During this time of ambiguity and uncertainty, many professionals will begin to feel anxious about the long term impacts the coronavirus pandemic may have on their careers. There are some actions you can take today to gain some control of your career— both short-term and long term. Here, we assess how COVID-19 may stall your career and what you can do to prepare for this.
You haven’t got that promotion you deserve
It's disheartening to work hard and hit your targets, only to be told that you won't be promoted or given a pay rise.
During this unprecedented time, many are faced with disruption to their career like not receiving promotion, pay rise or bonus. It's helpful to take a step back and really reflect on why the promotion was important to you. Ask yourself, what matters most about it. And what was going to change most in relation to what you are doing right now.
Were you excited about the internal or external rewards? Was it the change in job title or reporting line, salary or in the compensation that meant most to you? Or perhaps it was the type of work you would be doing to gain new experiences and challenges. And maybe even get involved in new areas in the organisation. Reflecting on these factors will help you decide. Whether you feel compelled to move externally, or to stay with the plan to review again in the future.
If you like the organisation, enjoy the type of work you are doing as well as the people you work with. Then staying in your current position may be the right decision for you.
Staying can also allow a better work-life balance than moving right now. In a new role, you will be expected to build new relationships with new stakeholders. Furthermore, you will earn new systems and processes remotely. All of which naturally takes time and concentration.
If you decide to stay, it's important to set timescales (e.g. after 6 months) to contemplate on your situation. Ask yourself the following: where are you now in relation to where you were, and how do you feel about your career development plan? Are you comfortable perhaps waiting another 6 months for that to develop or do you need to start looking externally? Are those changes and rewards more important and pressing to you right now?
Take the time to reflect on how you feel in your current position instead of waiting for the promotion.
You’re uncertain of whether to move jobs
With no real end date to the uncertainty and economic instability, it may seem too risky to move jobs. However, we know that many professionals will not want to put their career on hold for the next few years. So, we encourage professionals to be thorough and diligent in their research on future employers.
Any organisation looking to recruit at this time will have assessed the future of their business. They will definitely have a long-term plan in place for any new hires. Make sure to ask the hiring business or your recruitment consultant about the long-term prospects and career progression.
Now more than ever, it is important to do some due diligence of the company you are thinking of joining. Look into the industry and consider how they might have been impacted by an economic downturn. Read the company accounts ahead of any interviews. You should be fully aware of the financial position of the organisation.
It is also important to stay mindful of the ‘last in, first out’ redundancy approach which companies often must take in times of uncertainty. That said, any job move comes with its risks, and you should always evaluate the pros and cons regardless of the current pandemic. Thoroughly examine how the crisis has affected certain industries and take a sensible approach.
Finally, work with a trusting and reliable recruiter. They will offer you sound advice on what steps to take at this time. A top recruiter will be keen to support you as they will see the value of your skill set and experience.
Your job security is at risk
In this current environment, most employers would understand the rationale behind leaving a company.
Moving roles too regularly can also be discouraged. A job move would be encouraged if you’re in an environment where you have genuine concerns about being let go. Depending on your circumstances, it could be seen as proactive and sensible to plan for that eventuality.
If you’re concerned about job security because you joined recently, it might be worth talking to your manager. They may be able to offer you reassurance that your job is still absolutely critical to the business.
You’re at risk of redundancy
Seek support from your current organisation. Whether that’s helping you prepare and write your CV, or developing your LinkedIn profile to get your skills and experiences across. Maybe even interview preparation. If you have been with your organisation for several years, make sure to avail of the support that is available to you to help you prepare.
If there's an opportunity for short-term or interim work, it's a great opportunity to offset the long-term unemployment period. It can sometime take months to help bridge the gap on your CV when you leave your current role.
It's also important to tap into your network of professional contacts, people that you may have worked with previously. Likewise, know through industry bodies, affiliations, or even university or college connections. These are all very useful contacts to have, particularly when you’re preparing for a redundancy situation. Reaching out to those individuals creates awareness of your skill set being available to them. They can then in turn share with their own organisations or networks.
Always stay in contact with your recruitment consultant once you feel that redundancy may be coming your way. Make a plan with them in terms of what you want to look at within the market. Then take a proactive approach with them.
This is also a good opportunity to identify skills gaps on your CV. Take a look at areas where you think you could improve in or areas you’ve been meaning to upskill in. Take online courses. Join an industry group that focuses on this area. Use this time to put yourself in the strongest position to enhance your CV.
You’ve been placed on involuntary leave
Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, some employees have had no choice but to take an involuntary leave of absence. Being placed on temporary leave or ‘furloughed’ can leave you feeling anxious of the future of your job. If you're unable to complete work whilst on temporary leave, you don't necessarily need to stall your development and learning.
As with anything in the professional and working world, you need to be up-to-date on relevant skill sets. There's no denying that some industries have been more impacted by the pandemic than others such as travel and retail. Consider the extent to which your industry has been affected. Take a rational look at what that may mean for your role within the organisation. With the societal changes that will follow the pandemic, skills in demand will also be changing. Take this period of prolonged rest to upskill and future-proof your employability.
Be proactive during this time. Research areas in high demand to upskill that will help you reach your career goals. Dedicating time and effort to enhance your employability and develop new skills will help shape your future career path.
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