Has COVID-19 stalled your career?

We all feel like our lives have been put on hold since March 2020, it is therefore, more than reasonable to question the impact this stagnation may have had on our careers and the prospects we face in 2021 and beyond.

Many professionals will feel anxious about the long-term impact coronavirus will have on their careers. While things may continue to feel this way for a while longer, there are some actions you can take today to gain some control of your career both short term and long term. 

Whether you believe that you're at risk of being laid off or feel stuck in a role you feel you shouldn't be in, we offer expert advice on how to avoid COVID-19 messing up your career plans. 

You haven’t got that promotion you deserve

There is no denying how disheartening it can feel to work hard and hit targets, only to be told you won’t be getting a promotion or pay rise that you may have been anticipating.

However, during this time, your employer may well have had significant challenges too; disruption to your career, either through not receiving that promotion or not receiving a pay rise or bonus, is not what either party may have wanted. What is helpful, when faced with this situation, is to take a step back and really reflect on why the promotion was important to you, 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 change in reporting line, or the salary and change in the compensation that meant most to you? Or perhaps it was the type of work you would be doing and the opportunity 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 if you feel compelled to move externally at this point, or whether you’re happy. within the role at this time.  (delete this) You should also consider how your employer handled the situation and be sure that you have a clear path to obtaining your objectives agreed for 2021.

If you decide to stay, and for many this may be the right choice to make in the current economic climate; if you like the organisation, if you enjoy the type of work you are doing, if you really enjoy the people you work with and the team you’re part of; 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, where in a new role you will be expected to build new relationships with new stakeholders whilst also learning new systems and processes remotely; all of which naturally takes time.

If you decide to stay in the role, it is important to set timescales for yourself to review this; where are you now in relation to where you were? 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?

So, take the time to take a step back just to reflect on how you feel in your current position versus waiting for the promotion.

It’s too high risk to move jobs

In the current economic climate, you may believe that it is 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 your research on future employers.

Any organisation looking to recruit at this time will have assessed the future of their business and will have a long-term plan in place for any new hires. When looking for a new role at this time, ask the hiring business or your recruitment consultant what the long-term prospects are and the career progression available.

Now more than ever, it is important to do some due diligence on the company you are thinking of joining. Look into the sector and industry and consider how they might have been impacted by an economic downturn, read the company accounts ahead of any interviews just so you are 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 have to take in times of uncertainty. That said, any job move comes with its risks and you should always way up the pros and cons regardless of the current pandemic. Look at certain industries and the impact the crisis has had on them and take a sensible approach.

Finally, work with a trusting and reliable recruiter who will offer you sound advice on what steps to take at this time.  A top recruiter will be keen to build a long-term relationship with you as they will see the value of your skill set and experience to the market.

Your job security is at risk

Whilst length of service is viewed favourably on a CV, in this current environment most employers would understand the rationale behind leaving a company sooner than anticipated if you feel your role is no longer safe.

Moving roles too regularly is typically discouraged, however, a job move would be encouraged if you’re in an environment where you have genuine concerns about being made redundant.  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 and not because your company is in financial distress, then it might be worth talking to your manager who may be able to offer you reassurance that your job is still absolutely critical to the business.    

You’re at risk of redundancy

If you are formally informed that you are at risk seek support from your current employer, this can take many forms, but getting references in order, asking for CV advice or time off to speak to recruiters or other contacts would be sensible first steps.

If there is an opportunity for short-term or interim work, this is also a great opportunity to offset any period of unemployment, which can sometimes last months, this helps bridge the gap on your CV when you leave your current role.

It is also important to tap into your network of professional contacts, people that you may have worked with previously, or 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 potential redundancy situation because reaching out to those individuals creates awareness of your skill set being available to them, which 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 and make a plan with them in terms of what you want to look at within the market and take a proactive approach with them.

This is also a good opportunity to identify skills gaps on your CV. Take a look and identify areas where you think you could improve on or areas you’ve been meaning to upskill; Use this time to put yourself in the strongest position to enhance your CV.  

You’ve been on prolonged ‘rest’ with the Furlough scheme

With millions of professionals across the UK still on Furlough following the UK Governments job retention scheme, many will begin to feel apprehensive when returning to ‘normality’.  Although you are unable to complete any work with your current employer whilst on Furlough, this does not mean that you need to stall your development and learning.

As with anything in the professional and working world, to stay ahead you need to be up to date on relevant skill sets. There is no denying that some industries have been more impacted by the pandemic than others, for example travel and retail, which have had to let go hundreds of employees as a result, consider the impact your industry has taken and take rational look at what that may mean for your role within the organisation. With the societal changes that will follow the pandemic, inevitably skill sets in demand will also be changing, take this period of prolonged rest to upskill (online courses etc.) and future proof your employability. 

Be proactive during this time and research areas in high demand to upskill, to help you reach your career goals, setting aside the time and effort to enhance your employability, identifying new skills that will help shape your future career path.