The 6th episode of “How to Navigate Job Search Amid Uncertainty” is a conversation with MIIS alumna, Lorena Ortiz Schneider. The social distancing order imposed to combat the spread of coronavirus has had a severe impact on work opportunities for interpreters. On-site interpretation has been especially hard hit.

Given that many of my MIIS students aspire to a freelance interpreter career, I was particularly interested in Lorena’s perspective as a freelancer herself and as someone whose business works with freelance interpreters day in and day out. She pointed out that downturns can take a variety of forms from the macro-economic environment, to professional challenges, to personal setbacks and provided many heart-felt and practical suggestions.

The 5^th episode of “How to Navigate Job Search Amid Uncertainty” is a conversation with Diane Mouradian on how we can care for our emotional well-being overall and for those going through job search while the world is grappling with the pandemic. Diane is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a nationally certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapist.

This is week 4 of the “shelter in place” order in California during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak and as of now a third of the global population is on coronavirus lockdown. This is no doubt an event of global proportion affecting us professionally and personally.

My key takeaways:

• Acknowledge the stressors
• Minimize negative triggers/increase positive triggers
• Focus on what is within your control
• Stay connected with others

Episode Four of “How To Navigate Job Search Amid Uncertainty” is my conversation with Michael Klinger, Managing Director of Anzu Global. Michael is a 30-year veteran in the language services industry. After starting his career as an interpreter, he went into staffing services and facilitating mergers and acquisitions in the language industry. In the interview, he shared his experience managing through previous economic downturns and strategies on job search at a time of economic uncertainty.