"She-cession" Proof: Post-Pandemic Career Tips for Women
By Jessica Larson of SolopreneurJournal.com
While the continuing pandemic has led to sweeping changes and job loss across industries, women were impacted the most. In 2020 alone, nearly 2 million woman-held jobs vanished.
While this is a staggering statistic, it reinforces the need for women to invest in and advocate for themselves in order to achieve their career goals.
Industry Changes and the Need for Personal Financial Readiness
The pandemic has impacted nearly every industry. Career landscapes have shifted radically, obscuring long-term goals for working women. Even if you haven’t lost your job, raises are down as businesses try to recoup lost revenue.
But guess what: Your value hasn’t gone down at all. If you’ve weathered the storm in your current position, now is as good a time as any to ask for the raise you deserve. When it’s time to negotiate, explain your worth in concrete figures, and describe how your value will only rise in the future with an in-depth proposal of your upcoming goals. If you meet resistance or hesitancy, keep (professionally) pushing. Even if you’re told no, leave it open-ended and follow up in the coming weeks and months.
On the other hand, if you need to make a career move (by choice or by force), it helps to have a financial safety net. Being financially solid means you can make career decisions based on what is right for you and your family, rather than out of desperation. Take steps to bulk up your savings, and work to improve your credit history. Not only will access to credit be important in times of emergency, having good credit can save you more than $11,000 in credit card and loan interest over the course of a year.
These are just a handful of helpful resources that can help you navigate your potential advancement in the current, pandemic-riddled landscape. Though the past year and a half has not been particularly kind to women, it is just one more set of challenges we will rise above.
Divide and Conquer Your Goals
If you’re looking to move up in your current workplace, or searching for a new career path after the pandemic, start by breaking down your goals into achievable steps. This will not only allow you to meet them, but it will showcase your dedication to improvement — a tremendous soft skill that employers love. Figure out your primary desires, and divide your goals into weekly targets that push you to excel while being realistic enough to achieve (or ideally, exceed!)
If you find yourself out of work because of the pandemic, yet sitting on an expansive skillset, it might be time to start your own business. It’s no small task, that’s for sure. But there are numerous resources and assistance for new businesses, especially for minority business owners. Look into small business grants specifically for women. For example, the Amber Grant awards women-owned businesses $10,000 for growth, with a chance for an additional $25,000 at the end of the year.
Research and Learn Complimentary Skills
As the pandemic continues, creativity and flexibility will be crucial. Employers are looking for a wide range of professional and personal skills. By adding complementary skills to your repertoire, you will showcase not only your dedication to continued learning and improvement, but also your desire to meet a myriad of needs for your employer.
Additionally, some women are finding it easier than they thought to take their existing skills into new industries. If you happen to find yourself stuck in your current profession, do the research to find alternative pathways for your talent. This allows you to highlight all of your existing skills while promoting your ability to bring new and exciting skill sets to an employer.
These are just a couple of helpful resources that can help you navigate your potential advancement in the current, pandemic-riddled landscape. Though the past year and a half has not been particularly kind to women, it is just one more set of challenges we will rise above.
Build Your Network With Allies
Whether you’re looking to change professions, trying to get back into the workforce, or simply wanting to grow as a professional, having a robust network of driven, like-minded allies is imperative. Surround yourself with colleagues and co-professionals who challenge you to be better. Connect with them on projects, have daily chats about work, and learn from their strengths.
It can be even more beneficial to find professional friends outside of your exact industry. Look for adjacent careers that interest you, and meet up with leaders or existing colleagues in order to expand your areas of expertise, create a web of contacts, and spread your name throughout multiple industries.
Find Sponsors Who Care About Your Growth
A potent network is just the first step. Having a professional mentor has often been a decisive advantage in advancing your career path. In the post-pandemic world, it is more important than ever. When looking for sponsors, don’t just search for executive-level employees with whom you feel comfortable. Instead, ally yourself with influential individuals within the business. A sponsor will see your worth and want to raise that value higher as a (friendly) benefit to themselves by adding to their already-powerful professional network.
High-value sponsors have access to exclusive contacts and lucrative contracts. They also have the ear of those who determine raises and promotions. Look for those in your business who are known to go beyond simply “getting the job done.” You may not want to follow their exact working style, but you can still learn from them.
These are just a handful of helpful resources that can help you navigate your potential advancement in the current, pandemic-riddled landscape. Though the past year and a half has not been particularly kind to women, it is just one more set of challenges we will rise above.