Top 5 lockdown learnings: Things I wish I knew the first time around
They say hindsight is 2020, but here we are in 2021 still enduring endless rolling lockdowns in our very own Australian version of Groundhog Day. Half of the country is stuck at home, the situation in Sydney continues to deteriorate, and now there’s even talk of an economic slowdown at a national level.
So, where does that leave you if you were on the cusp of making your next career move?
Even though we’re in uncertain territory here, it doesn’t mean you can’t keep pursuing your professional goals. Some things stay the same, but other things require a bit of a pivoting.
Through my conversations with candidates and clients, and keeping a close eye on the Salesforce recruitment industry in Australia, I’ve created my own list of top 5 lockdown learnings and observations: the things I wish I knew in the previous lockdown, and some new ways to get through these unpredictable times.
*As a caveat we all know that no two lockdowns are the same, and every state and major city has their own unique set of economic realities to consider.
1. Don’t panic
Tech jobs were on the rise before these latest lockdowns and the industry has already shown in this past year and a half that it can withstand turbulent times. That doesn’t mean there’ll be some knock-on effect as some industries are more exposed than others in a hard lockdown, take for example that the construction industry is being forced to hit pause in Sydney, and this could lead to some of the big corporates having to freeze hiring until they get more certainty.
As a whole though (and from a personal perspective) I’m not seeing any slow down in the need for Salesforce talent. This should come as no surprise, as we’ve seen Enterprise Solution jobs prove their worth in this past year as being stable and relatively impervious to the shocks that other industries have experienced.
2. A routine really does help
Breathe in. Everything is going to be okay. Breathe out. Everything is going to be okay.
I work in Salesforce recruitment, but I’m also human. Looking after yourself is important during stressful periods, and making commitments to a routine can give you the space you need away from work (when your work is freeloading on your couch!).
Setting up a routine can help you give yourself boundaries so your work life and life-life have some well needed space between the two. Balance out your work day or job hunting commitments with other pursuits or interests that give you direction and something to look forward to. It might be exercise, cooking or just having downtime to switch off.
3. Set (even if very small) some PD goals
Have you been thinking about adding a new skill to your CV, or hitting up some professional development courses? If you’ve got the time and the motivation, adding a new level of Salesforce training or levelling up your knowledge is always a positive, but be careful not to overdo it. There’s already a lot of added pressure being applied to our lives in different ways right now. You might be helping with homeschooling your kids or maybe you’re simply feeling the extra weight of work and life catching up with you in uncertain times, so don’t add more pressure if it’s going to make life harder for you.
4. Limit your news intake (if you can)
It’s easy to get sucked into the drama of the 24-hour media cycle at the moment, but I would try to put a cap on the doom scrolling if it’s getting in the way of your work/life.
Waiting for the daily press conferences, the anxiety of pending case numbers, endless scrolling through your Twitter feed. This pandemic is a moving feast and we’re all doing our best to keep up, but things will happen whether you’re refreshing your news feed every few seconds or not. It’s great to stay informed, but try not to let something that’s largely out of your control dictate your day and your mood.
5. And finally, reach out for support
All good things come to an end apparently, but so do bad things and this includes pandemics, but of course, it’s totally okay to feel anxious about this situation. And remember, if you’re feeling like you need someone to talk to or need a bit of help putting things into perspective, you can always reach out to a counsellor or mental health professional.
Lastly, support comes in all shapes and sizes, so if you’re ever wanting a sounding board about your next career move and you’re not sure where to start get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
~ Garth Kharitou
