving a singular purpose. You don't feel any identity tied to it. A really great example of people who work jobs would be Olympic athletes. A lot of them will work at places like Home Depot because they can just go in and do the job. A job like that has flexible hours, which is perfect for them because their main pursuit is becoming an Olympic athlete. Or maybe you've got something going on with family right now that's way more important than feeling connected to the work that you do. Whatever the reason, you just need a job where you can punch in and collect a paycheck.

Then there's a career. I would say the majority of people fall into this category. These are people who want work to be meaningful to them. We've seen a big shift in this as a result of the pandemic. People are becoming purpose-driven professionals who don't just want to do a job. They want the work that they do to have some sort of impact or meaning or at least make them feel satisfied. Careers support intrinsic motivation, meaning you do the work because of the connection that you feel to it, whether it's the connection to the work itself or maybe to the organization and what they do. And that becomes very important for satisfaction. We have to do work that works for us. So when you know you want a career, you have to pursue it differently. You have to become a job shopper. That's how you'll find the right career for you.

The last category is a calling. Very few people fall into this type of work. This is when what you do becomes a large part of your identity. Finding a calling happens when people get super passionate about solving a problem, alleviating a pain, and creating more happiness. I have a calling. I left corporate America 20 years ago because I got very frustrated about the fact that the people that we were recruiting that we weren't able to place could have secured better jobs if they had received coaching. So I became a career coach, and for the last 20 years, I've been trying to disrupt that industry and build an online platform for people. It's come at a sacrifice. I've traded out a lot of hobbies and recreation to put toward work. Also, financially, this isn't overly lucrative. But I'm doing it because it makes a difference. And that's important to me. That's a calling. It's not for everyone, but it might be for you.

So which one do you need right now? A job, a career, or a calling?

Need more help finding a job, career, or calling?

I'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! I look forward to answering all of your career questions in our next live event!

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Job, Career, Or Calling: Which One Do …

The COVID-19 crisis has sent the economy into a recession and impacted numerous careers. Although people are naturally on edge right now, it's important to know that while searching for a job during a recession isn't easy, it's not impossible.

As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, millions of people quit their jobs or were laid off by their employers, and many are still struggling to find a job. There are record levels of competition for open positions. If you want to stand out to employers, you need to be prepared for the job search process.

Here are four common myths about the job search process during a recession, and what you should do to land a job in hard times.

Myth #1: No One Hires During A Recession

Businesses are always hiring!

There are some businesses that are greatly impacted by recessions that will reduce staff and implement hiring freezes, and others that will slow their hiring, but in general there's always some need to hire people as a result of vacancies and retirements. In addition, there are some industries that continue to do well in a recession.

However, while businesses are still hiring during a recession, the job competition will be greater and you'll need to work harder to market yourself as an employee worth hiring. There are multiple ways you can make yourself a better candidate. This includes finding ways to upskill, networking, improving your resume, and writing a disruptive cover letter.

Myth #2: No One Will Hire You After Getting Laid Off

Layoffs are a fact of life and businesses realize that.

But from a competition standpoint being laid off puts you at an initial disadvantage. Layoffs are common during a recession. This increases competition because of the number of people in the job market in need of work.

If you're laid off, you have to work even harder to market yourself to potential employees. But at the same time, you don't want to come across as too desperate. Like with any job search, do your research and leverage your professional network whenever you can.

You may also want to consider which industries are still hiring during the recession and taking a job in one of those industries to hold you over. There's no shame in working outside of your desired industry. There may even be benefits to it.

Given the circumstances of COVID-19 and the recession, future employers will understand the career detour.

Myth #3: If You're Over 50, You Won't Get Hired

Age discrimination is a topic that comes up from time to time but in reality it's actually called experience discrimination.

People over the age of 50 are staying in the workforce a lot longer but have to compete with millennials and Gen Z that make up more than half of the workforce. These younger generations are highly skilled, tech savvy, and a lot cheaper to employ.

This means that anyone over 50 looking to get hired needs to work even harder to get noticed. You need to clearly understand and sell what it is that you do well (your specialty). You also need to invest in yourself and be willing to upskill whenever you can.

Myth #4: You'll Have To Take Less Money

Finding a job during a recession doesn't mean an automatic pay cut!

Recession or not, you should prepare for a typical salary negotiation process. Do your research and have an idea of the competitive rate for the position you're pursuing.

If you've settled on a salary range, be ready to prove to the company why you would be worth the investment. You can do this by demonstrating why you'd be a valuable asset to the company and how your unique skills/experiences will make you the best fit for the role.

It always comes back to marketing yourself.

Recessions come and go and we will get through this one! Recession or not, one thing about the job search process remains trueâyou have to work hard and be your own best advocate.

Need more help with your job search?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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4 Myths About Job Hunting During A …

How To Recover From Career PTSD After COVID-19

We're seeing a rise in cases of "career PTSD" since the COVID-19 pandemic. If you don't know what this is, it's when you're feeling anxiety and stress related to work. You feel in a funk. You feel like you can't find the right career or job for you.

Maybe you quit during the Great Resignation and haven't been able to find the right job. Or maybe you're really out of it at work and you want to fix it. But you've got depression. You've got anxiety. Work stresses you out.

Why do you feel this way?

Well, during the pandemic, we all had to juggle so much. Mental safety, physical safety, our health, our family, our friends, our work. And now, as we're trying to come back to some normalcy, our body's sort of catching up with us, and it's giving us a hard time.

So, what can you do to recover from this career-related post-traumatic stress?

Microlearning!Â

@j.t.odonnell Do you have COVID Career PTSD? #careertok #jobtok #jobs #careers â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

The solution lies in something called microlearning.

Microlearning occurs when you stop and take a minute or two to learn something. You're curious and that changes you. It's firing some synapses in your brain and you're getting little dopamine hits. You don't need to (and shouldn't) do hours and hours of learning every day. Just a few minutes would be a great start because your brain is going to get more curious. You're going to see more and you're going to want to learn more. And you'll actually get to a point where you're ready to learn. Then you'll ask yourself, "What's something I need to learn?"

This is where the choice becomes paramount because the secret to getting back to health is feeling a sense of control and the way we feel control is through choice. If you choose to engage in microlearning today, you'll eventually get more curious, but you'll choose what you want to learn and you'll be able to feel that sense of control again.

Microlearning is the secret to regaining that sense of control that you lost during COVID-19 and reigniting your motivation in your career. Trust me, I've been doing this for 20 years. I know it works. This is what my company has been helping people with.

With Work It Daily's Event Subscription, you can choose what you want to learn. It's an affordable resource that you can use to try the microlearning process and get your sense of control back. There are thousands of people in there right now, all talking to one another, learning together, and getting their mojo back. I hope you decide to join them. Your future professional self will thank you.

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How To Recover From Career PTSD After …

How To Explain Why You “Rage Quit” Your Last Job

If you or somebody you know has rage quit, this is probably the most powerful advice you'll receive.

When you get asked the question, "Why did you leave your last job?" you need to have a solid answer. And by that I mean you need to be very objective. You need to talk the hiring manager through what you've learned and how you've grown, and you need to have some accountability.

That's right.

You need to take ownership of your part in what happened.

How Job Seekers Can Explain Why They Rage Quit Their Last Job

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @gingermcbride How to explain rage quitting your last job in an interview... #ragequit #edutok #careertiktok #careeradvice #learnontiktok #interviewtips â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

So let me give you a scenario of what taking ownership might look like. If I asked you, "Why did you leave your last job?" you might say...

"I'm glad you asked me that question. It was a really powerful learning experience for me."

By saying, "I'm glad you asked that question. It was a really powerful learning experience," you're framing the story without the negativity so the hiring manager can listen to it in a positive light. Then you're going to say...

"I spent X years working there. I worked really hard, but the last year, particularly in the pandemic, was really difficult."

You're not oversharing. You're not getting into specifics. You're just stating where in the journey of working for them it started to go off the tracks. At which point, you can say...

"I made a decision to leave and I left in a little bit of an emotional state. I needed time to really process and get back to a better place where I could be the best possible employee."

That's an accurate statement. Right?

"As a result, I think that if you were to call them, they would probably tell you that they weren't happy with me leaving. But I want to be really transparent about that with you. And I want to tell you what I learned from that experience."

Now you stay positive, tell the truth, and take accountability.

"Once I collected myself, I figured out what I wanted to do next and realized I had to go out there and explain this situation. I never want to go through this again. So how I've grown as a professional is that I'm going to find a job that's a good fit for me, and if it starts to not feel like a good fit, I'm going to talk with my employer. I'm going to try to figure out things so that I can stay on track because the mistake I made in the last job is I kept my head down. I didn't process it, and I let it build up and that's on me. And I own that."

That's that ownership piece I'm talking about. Are you trash-talking, your former employer? You don't have to.

There are three sides to every story: your side, their side, and, somewhere in there, the truth. The hiring manager knows that you and your previous employer weren't perfect. But what they love is the way you framed this story using the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model which helps you talk about any experience in an objective way.

When you use this model to explain why you rage quit your last job, they'll thank you for sharing and move on. Plus you set the expectation that if they call in and do a reference check, they know that they're not going to get a glowing recommendation.

So please learn this, internalize it, work out what you want to say, and rehearse it a few times. You don't want to sound canned, but you definitely want to make sure you have all of those aspects in there...and then go out there and get yourself a new job!

Need more help with your job search?

I'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Power Hour Event Subscription! I look forward to answering all of your career questions in our next live event!

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How To Explain Why You “Rage Quit” …

Sometimes businesses are forced to restructure and cut staff. We've seen this during the COVID-19 crisis, but it can happen at any point of time.

While sometimes unavoidable, the decision to layoff employees can be one of the toughest decisions a company has to make. These are never easy conversations to have, but it's possible to show both commitment and compassion to impacted employees.

"How?" you ask. By providing them with outplacement services.

Providing outplacement services is an essential step that benefits the impacted employee and the business! Here's why...

1. It Helps Employees Take The Next Step

Getting laid off is a gut punch and one of the first questions an impacted employee asks is, "What do I do now?" As an employer, you can't answer that question. But one thing you can do is give the employee the resources to help them answer that question.

Outplacement services typically help people with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters, and job search and networking strategies. These services are particularly beneficial to those impacted employees who have been with the company for a long time. A lot has changed in the job search game, and these employees have a lot of catching up to do.

Nothing is ever guaranteed, but studies have shown that people who receive outplacement services get hired two times faster than those who don't. Providing these services shows the impacted employees that, even though you are laying them off, you still care about their professional futures.

Being unemployed is tough, but employers can make it easier by helping their former employees get the resources they need to help them move through the stages of career grief faster and get their job search going in the right direction.

2. It Will Help Morale At The Company

When a company goes through layoffs, thoughts are naturally with the impacted employees. However, layoffs impact the entire company.

The workforce just lost trusted colleagues and friends. In addition, some people are about to see their job responsibilities change as a result of the layoffs.

The workforce is shaken, perhaps even scared about their own futures at the company, and some will have survivor's guilt.

Many of the remaining employees will talk with those who are laid off. If the company showed compassion and offered outplacement services to those impacted employees, this will get communicated to the current workforce.

While it doesn't make the situation any easier, the fact the company did what it could to help the impacted employees can slightly improve the morale of the remaining workforce.

Another thing the company can do to ease the concerns of its workforce after a layoff is to over-communicate. Be as transparent as possible and give them what information you can about the decision and the future of the company.

In order to rally the remaining workforce and move the company forward, these employees need to know the vital role they play in helping the company achieve its goals. These employees need to feel a part of a team.

All of this plays a huge role in the company keeping the trust and respect of their employees.

3. It Reflects Well On The Company

The company's employer brand and reputation are two things that may get put on the back burner when a business goes through tough financial times. But, eventually, these things will matter again, and the way the company navigates a crisis or restructuring will impact its reputation.

Just because a company lays off employees, doesn't make it a bad business. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown numerous businesses for a loop, but even in normal conditions, businesses have to make adjustments in staffing based on a number of ever-changing factors.

Ultimately, it's the way the business handles the layoffs that will impact its reputation.

Employees who feel that they were mistreated or shown a lack of compassion during the layoff process will post a review on job review sites like Glassdoor and Indeed.

Job seekers use these sites to research your company's employee experience, and negative reviews about employees not being treated well during layoffs could cost the company talent in the future.

Giving outplacement will lessen the odds of a former employee writing a negative review about the company. It may even lead to some positive reviews.

Being able to say you made sure every single person got one-on-one job search coaching will show just how much you care for your employees and will reflect well on the company's reputation.

How To Get Outplacement Services

Cost has always been a point of contention for companies considering whether or not to use outplacement services. However, over the last few years technology has made outplacement services more efficientâand cheaper.

Many essential outplacement services such as resume reviews, LinkedIn and cover letter advice, and professional networking are now built into virtual platforms that eliminate the need for in-person services.

And the good news is, Work It Daily is one of them!

Learn more about Work It Daily's outplacement services and give impacted employees a fighting chance to find work faster in this competitive job market.

For pricing inquiries, please contact [email protected].

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3 Benefits Of Outplacement Services

Executive Spotlight: How These Leaders Have Changed As A Result Of The Pandemic

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic spurred change across every industry. Businesses had to change, and so did workersâespecially leaders, who also had to facilitate change within their organization. We recently asked our leading executives how they have changed as professionals as a result of the pandemic.

Here are their responses...

Jim Black, Engineering & Technical Executive

At the beginning of quarantine, I hated working from home. I put in extra hours, I disliked people instant messaging me all day long, and I loathed the isolation. Even me as an introvert. After about 12-16 weeks, my entire demeanor changed. I found my stride. I enjoyed virtual team meetings with my engineering staff. I found ways to keep myself engaged and involved despite my physical location. I worked to be productive despite being alone. I found an interesting fact: I was more productive in this environment.

Since returning to work, I spend the majority of my time in the office. We have a policy where employees can work from home up to two days a week. I cannot every week; however, the weeks where I can work from home now are so enjoyable. I get many tasks accomplished, I remain connected, and I avoid my commute. I actually miss the quarantine occasionally.

Jim Black is an engineering professional focused on the development of technical professionals. He is also a professional bass player.

Kathryn Marshburn, Music Program Manager

Executive looks out the window while working from home

From my recent work at a major music streaming corporation, I have observed changes within the Gen Z and millennial co-working spaces, where there is an openness to talk about mental health and work-life balance issues. These groups approach work differently than generations before them. These two groups work extremely hard and are overachievers; however, they are acutely aware of wellness after the pandemic.

For example, as a program manager, I had the pleasure of managing eight cross-functional teams, and part of my responsibilities included gathering teams to share results. As I looked at each team member's availability on their calendars, I often saw time blocked off for âTherapyâ or âCounselingâ and even âWorkout Time.â These did not exist pre-pandemic, and I love this shift. Almost a more vulnerable type of communicating is now encouraged by executives, complemented by shifting company priorities, and it has created a more open form of comms exchange. Successful teams are paying attention to their own wellness and taking control of their mental health as a community.

Kathryn Marshburn has spent 12+ years in the music and gaming industries guiding teams on identifying targeted goals with an agile approach resulting in driving revenue and reducing risk.

Lisa Perry, Global Marketing Executive

The most significant change Iâve experienced as a marketing executive due to the pandemic is that I feel like I get to have it all. Prior to the pandemic, I spent on average three hours a day in LA traffic driving to and from work. I left for work at 6:30 am and got home at 8:30 pm barely getting any time with my girls and husband. The cost of gas, the wear and tear on my car, the frustration. It takes a toll. A typical day included greeting my team, back-to-back meetings, and lunch with co-workers.

Life post-pandemic is very different. I am home! I see my girls, husband, two labs, and my cat every day. If my girls have questions or need me, Iâm there for them. If I need to take my girls or my pets to the doctor, I can do it now. I can manage my work and my family life, no problem. My days are full of Zoom meetings, blurred background with kids and dogs scurrying behind me as I work. I still go into the office two days a month and interact with my co-workers.

Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.

Percy Leon, Digital Media Content Executive

I've always been a professional content creator/filmmaker, but the pandemic has really changed the way I work. I used to be very reliant on in-person interactions with friends and family to help me come up with ideas and film new videos. However, since the pandemic started, I've had to get creative with my content. I've started using my family and friends as resources for new ideas, and I've also started filming new videos by myself. I also started doing a lot of micro-learning on subjects that would help me in my career (video editing for YouTube, TikTok, professional development [Executive Online Presence]). I have also been learning as much about Web3.

This has been a big change for me, but it's one that I've really enjoyed. I'm much happier with my work now, and I feel like I'm more fulfilled as a content creator. The pandemic has definitely changed the way I work, but it's also made me a better professional.

Percy Leon is a digital media content producer specializing in educational technology and entertainment. He is interested in web3, metaverse, and the use of virtual reality for storytelling.

What's the number one way you have changed as a professional as a result of the pandemic? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily's Executive Program.

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Executive Spotlight: How These Leaders Have Changed …

Backblaze Leans On Its Culture To Thrive After COVID-19

The new workplace reality brought on by COVID-19 has thrown a lot of businesses for a loop. But having a strong business and culture going into the pandemic has helped California-based Backblaze not only adjust to the changing workplace environment, but keep the company moving forward in a positive direction.

Backblaze provides online computer backup and cloud storage for personal computers and businesses. The company, which is usually always hiring, believes that many of the things that it was doing prior to the pandemic has helped to keep it successful.

Employee Perks Take On A New Meaning

Backblaze gives employees an equipment stipend to help them set up their home workstations.

One of the more unique benefits offered by Backblaze is the employee equipment perk. Employees that work at the company's San Mateo headquarters are provided with an ergonomically supported workstation and then given a stipend to help customize that workstation to meet their needs.

In some cases, employees will use the stipend to purchase equipment, like a secondary workstation to have at home, or other high-efficiency tools such as iPads or smartwatches, according to Ramya Ramamoorthy, Marketing Recruitment Coordinator at Backblaze.

Ramamoorthy said the goal of the stipend is for employees to buy what they need to be comfortable and productive. The perk has taken on added importance recently when COVID-19 forced the Backblaze workforce to work from home.

"During COVID a lot of our employees have been using their employee equipment perk to purchase things like a desk and chair, computer monitor, or anything they need to set up their workstation because a lot of people didn't have that prior to COVID because most people were working in the office," Ramamoorthy says.

Backblaze has also been flexible with the stipend based on an individual's need for their home office. For example, the company has approved portable A/C units, ellipticals for under the desk, and even a coffee maker, because the company believes all these items can keep health, comfort, and productivity up while employees are working from home.

Backblaze also provides a monthly stipend to employees who are now required to work from home, but may need help upgrading their internet connection.

Ramamoorthy says the company offered work from home flexibility prior to the pandemic, and even had some employees that worked remotely full time. "I think the fact that we all at some point, even if it was only for a day or two, worked from home was really helpful in the transition," Ramamoorthy says.

Another perk that has taken on an added importance is the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), which allows employees unlimited phone consultations. Ramamoorthy says the company wants its employees to have access to confidential counseling services to help them through any challenges relating to work, family, stress, finances, and other personal issues.

"COVID is such a challenging time. We want our employees to be happy and talk to anyone if they need to," Ramamoorthy says.

Keeping The Workplace Connected

Employees from Backblaze take part in a video meeting.

Workplace culture has always been a sense of pride for Backblaze. When employees were in the office, the company's "Fun Committee" would often plan social events to bring the workforce together. These events included happy hours, milestone celebrations, and Family Fun Days, to name a few events.

These events have gone virtual since the COVID-19 pandemic, but that hasn't stopped the Fun Committee from getting creative, according to Ramamoorthy. The committee recently held storytime events for the children of employees, where actors playing Disney characters read and sang.

The company has also been holding virtual happy hours and wellness classes, including yoga, meditation, and Zumba classes.

Prior to shelter-in-place, Backblaze offered fully stocked micro-kitchens with free snacks in the office as well as free breakfast and lunch twice a week, and pets were allowed at the office.

Ramamoorthy says company leadership is constantly reassessing when going back to the office might be feasible and safe for employees. When employees do return to the office, the company will look to resume as many workplace traditions as possible.

Consistent & Steady Leadership

All five of Backblaze's founders still work at the company, and in normal circumstances, it was fairly common for company leaders to walk around the office and chat with employees on a regular basis, according to Ramamoorthy. Managers would also take their employees on "walk-and-talk" meetings.

Video conferencing is being used by management to stay connected to the workforce during COVID-19. Company co-founder Brian Wilson has virtual office hours every week where he goes over interesting facts about the company and answers any questions that employees may have.

"Although these gestures may seem simple, our founders are bridging the gap between themselves and the rest of the employees by encouraging conversations and getting to know team members," Ramamoorthy says.

Other Interesting Facts About Working At Backblaze

The Backblaze data center in Sacramento, California.

Here are some benefits and perks at Backblaze:

The company offers 100% healthcare coverage, 401K retirement plans, and paid maternity/paternity leave
The company offers an unlimited vacation policy
The company employs over 160 employees
In addition to its headquarters in San Mateo, Backblaze has data centers in Sacramento, Phoenix, and Amsterdam

Career Opportunities At Backblaze

Backblaze is currently hiring for multiple positions.

Backblaze is hiring!

Ramamoorthy says the pandemic has not impacted Backblaze's staffing, and that the company is usually always on the lookout for more people to join the team.

"We're very lucky that during this time people are still using our services, and I think it's because our service is almost essential," Ramamoorthy says. "We're very fortunate to be in this situation."

The interview process is entirely remote, and there's a coding exercise for those applying for engineering positions.

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Backblaze Leans On Its Culture To Thrive …

Zoom Continues To Add To Its Workforce After A Historic Year

To say that 2020 was a big year for Zoom would be an understatement. The company sees more opportunities and challenges ahead and is adding to its team. Would a job at Zoom right for you?

How Zoom Serves Its Customers

There's a good chance that many people reading this have used Zoom at least once, or hundreds of times, in their lifetime. But if you're not familiar, Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing and online meetings service. Zoom's mission is to help businesses and organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done.

Zoom's platform provides video meetings, voice, webinars, and chat across desktops, phones, mobile devices, and conference room systems. Zoom was established in 2011, but very much became a household name in 2020 when it proved to be a lifeline for businesses, schools, and everyday people to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finding The Right Role At Zoom

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Zoom is headquartered in San Jose, California, and has 16 other offices in the U.S. and internationally. Like many global companies, Zoom also has a large number of remote work opportunities. Job seekers should review all openings carefully to see if there are any location requirements.

Zoom has job openings in sales, engineering, security, finance, product, marketing, customer service, information technology, engineering operations, legal, customer services, and project management.

3 Things To Know About Working At Zoom

Zoom employees have fun during a virtual meeting.

2020 was a banner year for Zoom and the growth continues.

As the COVID-19 pandemic started to take hold in March 2020, Zoom was the most downloaded app in the Apple App Store. The company when from a peak of 10 million daily meeting participants in December 2019 to an average of 200 million daily meeting participants in March 2020, and by April 2020 Zoom was averaging 300 million daily meeting participants—a 30x growth in three months, according to Zoom's blog.

In that time, Zoom went from 2,500 to 4,400 global employees and the company is still growing as more companies commit to remote work for the long term.

Zoom loves to give back.

In addition to major company growth, 2020 was also a year for giving back as Zoom launched its philanthropic entity Zoom Cares. The Zoom Cares initiatives are focused on three core areas: education, social equity, and climate change.

Education was at the forefront of Zoom's charitable efforts in 2020, especially as COVID-19 forced many schools to operate through Zoom. Zoom provided its education service to over 125,000 schools in 25 countries for free during the pandemic, and also provided training and resources to help more than 35,000 educators teach remotely on Zoom as part of its Zoom Summer Academy. The company also donated $1.5 million to organizations helping students disproportionately affected by school closures.

Zoom also donated $250,000 to the Association for the Study of African American Life & History, Equal Justice Initiative, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Zoom offers employees charitable gift matching through the Zoom Cares program so employees can support their favorite causes.

Zoom is proud of its company culture.

Despite rapid growth and working remotely, Zoom has been able to maintain a unique company culture that employees still appreciate. The company made Glassdoor's "Best Places to Work in 2021" list (it also made the list in 2018 and 2019) and has a culture of 4.9/5 on Comparably. Comparably also recognized Zoom for company leadership, compensation, company culture, perks and benefits, diversity, work-life balance, and best company for women.

Zoom's culture is based around a single value: care.

"We encourage Zoomies to care for their community, customers, company, teammates, and themselves," according to the company's blog.

Benefits and perks at Zoom include:

Flexibility in how, where, and when employees work
Competitive compensation and stock benefits
Wellness benefits like a monthly stipend for gym memberships or exercise classes to promote health and self-care
No cap on paid time off
Comprehensive healthcare benefits, including mental health and fertility benefits
Book reimbursement plan to support continuous learning
Additional benefits to support working from home, like home office equipment, home gym equipment, groceries, and even food delivery

Career Opportunities At Zoom

To apply or learn more about working at Zoom, check out the company's careers page.

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