5 Action Items if you have lost your Wine Industry Job

If you are among the more than 1 million people in California who have lost their job due to the disruption caused by Covid-19, you may be wondering what comes next. As tourism and visitation to wine countries came to an abrupt halt, many wine educators, customer service staff, and hosts were let go or furloughed from jobs they loved. 

I was one of those people, based in the Napa Valley, working for a larger scale family-owned company with five luxury wine brands in its portfolio. The decision to right-size the company and let go of over 50% of the workforce was theirs to make, yet what I chose to do next was mine. I am sharing five things you should do if you have lost your wine industry job in the wake of Covid-19.

1. Remember it’s not about you. Being let go or furloughed from your winery is not about who you are, your value as an employee or a reflection on what you contributed to your team. I know it is easy to personalize this; however, businesses have had to make tough decisions and prioritize the company’s survival. Try to reflect on the positive contributions you made to your winery, and be proud of the work you did! 

2. Reboot your network. Dust off your LinkedIn account, email some connections and text a few colleagues. Use this time to simply reconnect with people you have formerly worked with or have met throughout the years. Let them know you are looking for new opportunities within the wine industry and ask for a Zoom coffee date. A 20-minute catch-up call can give you something valuable to do and provide you with a much-needed morale boost. Don’t forget to follow up and thank the person for sharing their time with you. 

Consider joining a formal networking group such as BANG Napa Valley or CANVAS. Both groups are actively working to provide a platform for networking and an opportunity for wine professionals to connect. Meetings are currently being held online, but make use of email and LinkedIn to connect with contacts you make. 

3. Update your resume and cover letter. I hadn’t updated mine in over three years and best practices had changed. Spend some time looking up various formats and templates. Email your resume to a trusted friend and ask for honest feedback. Save your resume to various job sites so when roles do get posted you are ready to apply quickly. Same with your cover letter. Take the time to personalize each one you send out to the hiring winery. Add in their name, address, title of the role they are hiring for and a key identifier for that brand. When you do your homework, it shows! 

In addition, consider reaching out to a recruiter who specializes in the wine industry. Often they will have leads on roles before they are published and can help direct your resume to the hiring manager. Develop your relationship with several recruiters, as they can often match you with a role months or years later as opportunities arise. 

4. Dive into education. Take this time to study, read and learn more about our industry and wine in general. Pick a global wine region and focus on learning about their varietals, grape growing practices and geography. There is a wealth of information on wine blogs, through online wine courses and on various educational wine websites hosted by master sommeliers. Join their communities on social media to be a part of the conversation. 

Consider a pivot and expand your skill set. Hiring back into hospitality roles could be slower to pick up once tasting rooms begin to reopen. Take this time to learn about email marketing, wine club best practices and social media. These roles are critical to small wineries, and if you have crossover knowledge and experience, you become a more valuable team member who can support other departments when visitation is low. 

5. Start or join a virtual wine-tasting group. Use platforms such as Zoom and communities on Facebook and Instagram to taste through wines with other wine professionals. Have a theme, such as white wines under $30, Pinot Noir from Sonoma County or Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Not everyone has to taste the same wines, just share and talk about what you are drinking and any information you could find about the wine and the producer.

Finally, know that this time of uncertainty will pass and our beloved wine industry will return in full force. And when that day comes, you will be ready to head back to work and continue to share your passion for wine with people from around the world.