Job Opportunities in a Post-COVID World

Written by Ning Hadiningsih

Picture this: you’re in your final year of university, feeling super excited about finishing your degree and scoring a job in the industry you’re passionate about. And then...a global pandemic begins and changes everything.

A lot of people lose their jobs. Unemployment rates rise. And this makes you feel anxious about the future. Who isn’t, right?

What you’re feeling right now is both completely understandable and valid. Students, graduates and humans across the globe are feeling it too.

There’s no doubt that COVID has impacted the future of work on a global scale, however, change isn’t always bad. Change, coupled with space and the right circumstances, gives you the opportunity to stop for a second and reflect.

Change can be a positive thing

Change is inevitable, and those who are able to respond to it positively or proactively will be better off in the long run.

Take me, for example. I joined Telstra in August 2019. In the last 14 months, I’ve been a part of four different teams. So pretty much every three or four months I’ve had to learn new systems and processes. Maybe you haven’t experienced change quite so frequently, but I can confirm that change takes place in all workplaces on a regular basis (pandemic or otherwise). Employees come and go. Software updates and changes. Teams grow.

I know it might feel stressful right now, but remember that your ability to respond and adapt to the current situation is a valuable skill, and one that will support you both personally and professionally for the rest of your life.

Going online

State and city wide lockdowns have forced so many businesses to pivot and move online, and as a result, we’ve seen some truly innovative and exciting evolutions from the brands we know and love.

With this in mind, I encourage you to consider and research the online or digital elements of your industry. Perhaps this means familiarising yourself with online shopping platforms, or learning to build email marketing campaigns, or taking advantage of the many experts who are offering their workshops and services for free or at discounted prices for online events.

If you’re not in the headspace to take on any additional learning right now, that’s okay too. Hop into the observer seat and take note of how those around you, from your local coffee shop to favourite bar, are adapting and evolving to meet the current needs of their customers.

Healthcare and social assistance

As expected, communities worldwide have been heavily relying on healthcare and community workers since the beginning of the pandemic. Doctors and nurses are working round the clock, and mental health services have seen a significant increase in people seeking support. Teachers, childcare workers and aged care staff have all played a vital role in supporting our communities through this trying time too.If you’re currently studying one of these professions, then it’s safe to assume that there will be a job for you when this is all over. The details of that role might look a little different than how you imagined, but it’s still available, and right now, that is incredibly lucky.

Should I reconsider my career path?

This is the million dollar question right now. At time of publishing, it’s December 2021, and the pandemic isn’t over – meaning that the long term effects of it are yet to be known.

If you are feeling concerned or uncertain about the industry you’re currently studying to work in, then I advise you explore your options. Would a double degree be valuable for you? Is there a short course or diploma you could enrol in to expand your skill set?

There’s a lot of pressure right now on young people in terms of productivity, output, work and self optimising, so I encourage you to be gentle with your approach and only take on as much as you can handle (in regards to your mental health, financial commitments or otherwise).

Another idea to consider is that it’s perfectly okay to begin studying – or working in – a specific career path, and then decide to switch lanes or do something completely different.

When I was in high school, all I wanted was to be a clinical psychologist, so I went on to study and complete my Bachelor of Psychology. Somewhere along the line, I knew it wasn’t for me, so I went back to university to study marketing, and I’ve been working in digital marketing ever since.

Whatever you decide, know that you are doing the best you can right now in an unexpected and extremely stressful time. Be proud of that, and yourself.