Easy Steps to Progress Your Career During COVID-19

By Anna Daly

The year 2020 is one for the history books. Australians still reeling from the impact of devastating bushfires have had their lives thrown into further turmoil by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In these uncertain times, you might think it unwise, if not plain selfish, to invest time and energy in the transformation of your career.

For the short-term, at least, staying healthy, securing an income and managing the considerable disruptions to daily life caused by the crises are of paramount importance.

This does not mean, however, that you should put your plans for resetting or revitalising your career on permanent hold. You may need to reevaluate your expectations and timelines, but here are five very good reasons you should continue pursuing your career goals:

1. The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying global shutdown seem interminable but neither will last forever. Managing your career through the crisis is one thing but having long-term aspirations will help direct you once the crisis passes.
2. The factors prompting you to reevaluate your career will not vanish because of the current crisis. According to a recent Seek survey, three of the top five reasons people leave their jobs point to a poor organisational culture. An external crisis is unlikely to change that culture for the better and may, in fact, cause it to deteriorate.
3. There are few commentators who doubt the profound economic and social impact of COVID-19; fewer still can predict the industries and sectors that will flourish or flounder in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic and over the following years. Planning for change and incorporating that into a career strategy can only help prepare you for what lies ahead over the next six-to-18 months.

4. The sooner you make the psychological leap to the next stage of your career, the sooner you can make yourself available for the opportunities that will help you develop professionally. These may come in the form of further training or education and may involve a reduction in earnings for the time being. Taking a well-advised course of action now, though, will bring you one step closer to achieving your long-term goals.
5. Flexibility and readiness for a constantly transitioning job market have never been more important. In the first week of April 2020, the number of new jobs posted to Seek was down 65.3 per cent compared to the same week last year. Yet the likelihood travel will resume as restrictions are gradually eased has led forecasters to predict there will be some degree of recovery later in the year.

Be someone who creates their future.

Get the Executive Kickstarter.

Perfect for people who want an impeccable CV, LinkedIn profile, and covering letters for powerful job applications.