Career lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of our professional lives. We’ve spent over a year adjusting to life in lockdown – and tackling professionals’ uncertainties head-on. Although it’s been challenging, there are a lot of lessons to be learned that you can apply throughout your entire career – Pandemic or none. 

So what lessons can we take away from the pandemic? Here are some key points that you can adopt to best prepare yourself for a post-pandemic job market. 

Lesson 1: Job security does not determine your professional success

Job loss was (and continues to be) one of the biggest consequences of the COVID-19pandemic. Nonetheless, unexpected job loss is an eventuality in any career – pandemic or none. 

If you experienced unexpected job loss, it can feel like the end of the world. Worst-case scenarios run through your head, and you wonder if your performance was inadequate to secure your job. But what we learned from the pandemic is that your role can be impacted by factors that you cannot control. Just because you lost your job, doesn’t mean you have failed in your career. 

Lesson 2: Consider roles outside your comfort zone

If you are on the job market during this intense period, it’s easy to get boxed in the mindset that companies are closing their doors altogether. However, some industries are still growing and in need of talent. 

According to recent trends, the IT industry is benefitting the most as COVID-19 fuels the demands for their digital services and gadgets. Moreover, the COVID-19 shutdown requires businesses to redesign their workforce and make meaningful investments in human capital to build an agile, flexible workforce. According to recent trends, we expect that businesses will prioritize hiring people with skills that contribute to this goal. 

The lesson learned here is that great opportunities emerge from places you wouldn’t normally consider. That’s why you should not limit yourself to a job search for your specific field or industry. Your skill sets might be valuable in other fields or industries that you’ve never thought of.  

Lesson 3: Continuously develop your skills

The reality of the “new” normal has left many businesses re-thinking the skills they need from their workforce in order to succeed in a post-pandemic market.  

Digital platforms such as LinkedIn Learning and Coursera offer various online learning content which are great sources of innovations. Dedicating a couple of hours per week to obtain certifications from these courses can help you increase your employability for future jobs and protect the value of your skills. 

Lesson 4: Never stop networking

Staying in touch throughout lockdown was a major challenge during the pandemic – but arguably more important than before. Isolation makes it especially difficult to stay engaged at work. Without putting forth the additional effort to network and stay in touch, it’s easy to fall “out of the loop.” 

Fortunately, there are many online networking channels that could be relevant to your interests or industry. Such business groups on LinkedIn or Facebook are great platforms if you are looking to build valuable connections. Furthermore, webinars and online conferences are also great free virtual opportunities to connect with other professionals. 

Get Ready with Octagon Professionals

Octagon Professionals is an HR solutions provider and recruitment firm with 30 years of experience. Job seekers are critical to our success, and that’s why our expert consultants are passionate about connecting talent with the best job to match your skills. Check our vacancies and apply today!