How Covid-19 Has Amplified The Workplace And Career Transitions
Millions of South Africans wake up every day, get dressed, go to work, and continue to work in environments that don’t excite or make them happy. While the pandemic has brought a great amount of uncertainty and distress, there is a silver lining.
More individuals are now taking a step back to reevaluate their priorities and values. The pandemic has made people realise what is important to them also giving them the opportunity to gain perspective.
Some people have even been prompted to make certain life and career transitions that they’ve always wanted, but were too hesitant to make.
When the pandemic hit, it sent shock-waves throughout households and corporate South Africa. Labour markets were heavily disrupted globally, causing working climates to change and shift.
Now that people are transitioning back to the workplace, they are facing many challenges, and some are considering making career transitions.
In an interview with The Careers Portal, Economist and Researcher at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Nchimunya Hamukoma said that one of the main challenges that people face when returning to the workplace is the idea of routine and rhythm.
Before the pandemic, we used to have a clear routine but because we had around two years of interruption where that wasn’t happening, getting back into that routine is something that people are having difficulties with.
Businesses had to adopt and adapt to remote and hybrid working models. While most individuals have returned to the office and have commenced with standard work life, it is impossible to overlook the fact that Covid-19 has impacted the future of the workplace.
Life is full of major transitions, embarking on a career change can be as daunting as it is exciting. Some people were forced to make career transitions during the pandemic as a result of retrenchments or companies going out of business.
Cheryl Benadie, also known as The Wholeness Guide told The Careers Portal that transitioning into multiple careers is the new normal, and that this is how the world of work is looking now.
She explains that this is a great time to make a career transition and explore different opportunities because amazing opportunities have opened up post-Covid.
At first glance navigating a life or career change can feel scary and overwhelming, as most people rely on a single source of income to sustain their family but if the pandemic has taught the world anything, it is to take a leap of faith.
Hamukoma believes that If you have the luxury of time, you should take it. It is important that you give yourself the time to figure out what you want to do, and you shouldn’t get pushed out of a situation but rather pulled into something that you love she adds.
The pandemic itself was a major transition and people are now realizing and learning that it is possible to use a career change as a way to increase your income and alternatively for some people collecting a paycheck is no longer enough, workers are now looking for purpose and meaning in their work.
Cheryl adds that people making career transitions are not starting from scratch, they have skill-sets that can be transferred to a different industry or field.
Every single career that you’ll have will form another core set of skills that you leverage on and use in your next phase of life.
People have the steppingstones to make career changes, but they just don’t know it yet. This is why Cheryl suggests reaching out to ask for help. Using a mentor or a career coach helps you find the courage you need to take that first step.
This article appeared first on thecareersportal.co.za
