2020 changed everything. So what?
Like most people, I was happy with what was considered the ‘’normal’’ in pre-Covid-19 times. We could work at the office, hold meetings, have lunch together, invite participants to come to our offices, lead group sessions, etc. Now, we work from home (not always in the best conditions), hold meetings via telephone, Zoom, Teams or Skype (often with poor sound quality), and communicate more by email than in person. We have had to learn how to master new technologies and new ways of reaching out to others, as well as the ethical implications and security concerns of working online, plus how the labour market has been affected.
I could go on and on about the unfortunate disruptions we experienced in 2020, but I would rather concentrate on what we gained. Were we becoming too complacent? Has this new situation given us the opportunity to shake things up and embrace some change in our lives?
The labour market has been turned upside down and inside out in many fields. No one is sure which industries will survive or how job descriptions will be modified. Those who do not have sufficient access to, or knowledge of, technology have been left wondering what is next for them. This has led many to take the time to really reflect on work and career, on continuing education, on upgrading skills. Governments, companies, schools, and employment counselling services are stepping up to meet these needs. Suddenly, projects that were supposed to take several months or years to be studied, planned, and implemented are ready. It is amazing what we can do when we must!
Whether we wanted to or not, we have grown personally and professionally and been forced to meet challenges that we never thought we could overcome, but we met them quite well in most cases. Well, maybe not the times that we felt more like chucking our computers out the window and over the balcony than listening to another hastily put together instructional webinar to keep up with more technology. The world will never be the same, nor will we, but that is fine. I cannot remember that last time that I saw a horse-drawn vehicle in the streets. People complained vehemently when cars began to replace them. Look how we got over that mindset!
So, what do you want to remember from all this upheaval? What you ”lost’’ or what you “gained’’? Personally, I prefer to appreciate how we learned to grow and adapt. My motto? “I cannot control what happened, only how I react.’’
If in doubt about your future and/or your next job, our experienced counsellors at Cible Retour à l’Emploi would be pleased to accompany you in your reflection and search. Let us help you realize how many transferable skills you have, how you can adapt them to today’s job market and how to promote them to potential employers. Who knows? You may broaden your horizons and wish that the 2020 disruption had happened sooner.
Text by Patricia Bélanger, Employment Counsellor