How to further your career during uncertain times
Many people both here in Zambia, and around the world, are now working from home due to the current pandemic. If you are not used to working from home then you might be finding it to be a difficult and isolating experience. But as well as staying focused and motivated with your work you can also potentially increase your career prospects. Being stuck at home offers you a real opportunity to network with others and to develop new skills to further your career.
Update your CV
When was the last time that you sat down and updated you CV? Now you have more time on your hands, take the opportunity to freshen up your important career document. Even if you are not planning to search for a new job, bringing your CV up to date and fine-tuning its details and appearance will save you time and stress later on if a new opportunity does arise.
By updating your CV you will also focus on what you have already achieved, what skillsets you might be missing and where you would like your career to take you. For tips on how to refresh up your CV go to our Careers Advice page.
Learn a new skill
Why not take advantage of your time at home to advance your skillsets? Normally you would be out visiting friends, playing sports and socialising. Now that you are at home, why not use this time to advance your career by taking an online course.
The internet provides a range of ways to advance your knowledge base. You can find online courses to brush up on your administration skills, for example how to put together presentations, or learning formulas for spreadsheets. If you are lacking the key skills for your job, then why not sign up for an online course?
Keep connected and boost your online networking
Following advice from the Ministry of Health to maintain social distancing and to stay at home might lead you to feel isolated. So stay in regular contact with your colleagues and managers, both by email and by chatting to them.
Networking should be part of your daily routine, but if you have been missing out on growing your professional network, then now is a great time to catch up and find out what is new in your sector and connecting with other professionals. So why not take advantage of online forums and platforms to reconnect with your professional colleagues. See our page on how to set up a professional LinkedIn profile.
Learn more about conservation and the environment
Maybe you have a great understanding of your specific sector, but know little about how it fits into the bigger global picture. You now have the time to learn more about the sector you work in.
Why not research your industry’s history online by reading news articles and academic papers, or join forums to discuss relevant present-day issues. Or you can join one of the many free online courses on conservation, the environment and climate change which are designed by international Universities. These will give you a better understanding of the world we live in and a chance to chat online with like-minded people from around the world. For more ideas, check out our online courses page.
Improve your time management
When working from home you can easily lose focus or get distracted. So learn how to tackle key work tasks whilst also managing your daily life at home. Challenging as this might seem, it will give you a great lesson in prioritising and time management.
List the things that are not working for you to stay on schedule. Plan what you need to do and when. If you have an online calendar you can create personal events and reminders that tell you when to start on new tasks or when to take a break. You can then use this new skillset to guide your approach to your job when you are once again back in your office.