It’s not uncommon for turbulent political or economic climates to affect the career prospects of fresh graduates and young working professionals. The post-pandemic era has witnessed the greatest economic crisis the world has seen and that has resulted in frequent lay-offs of a major chunk of the workforce.
Whether you’re a fresher or an experienced professional, such situations can be overwhelming for anyone. Considering the uncertainties may persist at any point, it’s imperative to build your career in a manner that will help you withstand any turbulences in the future.
With that thought, we have provided a wealth of information on how to build a career even amidst various uncertainties.
1. Try Not To Be Too Picky
Fresh graduates rarely get the opportunity to be picky about where they want to work. It’s imperative for most people to “pay their dues” first before their talents and skills receive the recognition they deserve. Some of the greatest scientists in the world were lab assistants before.
Since you have a university degree and a wealth of knowledge, it’s easy to feel that some jobs are not worth your qualifications. However, this is the time for you to work on changing that mindset. You rarely get to be a hotshot right out of the gates, hence be more open to smaller opportunities.
2. Consider Career Paths to be Fluid
A steady climb isn’t always a necessity to succeed in your career. Suppose you find your career hitting a plateau, then consider moving sideways into a position of equal rank and pay, in an organisation that offers more scope for advancement. Or, you can take a step back and work for less pay at a startup that provides hands-on learning opportunities.
When you apply the knowledge, skills and experience acquired through these opportunities, you increase your chances of leaping far ahead of where you started.
3. Bring In An Innovative Approach
An organisation is more likely to be satisfied with an employee who seems like a developing asset. There’s a known approach to doing your job and you’ve probably mastered it. However, one of the best ways to leave an impression is to show that you’re keen on learning and finding better ways of carrying out your daily tasks.
It doesn’t mean you have to make significant changes. Maybe you can start using a calendar app to schedule activities and make yourself more efficient. You can use your free time to help in another department. As you collect details and brainstorm, make suggestions, it becomes evident that you’re all about progress.
4. Consider Opportunities Outside of your Field If they Come
There’s a good reason why many companies who are hiring have work experience requirements. It’s not always about knowing how to do the job that you’re applying for. Companies have different ways of doing things, which means you’ll need adequate training to know how the job works anyway. That said, there are always going to be doubts when it comes to hiring freshers or inexperienced individuals.
However, some options are more welcoming than others, but they may not necessarily be your chosen field. Consider taking these opportunities for the sake of the experience, so have something to show on your resume. If nothing else, at least it proves that you can hold on to your own and take initiative when given the job.
5. Don’t Be Complacent and Be Eager Instead
It’s not uncommon to think you’re safe because you hold an important position in a company. Remind yourself that no matter how long you’ve been with a company, you’re still replaceable. This allows you to rediscover your motivation and passion.
Show your dedication by offering suggestions, being proactive, and showing your leadership capabilities.
6. Leverage Your Network
If you want to overcome significant challenges and get ahead in your career, need to surround yourself with a strong network of diverse individuals. It’s important continually nurture these relationships.
If you’re searching for jobs, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The more you make others aware that you’re looking for work, new opportunities will come to you. If you’re hesitant about connecting with your peers publicly, use direct messages to reach out to them.
7. Reposition Yourself
If your career has been affected by uncertain times (be it a pandemic or recession), take this chance to think about where your experience could be an asset. Familiarise yourself with your industry’s leaders and competitors and recent events in your current space and related fields.
Build your career by capitalising on emerging trends. Search for new startups and investment activity. Create Google alerts, sign up for virtual conferences, and seek out learning opportunities. When you notice the same terms or names coming up in your research, that’s an indication that you’re on a right track. Then you can focus on expanding your skillset accordingly.
8. Remain Tech-Savvy
Push yourself to keep your technical skills updated, even if these skills don’t seem directly related to your current job. Otherwise, you may need to catch up a huge amount before you can head off in a new direction in the future.
If that means becoming familiar with the basics of coding or virtual whiteboards, then go for it. And if you’re in a highly technical field of work, be proactive and stay current – even if your organisation doesn’t.
9. Be Aware of the Environment
Follow changes and trends in your industry, your profession and the wider economy. Keep yourself updated and look for work in industries and for employers that have long-term sustainability and a positive outlook. Consuming quality news and industry press will keep you updated with the trends.
You can use various methods such as PEST or Porter’s Five Forces to analyse the position of your current organisation. Overall, it’s wise to avoid industries and organisations that are on a downward spiral.
10. Maintain Resilience
Cultivate your ability to weather turbulences and disappointments. The future is uncertain and you’ll likely encounter setbacks no matter how much you plan.
Successful people often have resilience, they work with purpose and bounce back from setbacks, and consider mistakes to be learning experiences. In order to be resilient, try strengthening your personal support system and focus on maintaining your overall health and well-being. Make sure to evaluate and affirm your strength regularly and work on your ability to cope with change.
Final Thoughts,
Uncertainties can creep up any time when you trying to build a thriving and successful career. While it’s normal to be overwhelmed in such situations but you need to be adequately prepared to weather any storm brewing on the horizon. Hopefully, the strategies discussed above will be helpful in your career ahead.