Post-Pandemic Career Goals

The pandemic took a toll on not only our health and emotions but also the way we conduct business in daily life. The traditional office was replaced with a kitchen table, the bed or corner closet and business as usual took a big hit. Now that the world is slowly getting back to what we once called “normal”, although far from it, it’s time to take a hard look at previous career goals and determine if they are still on target with your professional ambitions.

Realistically Review Your Daily Calendar

Pre-pandemic, the daily grind may have included a long commute to and from work each day in rush hour traffic. Perhaps the flexibility of working from home or finding an office closer to the house has suddenly taken on a new shine. Now is the time to evaluate how you see your life playing out post-pandemic. Are you more flexible to making less money and spending more quality time closer to home? Would you prefer less travel and aggregable to remote work?

Some people have found their jam-packed calendar is no longer as appealing as a relaxed work schedule and are willing to live on less money for a better quality of life. It depends on how you structure your budget and how you can live comfortably without major sacrifice. Each person has to take a serious look at their income and expenses and do the math for themselves.

Take Small Steps

You may have just graduated and feeling overwhelmed with all of the changes to the traditional job interview. Or, you could have been considering a career move before the virus and aren’t sure what to do next. Start small. Take the next step. Connect with people on LinkedIn, join virtual networking events, attend in-person when possible. And let friends and family know you are ready to make a career move.

If you are a new graduate, don’t hesitate to utilize a valuable resource by contacting your university’s Career Services Department and requesting help. It’s always uncomfortable when you are making a significant career move. But taking the first step, then another, will build your confidence and foster your self-esteem. Be proactive. Identify the skills you need to develop for the career you are hoping to attain. Ask for advice and rely on trusted feedback—these are all positive moves in the right direction.

Invest Time in Journaling Your Progress

There is value in keeping a journal which documents your career path. You can use it to develop your strategies based on what has worked and what has not. Set and update your career goals. Develop an action plan based on what you have tracked and look back at how your emotions and feelings have affected your outcome. It’s similar to a diary, where you can refine your goals and make personal notes on what motivates you, what you found surprisingly helpful and what didn’t work. It’s highly personal and you can create whatever most encourages you. Here is a good resource I found on Career Journaling for Professional Development by Michele Martin that may inspire you. 

Job Interview Tip: Don’t Skip the Cover Letter

Many recruiters I work with have commented in the past that the cover letter has become somewhat outdated, mainly because of technology screening processes. However, recently this thinking has changed due to the pandemic. According to a recent article in AARP, nearly half of recruiters (48%) say they are now more likely to read a cover letter than they were pre-pandemic. This coincides with my personal feedback from my corporate clients. Consider sending your cover letter in the form of an email directly to the hiring manager, introducing yourself and letting them know why you are the ideal candidate.

For more information check out The Protocol School of Texas. You may also like Leadership Skills That Will Propel Your Career. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.