The States That Are Now Reopening And Not Requiring Mask-Wearing
We’re Getting Close To The End Of The Pandemic: Here’s What You Need To Do Right Now To Be Ready For When The Job Market Heats-Up
If you were hoping to hear more about Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey or Bitcoin and WallStreetBets, I’m sorry to disappoint you.
We are more interested in what’s happening next. The Kellington Times is positive about the future. I feel that we are at the beginning of the end of the pandemic. It could be the summer or early fall. I encourage you to stay confident. Hang in there and keep the faith. Also, start getting ready for a job market that will heat-up. We are so confident in our belief that better days are ahead of us, we built a new job board
The States That Are Now Reopening And Not Requiring Mask-Wearing
There is a new emerging movement of states starting to ease up on covid-related restrictions. Some governors claim the time is right to end mask-wearing mandates and permit businesses to operate at full capacity.
ABC News reported that California expects “next month, nearly the entire state could see a return of inside restaurant dining, the reopening of movie theaters and other indoor businesses, far more children back in classrooms and competing in sports — maybe even fans in the stands for Opening Day of Major League Baseball,” and “Disneyland Resort in Southern California will be allowed to reopen with capacity limits starting April 1.”
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said in a press release, “Beginning Friday, March 19, 2021 all capacity limits will be eliminated for Restaurants, Retail, Libraries, Personal services, Indoor recreation, Gyms/fitness centers, Museums, aquariums, and zoos, Offices, Houses of worship”
Lamont added, “All sports will be allowed to practice and compete, and all sports tournaments will be allowed.” He also stated, “Beginning Friday, April 2, 2021 outdoor amusement parks can open, outdoor event venues can increase to a 50% capacity, capped at 10,000 people, indoor stadiums can open at 10% capacity, summer camps and summer festivals are advised to begin the planning stages to open for the upcoming season.”
Greg Abbot, the Governor of Texas, announced last Tuesday that he will end the statewide mask mandate and permit all businesses to operate at full capacity. He said, “It is now time to open Texas 100%.” Abbott added that he is rescinding “most of the earlier executive orders” he had previously issued and, commencing March 10, “all businesses of any type are allowed to open 100%,” including sporting events, concerts and similar activities.
At a news briefing, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced he is rescinding all county mask mandates and removing statewide restrictions on nearly all businesses. Reeves said, “I am replacing our current orders with recommendations. The only rules that will remain in this order are a capacity limit of 50% on indoor arenas and those that govern K-12 schools.”
Reeves tweeted, “Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules. Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time!”
This isn’t the first time states pushed back on Covid-19 related restrictions. Five states, including Texas, Mississippi, Iowa, Montana and North Dakota, plan to or have already ended mask requirements. Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee never mandated masks statewide. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said wearing masks will be "a matter of personal responsibility and not a government mandate," starting in April.
In Idaho, a video of parents encouraging their children to burn their masks went viral on Twitter with over 5 million views.
These actions are taking place as public health experts encourage Americans to continue social distancing and wearing masks. They maintain that the U.S. is at a critical inflection point. NPR reports, “Since vaccine distribution began in the U.S. on Dec. 14, more than 85 million doses have been administered, reaching 16.7% of the total U.S. population, according to federal data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. is currently administering over 2 million shots a day.” The medical community maintains that the race to reopen too quickly could do damage to all the hard work up until now.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, concerned over this newly emerging trend to de-mask and reopen businesses, said these moves are "ill-advised" on CNN. Fauci contends that restrictions shouldn't be lifted until new coronavirus cases fall below 10,000 a day "and maybe even considerably less than that" across the country.
He’d like to see "a substantial proportion of the population vaccinated" before aggressively reopening. Fauci added that once the country reopens, it should be done in a slow, methodical gradual manner and not all at once, saying, "You don't want to go from very stringent public health restrictions to just turning it off, and say, 'That's it.’”
In an interview with NPR radio, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new head of the CDC, said in response to a question about states abandoning mask-wearing requirements, “The CDC squarely recommends routine masking, routine social distancing right now, right as we're at this nexus, this critical time, this tenuous point. So it squarely does not fit within the guidance that we are recommending. I will say, though, that the reason that I mask is not because my governor tells me so. The reason I mask is because I know it protects myself, it protects my loved ones, it protects my neighbors and my community. So I think everybody is empowered to do the right thing and to put the mask on.”
According to CBS News, “There are new calls for governors to hold off on lifting coronavirus restrictions after Arizona joined Texas, Mississippi and Connecticut in announcing plans to cut or relax Covid-19 safety guidelines. Members of President Joe Biden's coronavirus task force say new variants of the virus, combined with reduced regulations, could lead to another spike in cases.”
In response to the news of the actions of the states, Biden called their decisions to disregard mask wearing and opening-up businesses "Neanderthal thinking." The President told reporters at the White House, "It's critical, critical, critical that they follow the science." He continued, "I know you all know that. I wish to heck some of our elected officials knew it." Biden added, “The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking in the meantime: 'Everything's fine, take off your masks.'" He said, "I think it's a big mistake. Look, I hope everyone's realized by now, these masks make a difference. We are on the cusp of being able to change the nature of this disease because of the way we're able to get vaccines in people's arms."
There may never be a perfect time to stop wearing masks and open up the economy and schools. Politicians are in a difficult position. If they don’t reopen, more businesses will likely fail and workers lose their jobs. If lawmakers call for reopening and Americans contract the disease and succumb to it, they’ll be discredited and labeled for life.
It may seem cold and harsh, but the states that are opening may be doing the country a favor. They will serve as the test case. Most Americans are proponents of wearing masks, social distancing and being cautious to ensure that people don't catch or spread the disease. This doesn’t conflict with the reality that after one year in lockdown, some states would take these potentially risky steps, as we’re nearing the beginning of the end of the pandemic.
Major corporations consider it a smart business practice to not roll out a new product all at once. Companies need to test market it first, gather initial reactions, feedback and constructive criticisms. Then, armed with this information, they can make any necessary improvements.
The states that still keep strict restrictions can see how things progress at the ones who are reopening. If there is a large spike of new cases and increases in the death rate, then we know it's too soon. The governors should then reverse or revise their plans.
There is a positive aspect buried beneath the concerns. Vaccines are being rolled out. People are being inoculated. There will soon be a collective feeling, in the not too distant future, that we’ve beaten back the disease and can start living again.
There should be a big, pent-up demand for workers, as businesses reopen. We’ve already seen this happen in the most recent jobs report. Nearly 400,000 jobs were added last month as more restaurants, bars, retail stores and other businesses loosened restrictions. This is good news for job seekers and people who want to advance their careers as there’s now light shining at the end of the tunnel.
We’re Close To The End Of The Pandemic: Here’s What You Need To Do Right Now To Be Ready For When The Job Market Heats-Up
We may get out of this pandemic sooner than you’d think. Signs are pointing towards the beginning of the end of the outbreak. The number of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. have been steadily declining. Vaccines are swiftly being rolled out. Roughly 16% of Americans have received their shots.
States, such as Texas, Florida, California, Connecticut and Mississippi, have relaxed their mask-wearing requirements and permitted restaurants, schools and businesses to open.
The recent unemployment report from the Department of Labor showed that nearly 400,000 new jobs were created, mostly due to restaurant, hotel, bar and retail workers brought back from furloughs and layoffs.
After one year in lockdown, reports indicate that the economy may reopen in the fall. It's likely to do so sooner. If you are looking for a new job or want to advance your career, it's time to get serious. Here is what you need to do right now to be ready and prepared when the job market kicks into action.
Have A Goal In Mind
The first thing you need to do is decide what you want to do with your professional life. Give some clear-headed thought as to where you see yourself in the future. The last year was a time for many people to reassess their lives and careers. They realized how fragile life is and wanted to possibly do something different and not spend the next ten years doing the same-old-thing. You may decide to reinvent yourself or pivot to a new type of career.
Once you have a job or career in mind, design a plan and put a system in place that will enable you to achieve your goal. Then, immediately take action. You want to be ready for when the job market picks-up.
The Elevator Pitch
The first action could be creating an elevator pitch. This is a way to clearly, concisely tell your story. The term is derived from being able to pitch yourself or business proposal to an important decision maker within the short time span that you’re riding together in an elevator. You need to seize the opportunity and quickly sell yourself before the person exits and the doors slide shut.
Interviewers want to know about your current accomplishments and responsibilities. The hiring manager needs to hear why you’ll be a solid fit for the job and the value added to the organization. Practice this repetitively until it's brief, tight, energetic and persuasive.
How Are You Coming Across In Interviews?
There are a lot of people who’ve been out of work for three months to more than a year. It's understandable that they’re frustrated and upset. Now that we are closer to the economy improving and more job openings, you have to change your mindset and shut out the past. Forget about anything that went against you during the interview process. This is the time to start anew.
If you haven’t gained traction in your job search after months of trying, it's time to contemplate your activities. Conduct a self-assessment and audit of your actions to determine if you’re doing your best in pursuit of a new job.
Work on your presentation. Hiring managers tend to take a pass on candidates that come across negatively. Although you may feel dejected, you have to present yourself as a confident, competent winner, as that’s what managers desire in an employee.
Use the next couple of months to conduct mock interviews and role play with people who will give you honest and constructive criticism. You may consider enlisting the help of career coaches and recruiters who can offer advice on how to improve your performance.
Change Your Job Search Strategy
If you only had a handful of interviews and few or no offers, it's time for a change in strategy. Mix-up the manner in which you’ve been searching for a job. If all you’ve been doing is sending out applications and résumés, stop doing it for a while.
Instead, create a list of the companies you want to work for, then find people you know who work there and ask them to make some internal introductions. If you aren’t aware of anyone who works at the desired corporation, find someone who knows a contact there and ask them for help. The chance of getting an interview substantially increases when workers at the company sing your praises.
One bold strategy is to pick-up the phone, get on Zoom calls, email or text everyone you know. Tell them that you are in the job market and would appreciate their assistance. Explain what you do for a living and what you want to do next so they know how to help.
Pay Attention To Your LinkedIn Profile, Resume And Social Media Footprint
Take a fresh new look at your resume, LinkedIn profile and social media postings. Hiring managers, human resource professionals and recruiters all want to see resumes and LinkedIn profiles that clearly state your achievements and duties. Make sure you highlight all the amazing things you’ve accomplished.
An interviewer spends only about 30-seconds viewing this information. The resume and LinkedIn profile should quickly capture their attention. Keep is clear, concise and descriptive.
Recruiters, hiring managers and human resource professionals will snoop through your social media postings to see if you’re the right cultural fit. Your online comments should show the value you offer to a potential employer. Delete any questionable, inappropriate or inflammatory Tweets and Facebook postings.
Burnish Your Brand
Engage in an authentic branding and marketing campaign on social media, especially LinkedIn for white-collar professionals. The key is to showcase your skills, ability, knowledge and experience. You need to broadcast what you are looking to do next, so people are aware of how they can help you. It shouldn’t just be a one-way street. Offer to help others in need too.
You can start slowly by liking and addressing the postings of others. Find leaders in your field with large followings. Get involved in their conversations to amplify your own voice. When you post online, your specific skills and subject-matter expertise will serve as the message sent out to prospective hiring managers, human resource professionals, recruiters and other people who can help you land a new job.
Now That Things Will Be Picking Up, Ask For A Raise Or Promotion
Now is the time to ask for a raise, promotion or bonus. You know you’ve worked hard, did a great job and deserve it. Enter your supervisor’s office armed with solid data, facts and information that shows you’ve exceeded expectations.
Leverage Recruiters, Career Coaches And Resume Writers To Relaunch Your Job Hunt
Find recruiters, career coaches and resume writers who can help with your job search and career advancement. To find these folks, ask people you trust in your field for recommendations. Speak with your colleagues and former coworkers and ask who they’ve used in their job searches and were they successful with that person.
You can search online directories, LinkedIn and job boards to find recruiters and career experts that are active in your sector. Check out their websites, read their posts, watch any videos they have and look for glowing testimonials. You want to gain a sense of confidence that they possess an expertise in your industry.
With regards to recruiters, you want to find out if they have close ties with senior level decision making executives, human resource professionals and other leaders in your niche along with a demonstrated level of success.
Build Your Network
You want to have a group of people who you could turn to for advice and guidance. It's more pleasant to have a tribe of like-minded people who can help with the job search than go it alone.
Attend career related events. Since we’re practicing social distancing, online career-related networking events have become popular. There are a large number of Zoom-type events that you can participate in. It's a great way to meet new people, learn something, gain job related advice and feel productive.
Selectively grow your network. Start with LinkedIn. Look for people that you can build a mutually benefiting relationship with and send them an invitation to connect. You could also join relevant Facebook groups that cater to your specific career. Twitter is a little more challenging, but it's worth it to get active to gain attention. The same holds true with Instagram. The more you put yourself out there, the greater amount of exposure you’ll receive.
We’re fast heading into an exciting time. The terrible, horrible, no-good covid era is ending. Forget about the struggles you had, start networking, update your resume and LinkedIn profile, reach out to people for help and practice your elevator pitch. When the job market heats-up due to all the pent-up demand, you’ll be in front of the crowd as you’re prepared and ready to find a new job and improve your career.