The most recent Federal job market report showed a strong economy rebuilding itself in spite of Covid waves. Employers added nearly half a million jobs in January 2022. Even more surprising to many, the restaurant and hotel industry has started adding jobs. President Biden noted, with the usual flair seen from Chief Executives, “America’s job machine is going stronger than ever.” What does this mean? We can certainly be comforted by numbers by the definitive objectivity of numbers, but there’s always the variables of pandemics, human nature, and random natural disasters to set us back down to despair.

Locally, reports of Massachusetts infrastructure bills are offering the promise of major construction projects and opportunities for workers of color to solidify their chance at a great career. The more than $12 billion appropriated by Congress and headed to Massachusetts will do more than just actualize Biden’s dream to “build back better.” It will provide a basis for a future where traditionally dis-enfranchised populations will have the chance to construct both buildings and dreams.

Both of these recent developments have come in the midst of COVID 19 and “The Great Resignation,” that phenomenon of people quitting the jobs they’ve had during these trying times. They’ve either chosen to remain unemployed, found new positions, or joined the gig economy, juggling such tentative positions as driving for Uber, delivering for Postmates, or online teaching. The key here is tentative, impermanent, and conditional. COVID 19 has taken lives, hope, and security and replaced them with a generation willing to risk jumping from gig to gig rather than nailing down that career-track position waiting to be secured by the ideal candidate.

How can we take advantage of the surprising good news and re-enter (or in some instances enter for the first time) the job market? No matter our age or position in the working world, there are clear steps we can all take to get ourselves back into circulation:

Freshen up your skills

Whether you’re a highly experienced professional or a young person looking to make a great impression in your field of choice, find courses on itunes U, Office Team resources, or any local organization eager to help. Improve your speaking skills, your overall presentation, or your computer savvy. The professional world is changing at a breakneck speed. Learn to travel fast or you’ll end up with whiplash.

Wisely and carefully choose the resume format best for your experience

Chronological, functional, or hybrid resumes might seem like strange terms without context. Everything seems strange at first without context. The first is an account of your experience from the first job to the present. It’s best for seasoned workers. The second is a generalized presentation of your skills and how they applied to key experiences in your work life. Think of it as a “highlight reel.” The third is a mix of the two. Whichever one you choose will speak volumes as to your suitability for the job of your dreams.

Fill in your gaps

Our lives have not always been a seamless and exciting journey from one adventure to another. We have all experienced downtime. Think carefully about how to account for that time. Whether it was six months of sickness or three years caring for a newborn child, you have worked during that time. You have learned things. You’ve been an administrator, a manager, a courier, a driver. Think about how you can turn what appears to be down time into periods of productive and meaningful transition.

Nurture your soft skills

Most of us have a clear understanding of “hard skills.” They’re the definitive demonstrations of something you’ve learned, something you can do. Think of typing, computer programming, experience with certain machines or statistical analysis. Hard skills take care of themselves and can be seen through your education and previous jobs. It’s the soft skills that need attention while you’re looking for a job. Let them out to play. Don’t be afraid to talk about your adaptability, creativity, empathy, dependability, and teamwork. Employers will more often than not begin every interview with “Tell me about yourself.” Make sure you don’t just repeat or paraphrase your resume. Tell them who you are inside.

Draw strength from your contacts

The positive aspects of social networks are most often seen when job searching. Like soft skills, your social network contacts through Linked In, Facebook, or a variety of other outlets can prove to be the singular key that opens the door to a dream career or re-starts your engine. Like the algorithm of YouTube, that seems to uncannily suggest scores of videos for you after you’ve made a random search for something you need, the benefits or social networks are that they can more often than not connect you with somebody somewhere who can allow you to get closer to your dream career. It takes a village to both raise a child and build up an old acquaintance looking for work. Don’t hesitate reaching out for help.

There are certainly other techniques and different approaches to go along with these five. Consider this the overture. The instruments in the orchestra pit are tuning up. Find your seat and get ready for the show.

SAMPAN, published by the nonprofit Asian American Civic Association, is the only bilingual Chinese-English newspaper in New England, acting as a bridge between Asian American community organizations and individuals in the Greater Boston area. It is published biweekly and distributed free-of-charge throughout metro Boston; it is also delivered to as far away as Hawaii.