How to Get Your Career Goals Back on Track Post-Pandemic

Let’s face it: this past year has been a tough one.  Covid-19 has derailed career paths and future plans for many of us, especially for fresh graduates and young professionals.  If you’re in this category and feel stressed over set-backs and uncertainty — it’s certainly justified, and you’re not alone.  

The International Labour Organisation reports that young people, especially women, have been hit exceptionally hard by the pandemic.  It has shattered employment, disrupted education, and created major obstacles for those trying to enter the workforce or move between jobs.  This triple shock could have devastating consequences for a whole generation.      

While these facts are heavy, there’s also some good news: more and more people are getting vaccinated, and the UK economy is beginning to open up after a series of lockdowns.  Spring is in the air, and along with it, there’s hope.  We can be optimistic as we cautiously move forward towards a post-pandemic world and resettle ourselves in “normal” life, whatever that may be hereafter.  

For those who just graduated, lost jobs but have a competitive skill set, or who are trying to change careers, we’ve collected a list of tips to help you navigate and prepare for the future.  Here’s what you can do now to help you hit the ground running.

1.  Skill development: Focus on soft skills & digital skills

While the current generation may be the most educated yet, they are generally lacking a broad range of soft skills that employers highly value.  But what exactly are soft skills?  Soft skills are non-technical skills related to how you work and interact with others, including: critical thinking, teamwork, people skills, conflict resolution, communication, listening, and empathy.  You’ve likely already had experience building these skills since they’re usually learned through work, school, volunteering, or extracurricular activities.  

You can further develop your soft skills by self-reflecting, observing others, online training, or through practice.  There are also tons of personal development resources available through books and podcasts to help you get started.    

Meanwhile, on the other end of the skill spectrum, we have digital skills.  As the Covid-19 crisis made working from home the new normal, these skills have never been more important in our daily lives.  Furthermore, it’s likely that remote work is here to stay, and technological advancements will only continue to rapidly transform the modern workplace. 

Research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights digital skills as a center focus as the UK workforce faces a major upskilling need to address economic shifts and digitalisation.  In addition, acquiring these basic skills increases workers’ resilience in times of economic upheaval.           

Are you ready to prepare for the office of the future?  A good starting point can be digital skills training to address your specific needs.  You can also stay up-to-date by reading up on new technologies and current digital trends in the market that you’re planning to enter. 

2.  Try and gain some extra professional experience

For recent graduates, gaining any kind of professional work experience, no matter how small, can boost your CV.  Research shows that Saturday jobs are dying in the UK as young people look to earn quick money online.  While finding convenient ways to make cash isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you lose the opportunity to develop yourself in a professional environment, to network with like-minded people, and to gain important references and contacts for your career. Some job boards are available on the internet where a person can interact with the same industry people and trending skills required for your career so that you can prepare yourself to get hired.

While Covid-19 has hindered usual access to opportunities within our local economies, the global switch to remote work opens up chances to take on remote positions in other cities or countries.  Take advantage of this and consider expanding your horizons laterally.  You can also look into temporary internships while you job hunt to build further knowledge in different areas.  

Overall, this strongly ties in with the importance of soft skills development and sharpening your professional identity.  Although it’s understandably harder to get used to a professional setting during a pandemic, it’s not impossible.  

3.  Prepare mentally to be back at work: Set goals and manage your time

After spending so much time at home this past year, maybe you’ve slipped out of routine and have faced ruts of unproductivity.  And that’s okay — you’re only human.  For those of us who have been jobless, it’s smart to expect some culture shock returning to full-time work in the future.  However, by working on managing that feeling now, you’ll set yourself up for success.  It all starts with getting up early and getting yourself in the habit of self-motivating.  Here are some tips to get on track:  

• Set yourself personal goals and start managing your own time around them throughout the day 
• Keep a spreadsheet of applications you’ve sent and when you sent them so you can monitor your productivity 
• Reach out to friends and colleagues and make sure your close circles know you’re searching for a job (and, importantly, what kind of a job!)
• Update your LinkedIn (profile + status)

Worried about a gaping hole in your CV?  Learning can help plug that.  You can explain it by saying which skills you’ve looked at developing in the meantime. 

4.  Consider reskilling: Apprenticeships and the Lifetime skills fund

The pandemic has forced us to slow down and given us the chance to reflect on our current position in life.  Have you been re-evaluating your career choice and thinking of starting over?  Now is a great time to look into reskilling and prepare for a major transition.    

In the UK, word around apprenticeships is buzzing, especially in regard to tackling inequalities that have been worsened by Covid-19.  If you’re looking for a practical option to learn new skills while earning money, consider apprenticeships.  This option can help you ease back into the workforce or pursue a job in a new industry.  

Furthermore, the UK government has launched funded opportunities for gaining new skills through the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.  Research available courses, and don’t let money or age play a role in preventing you from equipping yourself with the tools you need to improve your career — funding is open for a much wider pool of candidates and age is not a factor. 

It’s also important to remember: it’s never too late to start over.  After all, studies show the positive effect that adult education has on employment.  A report by adult education provider WEA reveals that upon completion of a course, nearly a quarter of those who were unemployed found work.  Thus, taking the time to invest in yourself pays off in the end.

If you're curious about reskilling and want more insight on which industries you should consider, check out our article: Top 8 Careers to Reskill Into. 

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