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How To Deal With Career Uncertainty In The Age Of Covid-19

Here’s How It Went:


“I don’t know if it’s just the psychological side-effects of this pandemic and quarantining, but lately I’ve been feeling stagnant and unhappy in a job that I’ve enjoyed for the last 2+years. My work has always presented a heavy workload that was cushioned by perks and glam. However, as we’re experiencing our “new normal”, the parts of my job that I loved (being onsite for events, connecting with clients, etc.) have been canceled indefinitely.

I feel bad complaining, as I know so many people have lost their jobs. I feel fortunate that I’m still working… but I can’t shake the feeling of being dissatisfied. Is it coming from a place of fear that I’ll soon be laid-off given the current climate? Have I just, finally, had the time to reflect on life and I’m realizing I’ve outgrown my current job?

I’m struggling with what my next steps should be. Should I wait out the storm and hope for the best or should I be proactive in finding a new job or building something on my own?“

My Take:


It is important to acknowledge privilege and feel grateful for having a career in this climate. But it’s also worth acknowledging how guilt and the pressure to be grateful in unprecedented circumstances can affect your mental state. The 24-hour news cycle helps keep us knowledgeable about the pandemic and its widespread effects on society. It also, however, feeds into our emotional distress. It pushes us to cross the line from being informed and cautious, to paranoid and overwhelmed.

Unaddressed Struggles:


By leaving these feelings unaddressed, we run the risk of feeling stressed, psychologically exhausted, and burnt out. If we’re constantly invalidating our own feelings because we know someone else has been affected more severely than we have, we’re convincing ourselves that we are undeserving of the same kind of understanding and empathy we give others.

Knowing that, it is critical that we be kind and forgiving to ourselves. We must do what we can to be a support system for others and help in ways we are able. We must also acknowledge our own worthiness of empathy. There’s no manual on dealing with the emotional toll of a pandemic. But, we can use this time to be caring and benevolent to both ourselves and others. Doing so may ultimately help us find some inner peace during unsettling conditions.

The New Normal:


Considering your career and the lifestyle associated with it have drastically changed due to the nature of the situation, it’s absolutely normal to feel uncertain about the future. The predictions about the long-term effects of the pandemic are just that – predictions. The world we live in after this may be entirely different than what we imagined just 3 months ago. Without the clarity we once thought we had about the future of our industries, we may lose our sense of security – within our careers, and the skills we’ve learned through them. Our life course may be forever changed, leaving us to figure out how to adjust to a “new normal”, without knowing what exactly it is we’re adjusting to.

“We’re left to figure out how to adjust to this “new normal” without knowing what exactly it is we’re adjusting to.”

Bracing For Impermanence:


In the case of how you’re feeling about your current job, there are multiple factors to consider here. Aside from the obvious changes in career functions from the pandemic, you may be subconsciously emphasizing feelings of dissatisfaction as a way to brace yourself for the worst-case scenario. Sometimes, when we don’t have control over the outcome of the situation, we attempt to detach from the positives associated with it. We do this in an attempt to protect ourselves from the pain of loss. By focusing on the negatives, you may be bracing yourself for impermanence.

Reflection:


On the other hand, you have had time to reflect over the last month. With a heavy workload, you’ve had little time to truly consider whether this career aligned with your ultimate goals. As the “new normal” begins to dissolve the perks and glam, you’re left wondering how much of a role those things played in keeping you in this job. Has it justified staying even though you feel like you’ve outgrown it? It could be that those thoughts have been lingering underneath the surface for a while, uncovered only when you slowed down enough to confront them.

The Difficult Truths:


Now, you’re being forced to address these feelings head-on. Could it be that your decision to stay in this role was more or less tied to the lifestyle you lived because of it? Did you feel so immersed in the work that you thought leaving or starting something of your own could ruin your trajectory, affect your sense of purpose, or ultimately feel like a sunk cost?

Power In Uncertainty:


Given the circumstances and the uncertainty of the future, you may recognize that these questions mark a pivotal moment for you. You may realize that your priorities have changed and that you feel entirely disconnected from the future you once envisioned in this career. Though it’s a disconcerting feeling, the silver lining of this situation may come to you as an opportunity to realign with your intended path and reevaluate what’s important to you.

“The silver lining of this situation may come to you as an opportunity to realign with your intended path and reevaluate what’s important to you.”

Here’s What I Suggested They Do:Prepare:


Since it’s difficult to determine what the other side of this will look like and how industries will be affected by it, it’s essential to be prepared for a variety of scenarios. If you’re up to it, work on getting all loose ends tied up and learn about unemployment benefits. Work on your resume and start putting feelers out for new career opportunities you may be interested in. Research how your career experience could be applied in different and innovative ways.

Breathe:


However, remind yourself to slow down and breathe – to remember that the hiring process is more difficult now. Carefully consider each decision before proceeding. Similarly, don’t get discouraged if you can’t find something right away. However, you will ease feelings of shock and panic if you spend time preparing for change – both emotionally and practically.

Take The First Step:


Realizing we feel stuck is the first step in making a change. The hardest step is actually doing something to initiate that change. While these circumstances force you to face some difficult truths about your situation, they also act as a catalyst for evolution and transformation.

Use this time to focus on the skills you want to develop. Home in on interests that you may have brushed off in the past due to their lack of conventional practicality. If you’ve been contemplating building something for yourself and have the time and energy to focus on it now, pour yourself into it.

Pursue Your Goals:


The ambiguity of your future may feel like a standstill in your ultimate journey. On the other hand, it could be pushing you to create a new path. Maybe, you’ll realize that the time you spend learning about yourself and your dreams is not going to waste. That in finally doing so, you won’t worry about being weighed down by the heaviness of a dozen “what if’s”.