Managing your career during the pandemic

While companies are pivoting to survive the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, individuals are also well-advised to make pivots on their own – specifically, career pivots.

During this uncertain time, some of us might be thinking of changing careers or finding ways to make our jobs pandemic-proof. So on May 14, Tech in Asia Jobs sat down with Syed Ali Abbas, a prominent C-level HR leader, to ask him some burning questions from an employee’s perspective.

The industry matters

Many of us would like to have a job that can survive even a pandemic, but instead of fixating on a particular position, Syed recommended looking at the industry it belongs to.

For example, a customer service representative at a travel agency is likely to get laid off at this time, whereas a similar role at a telecommunications company would receive double the number of calls and therefore remain essential. Having a resilient career today is more sector dependent rather than company- or job-dependent.

Industries that have been affected by the pandemic and would likely provide less job security are those that rely on people coming together: co-working spaces, hotels, ride-sharing platforms, and manufacturing plants. On the other hand, those that service people as they maintain distance from each other are booming: ecommerce, food delivery, audio and video streaming, drones, and cryptocurrencies.

Developing as an individual

Start planning your long-term career goal by asking yourself these questions: What do you want out of life? What can you do with your skills? What makes you happy?

Once you have identified your career goals and options, be more proactive than simply taking online courses. Go out and network with people in your chosen industry, or even do a psychometric skill assessment.

Should you get the job you applied for (or get to keep your current one), Syed advised to continue working on developing an alternative skill set or a side hustle. This can help you with a planned career switch or in case your position is made redundant. Both contribute to what he called a career portfolio, which can be further developed through upskilling, joining relevant communities, mentoring, and building a personal brand.

For the ones who have been laid off, Syed says to stay positive and not lose hope. Start looking at what options you have in your current career track or in other tracks where your alternative skill set can be used. Get yourself out there by commenting on LinkedIn posts, networking, writing a blog, and talking to colleagues and friends. When you spot a job opening, move fast and be less picky.

There would likely be more job losses in the coming months, but the key to surviving this period is to continue upskilling and reskilling yourself. Keep an agile mindset and be highly adaptable. Embrace technology trends and have the mentality of being ready to roll up your sleeves and work.

We wish you all the best in your career path!

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