How to Think About the Future of Work in These Uncertain Times
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In this episode:
I know this is a really difficult time, and everyone is being affected in some way by COVID-19 and it’s wide-ranging impacts.
Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in and listen to this podcast. Your support during this time means so much to me, and I’m honored to have a bit of your attention that I know is spread pretty thin these days.
I want you to know that I’ve updated my plan for this show, to make the content as relevant as possible. I have also been creating specialized resources to help people during this time the best that I can. I’ll be sharing more about what those are later on in today’s episode.
In this episode I’ll share:
Why now is the time to start thinking and planning ahead for your career
Ideas for working through fear and uncertainty in a productive way
How I’m innovating and adapting my services to address people‘s most pressing needs
Then, I’m answering a listener question from Kylie who asked for some tips about how to stay productive and focused while working from home.
How to think about the future of work in these uncertain times
Why now is the time to start thinking and planning ahead for your career
There is no doubt that this is a challenging time for everyone.
Businesses are suspending their operation, people are being laid off and many small businesses don’t know how they are going to pay rent, or keep their staff.
Many people that are still working are needing to adapt to remote work, trying to balance their workload while also caring for, teaching and entertaining their kids.
Education professionals are adapting to online education and missing their students.
Healthcare and many technology workers are working overtime trying to meet the demands for their services.
The uncertainty is growing, and it’s putting many people in a mental loop of anxiety and fear.
I’ve found myself in that same loop over the past couple of weeks. Things have been changing so fast, I haven’t felt equipped to keep up. As a self-employed owner of a small business, COVID-19 is affecting my business.
People are afraid about the future. They are afraid to be unemployed, and they are afraid about how bad this is going to get.
I understand this fear. But I also believe that we should actively fight against letting our fears control us.
A few weeks ago, I started this season of the Career Foresight podcast with so much enthusiasm and optimism about the future of work for creative professionals. I would have never been able to anticipate that just a few weeks later the future of work would be so scary for many people.
I feel a great sense of responsibility in this time to make sure I’m serving you well and helping you to thrive even when the circumstances have changed so much.
That being said, I want to talk today about why now is the time to start thinking and planning ahead for your career.
You’ve probably heard the following reports, or have been affected by them personally in the past week or so:
People are being laid off in large numbers
Companies are on hiring freezes
People without an occupation that can be done online, or who lack the skills or resources to work online are at a disadvantage
These things are true.
And because they are true, many people are opting to put their career on the back-burner. Their minds are clouded by the fear and uncertainty that they don’t see the opportunities that also exist during this time. Here are just a few:
Many sectors of work that are staffing up to meet a new demand of service
People are in search of meaningful connections, meaning it’s a great time to build your network online and ask for informational interviews
Quarantine restrictions mean more time to reflect and work on self-development goals
You know how much I love the word foresight, and how passionate I am about helping people practice foresight in their lives and work.
I’m telling you--now is the time to focus on the future.
Of course there are unknowns and changes that will come that will stretch and challenge us. But if we don’t learn how to stand up and start moving forward, we’ll find ourselves overcome with every new wave of bad news that comes our way.
Being creative and adapting during uncertain times are acts of strength and hope--two things our world is desperately in need of right now.
We’ve all seen how the economy has been shook and people’s lives have been drastically affected by this virus. Instead of staying locked in a pattern of fear, we ought to use this as an opportunity to reflect on what we want our days to be made of when things return to “normal.”
COVID-19 has been a needed reminder to many of us that what we have here on earth--belongings, health, safety, savings, jobs--they are temporary. There is so much that is out of our control.
And if that’s the case, it doesn’t serve us to panic.
Rather, our response should be focused on what we can do, and how we can best show up in our lives to make the most of what we’ve been given in our strengths, skills, resources and time.
That’s why I believe now is the time to start thinking and planning for your career. What is the best use of your giftings and talents? COVID-19 is affecting all parts of our economy and world which means that the risks of exploring these questions is lower than ever.
If you’ve been granted the gift of time through reduced work, social activities or unemployment, I challenge you to use this time to get creative and intentional about how you could build your career going forward.
Ideas for working through fear and uncertainty in a productive way
The best way to practice hope is by creating
My cousin, Ashleigh, wrote a blog for my website a few years ago called “To Create is To Hope” and her words have stuck with me over the years. Her point was that the act of creating anything is an act of hope. It’s putting into action your trust and faith that what you do today will make a difference and matter in some way tomorrow.
Her words have been on my mind a lot this past week as I’ve seen and heard of stories both of people holding back in fear, and embracing opportunities and challenges with hope. My hope is that this perspective serves you and inspires you to keep creating as it has served me over the past couple of years.
Forward motion is how you get through uncertainty
Think of standing on the shore of an ocean on a day with nice big waves rolling in. You can walk down to the water and either see those waves as something to be afraid of, or as an opportunity to have some fun.
If you’re afraid of the waves, you’ll likely try to brace yourself as they crash in. If you’ve played in waves before, you know this doesn’t work too well. If the force of the wave itself doesn’t knock you over, then you’ll probably fall as soon as the water begins to retreat and the sand loosens under your feet. You’d probably get back up just in time for it all to happen again with the next wave.
Contrast that with a person who sees the waves as an opportunity for fun. When the wave approaches them, they dive into it headfirst, feeling the rush of the wave through the water.
In the end, both are risky. But the one taking forward action and embracing the waves is much more prepared and agile, rather than being knocked off their feet.
How I’m innovating and adapting my services to address people‘s most pressing needs
Like I’ve been saying, everyone needs to adapt at this time, myself included. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been keeping a pulse on what’s happening in the economy and in people’s lives. I’ve been cautious about what I say, and how I market my services so that I don’t come off as insensitive during this time.
But I also know I have skills and knowledge that so many people need at this time.
So I’ve been brainstorming ways I can serve people well using my gifts and business. And I am so excited to share the first thing I’ll be offering to help people with their careers during this time.
In a couple of weeks, I’ll be hosting a 3-day, live, online bootcamp for people who want to use this time intentionally to make moves to level up their career.
It’s called the RENOVATE that RESUME BOOTCAMP and I promise you it will be jam-packed with helpful resources, great community and a whole lot of fun. This bootcamp is planned to start in just two weeks, on Thursday, April 9.
RENOVATE that RESUME BOOTCAMP
Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll get:
3 days of live, online workshops (60-minutes each) to teach you the skills you need and the steps to follow to craft a resume tailored for the jobs you want
Guided self-discovery of your unique strengths, skills and knowledge and learn how to market yourself for your dream jobs
Learn what the most highly sought-after skills and characteristics are in top industries today, and how to demonstrate that you possess them
Conduct an audit of your LinkedIn profile and learn exactly what you need to do to make it stand out to recruiters and potential employers
Access to a private LinkedIn Group where you can ask questions, get feedback on your work and network for opportunities
Free templates of proven resume formats that are applicant tracking system (ATS) verified and tastefully designed
All workshops will be recorded if you can’t join live!
The fun thing about this bootcamp is that it will be a series of interactive workshops hosted via Zoom. You’ll get to meet other participants and continue growing your professional network with them even after the bootcamp is complete.
I’m offering this bootcamp at a price of $97, which is a genuine bargain for what you will be receiving through this experience.
Not only will you have a fantastic, super good-looking resume at the end of three days, you’ll also have all the skills about how to adapt it for future job postings.
Keep in mind that to get a resume professionally written and designed, it costs hundreds of dollars, and all you get is a single resume that airs on the generic side.
Through this bootcamp you’ll learn how to create a bespoke resume that showcases who you are as a person and professional, and helps you stand out to hiring managers. Plus, you’ll also learn how to audit and update your LinkedIn profile, and build a stronger, more diverse network that just might lead to your next opportunity.
This bootcamp is BRAND NEW! So I am still working on pulling the pieces together. Depending on when you read this, the page may or may not be ready on my website.
If you want the information directly in your inbox, send me an email with “Resume” in the subject line. You can send the email to hello@jenniferspoelma.com, or use the contact form.
Please pass this information on to any friends, family or colleagues who have had their employment affected by COVID-19, or who are looking to build a career that really aligns with their strengths and skills.
P.S. If you have filed for unemployment, please let me know that in your email. I have a special discount to offer you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, and where you’re at mentally and emotionally in this COVID-19 pandemic. Send me your thoughts, opinions and questions by going to jenniferspoelma.com/contact and sending me a message!
Weekly Listener Question
This week’s listener question is from Kylie.
She asked, “I just started working from home this week for the first time. It’s so weird and hard to focus with all this change. What are your top three tips for staying sane and productive while working from home?”
Hi Kylie, thank you for your question!
I’m so glad that you have the opportunity to work from home during this time. Your question is also super relatable for a lot of people right now. Moving to a remote work setup is challenging at any time, but even more challenging to stay focused and productive with constant news updates and changes.
That being said, give yourself some grace. There will be an adjustment period, but you’ll get the hang of it. And, if you have kids at home, get ready to practice a lot of grace-giving. Here are some things I’ve found have helped me a lot in my work from home experience.
Set “office hours”: I know flexibility is one of the best perks of working from home, but I think keeping set times when you start and finish work is so important for keeping boundaries and sanity when working from home. It might feel good to sleep in and have a slow morning, but as soon as that turns into procrastination, it’s a hard train to stop. Having a routine will help everyone in your house adjust to a new rhythm as well.
Use a webcam: So many people hate webcams, but I’m telling you--they make such a difference! If you have access to a webcam (most people do via their smartphone), try to use it and get your colleagues to use one too. Not only does it make communication stronger since you can see visual cues, it also provides more social interaction which can be very powerful during a quarantine period.
Document what you’ve accomplished/tasks to complete: I think it’s safe to assume that most of us are experiencing some brain fog right now. There is so much information to process. When our brains feel scattered, it can be really hard to feel like we’re making progress or accomplishing much of anything. I always keep a notepad next to my computer where I write down things I’ve accomplished during the day, and things I need to remember to do. This practice has proven especially helpful over the past couple of weeks!
I hope those help, Kylie! Best wishes to you in this new season of work.
If you have a career coaching question you want answered, you can go to: jenniferspoelma.com/contact and use the form there to send me your question!
