Our lives have taken an unprecedented turn over the past few weeks with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is now under partial lockdown as the government is putting in measures to curb the spread of this new pandemic. This has adversely affected many businesses and with the economic slowdown, it is easy to lose focus on your career.
Even though times are tough right now, you shouldn’t lose focus on your career or stop growing as a professional. Here are some ways to ensure you stay afloat and motivated in through these challenging times.
Do Not Stop Applying for Jobs
As an active job seeker, it is important to keep applying for open positions. Your success in job applications is determined by your activity in the job application, applying for jobs you have a greater chance at and the state of your CV. The economy may be moving at a slower pace but it doesn’t mean that companies are not hiring. Continue sending out your job applications and review your CV to ensure it earns you an audience with a potential employer.
Make Informed Decisions
Most companies are now working from home and it is an entirely new way of doing things for most people. Being self-aware at this time will help you have the most optimal output in your work. Understanding times and environments within your house you feel most productive is key in your performance working at home. Understand your strengths and weaknesses, whether you are a night owl or early bird and set aside a place in your house to be your work space. Create a schedule that leverages on your strengths and ensures your tasks are completed.
Learn a New Skill
Whether you are currently employed or seeking employment, use this time to learn a new skill. If you are not actively looking for a job, you should actively grow your career. Take advantage of the available online courses on different sites. This is crucial because you might not know what direction businesses will take after the pandemic, thus you are better off improving your current skill set to remain competitive. This also applies to active job seekers; a new skill to add to your resume will make you stand out.
Stay Connected with Your Colleagues
The current unprecedented events have affected us all in various ways. It is, therefore, important to check up on your friends from work and find out how they are generally holding up. Take advantage of the virtual meeting spaces such as google hangouts, Zoom or Skype to just catch up about work, home and how you are all coping with the current situation. Talking about things with your colleagues will help everyone relieve some stress and also keep you motivated to face the challenging times that lie ahead.
Network with Other Professionals
At a time where video and virtual meetings have become the norm, it is recommended that you join those that are relevant to your industry and career. You will find valuable information from experts on how to thrive through the current situation. BrighterMonday has been hosting webinars and live streams in different sectors like education sector. Take advantage of these online sessions to connect and network with employers and experts in your respective industry or sector. If you are interested in joining the next Brightermonday webinar, you can always contact us for more information. These along with many other webinars hosted online to provide you with the opportunity to network.
Below is a short video from one of our live stream giving tips on how you can optimize your job search and grow your career despite the current challenging times.
https://www.facebook.com/BrighterMondayKenya/videos/838823493296310/
