Nothing prompts thinking on the really important topics, like “What do I want to accomplish with my life?” quite like a pandemic.
We now have more time to think during lockdown because we are not distracted by our hectic personal lives, the open-plan office, or the commotion of the commute.
According to a recent survey by Aviva, 60% of workers are considering changing careers in what is being referred to as “The Great Resignation,” which is not surprising. Sometimes you don’t realize you want to be somewhere different until you get off the treadmill and look around.
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The managing director of one of the top job coaching firms, Personal Career Management, Corinne Mills, offers her advice on how to manage your career in a post-pandemic world when the workplace and our interactions with it are constantly changing.
Shape how you work
The pandemic has created opportunities for new types of jobs. Many of the stresses of office life—such as a difficult commute, an overbearing supervisor, or the interruptions of a shared common space—have been alleviated by remote work. It’s also added a fresh realism because we usually feel much more at home in our own homes than in the performance playground of the job. It makes sense that, based on the EY 2021 Work Reimagined Study. Instead of returning to their full-time office jobs, 4 out of 5 employees say they would look for another position.
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Flexible working has undeniable advantages, but there are also disadvantages to your career. Your professional world could very easily shrink and turn into a transactional one. You run the risk of being forgotten, which makes you vulnerable. When there are few opportunities to socialize, it is far more difficult to develop deeper and more meaningful relationships with individuals, but it will become much more crucial that you do.
After the pandemic, increasing your exposure requires more than just changing your LinkedIn profile. You’ll need to look for chances to advance your career and meet important individuals. Discuss with your manager how you could pursue certain interests in addition to working on your primary responsibilities, especially if doing so will expose you to new individuals and other sections of the company.
Request mentoring, volunteer to be a brand ambassador or internal champion for charitable or internal well-being programs. Offer your help on cross-organizational projects, or recommend that you spend time speaking with stakeholders, suppliers, or customers to obtain information or look into a persistent problem.
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You should also be networking on the outside. Through an appropriate association or professional body, for example. There are numerous options, and the majority of them host virtual events. Use your time in the office, if and when you have it, to meet up with as many individuals in person as you can and schedule after-work get-togethers.
During the epidemic, we may have logically sought refuge in our cave, but if we do so now, we would miss out on the excitement and richness of meeting new people who we may learn from and who might be able to assist us in our careers.
Career Changers
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The best method to convince a hiring manager that you are the perfect candidate for the position you’re going for, whether it’s pre- or post-pandemic, is to thoroughly research the requirements for the position and provide concrete examples of when you demonstrated the skills they’re looking for. This can be challenging if you want to switch careers or industries and the two settings appear very dissimilar.
Wherever you can, point out similarities between your experience and that of their company, such as common clients, comparable workplaces, comparable forms of technology, or similar team structures. Utilize their terminology instead of that from your previous industry. Instead of expecting them to use their own imagination, paint an image for them that seems familiar.
Don’t worry if you need to take on a role that isn’t necessarily your first choice if you’re a reluctant career changer. Some industries have been hammered so hard that it could be wise to consider alternatives, at least temporarily. Employers can be skeptical of job changers, especially if their new field of employment appears to be significantly different, but in these unique situations, most of them recognize that people must be practical in order to make ends meet. They will only offer you the position if they believe you will stay long enough to be a good investment for them, so you will still need to reassure them that you actually want it and are capable of doing it.
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Positive professional effects of a crisis
The pandemic has presented many of us with some of the most challenging professional obstacles of our careers, much alone the personal ones. Recruiters frequently inquire about your ability to function under duress, and now that a worldwide epidemic has occurred, you have a wealth of incredibly related experiences to draw on. This can entail adapting to a sudden change in how you and your teamwork, helping coworkers and clients under pressure, or picking up a completely new set of abilities when we moved to remote technologies. Perhaps you completed some training, volunteered at a vaccination facility, or helped an elderly neighbor while you were on leave. Potential employers who value resourcefulness and resilience as well as a sense of community and teamwork will be interested in all of this. You have experienced a number of career triumphs that have put your mettle to the test and were accomplished under unusual conditions as a result of the epidemic. You shouldn’t underestimate how compelling and memorable these stories will be whenever you need to discuss your career.
And the good news….
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According to the Recruitment Employers Confederation’s June 2021 Report on Jobs, permanent job recruiting has increased at the fastest rates in any of their polls since the lockdown ended in May. At the same time, there was a noticeable staff shortage in several fields and candidate availability decreased.
It’s now a perfect moment to be looking for a new employment after 18 months of widespread job losses, with businesses beginning to re-hire once more. Employers are beginning to see the necessity for greater internal career development as a result of an increase in employee resignations. This will help them retain employees longer and save money on hiring and training expenses.
So, after a trying 18 months, things are starting to look up again in terms of your work. It would be wise to discuss your career ambitions and the prospects for professional growth that the organization offers with your manager right now. New chances are beginning to emerge, so get your CV updated and make sure you’re prepared for interviews.
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