Just because you are stuck at home, that doesn’t mean your career has to stop advancing.
Before COVID-19, people would advance in their career by (a) working hard, (b) being seeing by their superiors, and (c) updating their skills.
Being physically visible by your superior and hanging out with your colleagues is no longer possible as we used to do it, but people adapt to new circumstances and you can adapt too and continue flourishing in your career.
So the question is: How do I replicate the pre-COVID-19
Ask for regular feedback
Make sure you ask your supervisor how you are doing.
Make sure you communicate frequently. Whether it’s once a week, once a month, or once a quarter. Try to have a regular conversation with your supervisor to evaluate the work you have done in the past and to plan together for the future. These, in your face moments, build familiarity and trust and whenever there is a promotion or a new interesting project, you will be top of mind.
Whenever your supervisor gives you positive feedback, keep track of these conversations. You might need to bring up this conversations about positive feedback if you have to negotiate for a salary increase.
Improve your skills
You should know this buy now, but consider asking your supervisor which additional skills you should be acquiring in order to become more valuable to your employer.
Some industries have a specific set of courses people can take in order to advance, but by asking your manager, you are showing that you want to advance and that you are willing to do what it takes. Some companies may pay for the courses or reimburse part of the cost.
Even if your employer doesn’t compensate you for the additional skills you are gaining, all of a sudden, you are more valuable to your employer’s competitors.
One course I recommend to practically anyone is public speaking. As a long time member of Toastmaster International, I have seen how improving communication skills have improved so many people’s career.
Make yourself visible as much as possible
“Out of sight, out of mind.”
Even if you are efficient at your job, if people are not seeing you, they are not thinking of you.
As much as possible, try to be present. Most meetings are done via Zoom now a days. Try to get there at least five minutes in advance and try to stay present five to ten minutes after the meeting. This is the current equivalent of the proverbial water cooler conversation. By staying connected with people and making yourself visible, you are building solidarity with your team members which will be of benefit to you if you end up getting a promotion.
Decide on a path for your career
You can get there much faster if you know where you want to go. Maybe you want a promotion, take on different responsabilities, more flexibilities, or a move to a different division. If possible, make sure your boss knows about your goals.
Find ways to volunteer or help out in the areas where you want to move. For example, if you want to move to marketing, make sure you spend some time in marketing and offer to help out.
Assume a portfolio mindset. Not everything you try will have positive results, but one of the many things you try will lead you towards advancement in your career.
We are lucky to be alive
We are going through difficult times. Maybe you are not thinking of advancing your career right now. Maybe the most important part for you during this pandemic is to make it alive, or just to be able to keep up with work while homeschooling your kids.
If you are healthy and still have food to put on the table, maybe the best thing we can do is to show some gratitude towards our good fortune. We can worry about advancing our careers sometime in the future.
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