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Covid-19 restrictions are forcing many people to take a long, hard look at their jobs and future prospects, as they adjust to reduced hours, working from home or even redundancy.
Job-seeking can be a nerve-racking process at the best of times, but the added stresses and uncertainties of a global pandemic can make looking for a new role even more daunting.
However, two local career consultants say that there are plenty of strategies and support available that can help anyone, from someone whose business has gone under to students worrying about end of school and beyond.
Bronwyn Wilde runs Career Logic in Orewa. She says lockdown has brought the future of employment into sharp focus and, while there are no easy answers, people need to think strategically about what they want to do.
“Covid has accelerated the arrival of ‘the future of work’ in terms of reimagining the ‘how, when, where and why we work’,” she says.
“For me, step one would be thinking about and crafting a smart career goal. There are many coaching tools available that can boost momentum, particularly when career clarity is absent.”
Her suggestions include organising thoughts in a journal, conducting a personal SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis and creating a vision board for what you want and where you want to be.
“You’re the main character in your life story, so take charge of your narrative,” she says.
Career Clinic owner Janet Tuck says whether someone has lost their job or is looking to change direction, recognising their own skills and attributes is vital.
“It’s important that people know the value they bring, and a lot of people are very uncertain about that,” she says. “A good starting point is what your skills are and to look at what you’ve done and your achievements. If you’re clear about your skill set, you can find opportunities all over the place.”
Both agree that attending to the basics is crucial, such as revisiting your CV, setting up or enhancing a LinkedIn profile, cleaning up your social media, practicing interview techniques and connecting with people, whether by Zoom or in person, such as having a coffee and a walk round the block.
It is also important to look after yourself, Janet says.
“It’s a very strange time, what’s happening is not normal. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the workplace, people are unsettled. There are those who’ve had dreams disintegrate before them,” she says.
“In these sorts of times, we do really need to nourish ourselves and by doing that, build ourselves up. Put a daily and weekly plan together, put self-care and structure around each day.”
Bronwyn Wilde agrees, and urges people to reach out for help and support, whether self-directed or via professional guidance.
“There is an abundance of information, tools and shared knowledge readily available to the job seeker, so research and/or reach out for support,” she says.
Janet Tuck, Career Clinic
Really interesting time, very much talking about the great resignation, a lot of uncertainty in the workplace, people are unsettled. A lot of people are on the move.
Survey done, many more people than usual looking to move.
What I’m saying is although very buoyant market, think about why you’re moving.
Have you explored all the opportunities where you are? Have you made the most of the opportunities where you are, as employers are wanting to keep good people, so there might be opportunities for upscaling or retraining or adding something new into the mix, so there might the chance to do something different right where you are.
It’s a very strange time, what’s happening is not normal.
If you move, is it going to be better and what does better look like for you. Are you looking for something completely different. Being clear about the reasons for moving, wanting better balance and flexibility. I encourage people to have a conversation with their employer to see if there are any opportunities for increased flexibility.
If people are moving it’s important that they know the value they bring, and a lot of people are very uncertain about that, They will jump to a job they’re familiar with, women more than men.
What are you trying to change?
If you’re clear about your skill set you can find opportunities all over the place, might be quite invigorating to try somewhere different.
Networking is really important at the moment, people want to connect. Now might be the time to enhance and re-energise your LinkedIn profile. Have a Zoom catch up, people want to connect and do something meaningful.
Make it how are you doing, this is my observation, develop relationships, not like you’re desperate for a job. Say let’s have a coffee and a walk round the block.
It’s a really good time to revitalise your CV, update your strengths, does your CV still tell your whole story. Create your master CV so you just tweak it for different jobs.
A lot of my clients have dropped off, now at home homeschooling children, partners at home, incredibly stressful.
People are quite uneasy and unsure about the future. The impact on mental health is going to be huge. Conversations are different – lot more about how are you looking after yourself, what are you doing to remain buoyant, do that walk around the block, have a coffee, sit in the sun for 10 minutes.
In these sorts of times we do really need to nourish ourselves and by doing that, build ourselves up.
The thing that concerns me about that is that during the first lockdown it was a novelty, we stayed buoyant and respectful. This time, the fuse is a lot shorter and the potential for things to get out of hand quicker is there.
There are fractures in social community, politics, relationships and workplaces. People need to ask themselves how can I stay the best person I can be during this time. Am I bringing my best self and how do I do that and resource that, working on the things that you can.
There are those who’ve had dreams disintegrate before them.
Job loss/business failure: Access all the government support as much as possible, don’t hold back. We don’t know how long this is going to go. It’s hard. Just make sure you can keep your head above water.
Supporting our local communities, we’re going to dig quite deep.
If you have lost your job, you need to separate your losing your job from the bigger context, or you’ll stay depressed.
Think my job has disappeared , I need to find something. A good starting point is what your skills are and look at what you’ve done, reevaluate yourself on the good work you’ve done, your achievements. If you can say I’ve achieved really good things, telling that story to yourself and to others can help. You need to validate yourself.
Get some referees, think what would they say. I know this is hard but boosting your self-confidence this way can be really helpful.
Self-care things – I take them through a workbook. Resilience, being well, stress reduction. Put a daily and weekly plan together, even if it’s only 10 minutes each day updating your CV, put some structure around each day.
Self-care, working, contact this person, still maintain a sense of purpose and try not to spend all day on Netflix and Facebook.
Bronwyn Wilde Career Logic
How has the past 8 weeks been for you and your business – are you getting more or fewer clients?
I certainly experienced a drop-off in terms of enquiry during the first four weeks of this latest lockdown, however, thankfully this is now picking up. The majority of my enquiry comes from parents of high school students and those wishing to understand how best to navigate career change. I put this resurgence in enquiry down to two things:
The end of the school year is fast approaching and students are starting to plan for the 2022 academic year as well as life beyond the school gate;
Covid has accelerated the arrival of ‘the future of work’ in terms of reimaging the ‘how, when, where and why we work’.
Some people will have lost their jobs due to lockdown; others will be feeling unsettled and may be uncertain about what they can, or want to do in future – do you have any advice about how to move forward in such uncertain times?
This is a really BIG question and one that I find difficult to answer because everyone has their own narrative and unique career preferences. There is an abundance of self-directed search options available or alternatively accessing professional career guidance. Both options are equally valuable and really it comes down to individual preference.
I’m naturally future-focused and am forever communicating the importance of being planful and intentional when it comes to executing our careers. I also love goal setting so for me step one would be thinking about and crafting a SMART career goal. There are many coaching tools also available that can boost momentum particularly when career clarity is absent. For example:
Create your own vision board (digital or hardcopy)
‘This is Your Life’ – describe a day in your life once you have achieved your career goal
Journaling is a fun and creative way to organise your thoughts
Visioning Prompts – these questions can help you shape your vision for the future:
i. How will you know when you have achieved your career goal?
ii. What does success look like for you?
iii. Looking back from a place of success what does your career, and life, look like 10 years from now, 5 years from now and 1 year from now?
Conducting a personal SWOT analysis
What can people do to improve their employment chances during lockdown and looking forward?
Agreed, times are uncertain for many but there are actions that we can take to improve our employment chances:
What’s you why? Understand your motivation for changing roles. You want to know you’re making a mindful choice and be able to communicate the same to potential employers.
Clean up your social media before you get your job search underway.
Tap into your network (people like to work with or refer people they ‘know, like’ trust). Percentages aside, the hidden job market is a ‘real thing’.
Refresh your CV and covering letter and tailor each to the role/s you’re applying for. Make use of keywords.
Keep up to date with your professional development plan.
Get interview ready – don’t let interview questions stump you – prepare so that you can respond effectively.
Get comfortable with Zoom because video interviews are just as important as in-person interviews.
Is there anything else you’d like to add that may help or encourage people?
You’re the main character in your life story so take charge of your narrative.
Be intentional with your job search. Allocate quality time and a conducive working space to plan your way forward.
There is an abundance of information, tools and shared knowledge readily available to the job seeker so research and/or reach out for support.
