COVID-19 has thrown quite a spanner in the works for businesses across the world. Whether you’re a freelancer, a small independent company or part of a coffee franchise, you’ve probably had to find ways for you and your business to adapt to a world in lockdown.
With legal restrictions now lifted across the UK, it seems like things can finally start going back to normal.
Here’s some advice from us on what to consider when creating new career goals in a post-COVID world to help get you and your career back on track!
Self Reflection
There’s nothing like a worldwide pandemic to put things into perspective. For some of us, being isolated for so long allowed us to reflect on what we wanted.
If this is true for you, great! You’re one step closer to getting your career back on track - or changing lines entirely. If it’s not, that’s okay too! The past year has been stressful enough without having to figure out a new life plan.
With things returning to normal, now is the perfect time for you to take some time to look inwards. How have your priorities shifted since the pandemic began? What strengths and weaknesses have emerged from this time?
After some consideration, you can figure out how to apply these things to your new career goals.
Resist Complacency
Job security in a post-COVID world seems like a luxury. Any assurances we had before the pandemic may now be brought into question. You may even find yourself wondering if you’re really where you want to be.
Now is the time to make yourself invaluable. Look into the changes COVID brought to your industry - is there a chance your role could be automated?
Take this time to learn some new skills and further your professional development. By noticing these trends and changes in post-COVID industries, you can help make yourself vital.
You could even consider leveraging yourself into a more stable role or changing to a career that’s more equipped to weather such uncertain times.
Manage Your Time
With things returning to normal, it can be tempting to hit the ground running, but this may not be a practical move.
The world is in recovery, and this is going to take time. Things may be settling, but they are by no means healed. Uncertainty is still rife, and while having goals is a fantastic start, now may not be the time to take on your endgame.
If you’ve got a big goal in mind, try taking a few steps back. What do you need to do to reach that goal, and which of these things can be achieved in the next couple of months?
By managing your time and taking things one step at a time, you can ensure that your goals are aligned with your priorities and values to help ensure future success.
Build Connections
If you’ve been isolated or working remotely for the duration of the pandemic, then chances are you’re feeling out of sorts or even afraid for things to return to normal.
COVID has taken a toll on people’s physical, emotional and mental health across the country, and having empathy for others is more crucial than ever. Now is the time to bring people back together - take this time to connect with colleagues, clients, and customers on a human level.
By understanding how people have been affected by this global crisis, you can build and strengthen authentic relationships, which will help make things much easier for you and your career in the coming months.
The world is healing, and that’s going to take time. By setting yourself career goals for a post-pandemic world and having the necessary skills and empathy to navigate it, you can ensure that you’re setting yourself up for a bright future.
If you’ve been thinking about a new career path, why not take a look at why franchising might be a promising career choice for you post-COVID?
