Surviving the post COVID-19 world of work
The immediate effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and other restrictions are obvious to both the business community and the general population...don't become complacent because of the current jobs boom as professional careers are for the long term.
Many people initially lost their jobs, especially SME business’s struggling to survive. “Hibernation” is a nice word that assisted many participants in the world of commerce to survive.
Unfortunately, we cannot insulate Australia from being affected by geopolitical and macroeconomic events overseas and internally such as wars, inflation, commodity shortages, population dislocation, plus other unforeseen events.
Stay positive
This is easier said than done, but there is no alternative. History shows us that the "good times and recessions" COME and GO.
Take care of yourself, your family and support your friends.
Get plenty of exercise, eat well and maintain regular sleeping patterns.
Most of all limit your exposure to the news and current affairs programs unless of course some good news is being announced.
Job hunting
At the time of writing this article, it is widely reported that online job sites have experienced an abundance of vacancies being listed on these types of websites (recruiters will be in a similar situation).
Be very aware not to take the first job simply because so many are available.
Remember that the culture and longevity of any organisation are often more important than the remuneration package...BUYER'S REGRET CAN BE VERY COSTLY to your long term career goals.
Carefully identify your transferable skills and the companies that would want them (this is more important than your resume).
If you are struggling engage professional assistance sooner rather than later.
Upgrade your skills
Don’t get distracted by home life and other private issues. Your career matters and needs your attention now more than ever.
Identify gaps in your qualifications/tickets and complete online courses that give a certificate after completion. Ensure that they are relevant to your industry sector and enhance your value as a candidate.
Remember that you are always competing against many other very well qualified and presented candidates.
Adjust to the new online world for working remotely and conducting meetings
The post COVID-19 world of work will be very different from your previous experience.
Online work will dominate many sectors and working from home is becoming the norm and should not be viewed as a perk.
Meetings, client interactions and the management of processes and data will all be conducted online so get used to working autonomously, plus real-time monitoring of your work activities by your employer.
Social media will continue to infiltrate our lives so a professional presentation on multiple platforms will be vital for any career-focused professional.
Data is the gold of the 21st century so learn data analysis and research skills to keep ahead of the pack.
How to advance your career
Much has been set out in the above sections.
Virtual working with virtual hours will dominate your future so embrace these changes and demonstrate your current technology skills as well as the innate ability to quickly adapt to new systems and methods (dinosaurs will fail).
Now is a great opportunity to invest in yourself and emerge a stronger and more versatile candidate.
Soft skills are critical to the post COVD-19 world of work. Polish your negotiation, people management, motivation and conflict resolution skills.
Unprecedented change and circumstances are being forced on us and there is no choice if you want to be an active player in the future workforce.
ACMA creates successful career paths through detailed individual assessment, research and job market analysis, combined with expert personalised coaching.
Note: A Career Development Association of Australia research paper found that when professional career guidance occurred that the participant was 2.67 times more likely to secure a job.
All program services can be delivered via our interactive online cloud-based career management "Career Talk" system and/or "one-on-one" in our Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Cairns or Auckland offices.
RING 1800 245 380 now to book a FREE consultation
