5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO FURTHER YOUR CAREER DURING QUARANTINE
Topshop skirt (similar here), & Other Stories mock neck sweater, C/meo Collective coat (old), House of CB heels
Happy Quarantine Week ✌🏾I can’t lie. The first week of quarantine, I took it easy and tried to get as much rest as possible! But, now that we are about to be at the end of our second work week, I feel it’s time for me to get productive. It is rare that I am not running an errand or getting out of the house for a workout class or shop. I need to take this time and work on big projects and those tasks that we often don’t have time to do. I figured it would be a great time to share 5 things you can do during quarantine that will further your career. I plan to do all these things as well. I’m a firm believer that you should do something every day that will further your career, big or small.
(1) Update your resume. I am a big proponent of keeping your resume up-to-date at all times. Often we feel like we should only update our resume when we are looking to leave our current jobs. This is not best practice. In my opinion, you should update your resume every six months or whenever you have a major accomplishment (like a promotion!), gain a new skill (or certification) or there is a new noteworthy item you should add (a board position for a local organization). It’s always best to add information while it is fresh on your mind and you aren’t having to scramble and comb through emails. For instance, when you first get a promotion, you usually receive a job description or a list of new responsibilities. That would be the best time to update your resume. If you wait months or a year later, that job description could be buried under a pile of emails. And although you may have no plans to leave your current job, you could come across your dream position at any time and you don’t want to spend days editing and revising your resume. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready!
(2) Learn a new language. So months ago I decided to try out Babbel to learn French for fun. I fell off because I had too many distractions. But now I have a ton of time on my hands and I figured I should get back to it! It is something fun and challenging to do, and it won’t hurt for me to add a new language to my skill set! It’s a great time to start learning that language you’re interested in and when you get there, you can update your resume! Do you like how I tied that into number one?
(3) Create a Linkedin profile! I wrote a post sharing my Linkedin tips a couple years ago and believe me they are still relevant. Most of my friends and colleagues that don’t have Linkedin tips often tell me that they never have the time to sit down to register and build a profile. I totally get it. But while a lot of you are working from home, why not create a profile? Not only should you create it, but take the time to fill it out, add as much experience as possible. Also, if you’ve written any career-related articles or blog posts, upload them to Linkedin! Recruiters are still working to fill open positions even during quarantine!
(4) Have a Facetime happy hour/lunch with a mentor. I love seeing all the Facetime group happy hours and company lunches on my timeline. Although we are all stuck inside, human connection is so important. And although it may not be the conventional way, you can still invite your mentor to lunch or happy hour! Order delivery for your mentor and ask for a 30 minute Facetime. You never know what advice they may have for how to pivot during this crazy time.
(5) Attend a webinar. Ya’ll I have attended more webinars and IG lives during the last week than I did last year. So many content creators, digital entrepreneurs and career coaches have been hosting webinars and online conferences specifically geared towards providing tips and resources to help people navigate working during quarantine and the COVID-19 pandemic. I attended #QuarantineCon this past weekend and I not only walked away with great tips but just the feeling of connecting and hearing from other content creators motivated me so much.
Well guys, that’s it for my tips. I hope that this was helpful. Also, don’t feel like you need to spend this whole quarantine creating or constantly working. We live in a time where everyone makes you feel like you have to rise and grind every damn day. I do believe for a lot of us, we were burning the candle at both ends, wwe ere working ourselves to death and we were not practicing work life balance. For me, I hope to use this time to be productive but to also rest because I need it! I encourage you to find what works for you! Also, please share any other tips you have in the comments.
Stay safe!