We’re all stuck right now—but do we need to feel stuck at work?
Picture it: a subway ride to midtown, a hot coffee, a cramped elevator, a quick wave hello with a new podcast still speaking to you through your headphones. Seems like forever ago, doesn’t it?
When COVID-19 imposed a necessary quarantine in March 2020, it also brought an incomparable state of shock to the entire country (and the world), especially for those of us who live in a city where the M.O. is that stillness equates to failure. While I stand by Jerry Seinfeld’s rebuttal that New York City is not dead, I along with millions of other New Yorkers and many more worldwide had to learn to stand still.
As we lose our ability (and the necessity) to network in person and the office spaces that acted as collaborative hubs and social scenes, our colleagues take advantage of the ability to pay lower rent and gain more space. It’s no secret that former city-lovers are fleeing to the ‘burbs—and can you blame them?
For many of us, this doesn’t feel like an option. Case in point: pre-pandemic, I finally stopped calling myself “postgrad,” started learning to cook, and began to understand the value of a Friday night in. But I feel light years away from investing in a home or leaving the city, regardless of if I’m clinging to something that, for the time being, is a little lost (I prefer “reinventing itself”).
Amidst layoffs, furloughs, life-threatening illness, a contentious political climate, and much more, it feels like a very privileged concern—it is a very privileged concern. But I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who is anxious as to how the “new normal” will affect my ability to grow professionally and continue to pursue my career, especially when teams spend more time disconnected, and everyone far more time exhausted.
So—how do we grow at work?
We’ve all learned to be as productive—and even increase productivity—while working from home. But many have also learned that presenting ideas and projects in-person, as well as getting face time with coworkers and team leaders, is invaluable to growth—and not as easy to accomplish over a Zoom meeting.
If you don’t have them already, consider setting up routine meetings to touch base with your boss(es). Reach out to your superiors (or even Human Resources at a smaller company) to ask about opportunities to connect with people on other teams—whether it be through virtual happy hour, a brainstorm session, or even a company book club.
And what about networking in our field?
Beyond the office, networking events and co-working spaces had to adapt to the new reality, too. Companies like WeWork and organizations like The Wing, once seen as the future of the workspace, are suffering alongside all of us throughout the pandemic. Like New York, they aren’t extinct—just adapting—and will emerge more crucial to in-person socialization than before as many companies shed office space and rent, and even offer stipends for employees to build home offices. But in the interim, alongside their former inhabitants, these companies will need to find (and have found) ways to support themselves and their constituents virtually. Now is as good a time as any (if not better) to enroll in a professional community that you can virtually connect, network, and ideate with.
I’m ready for a new job …how do I bring my personality and skills to the table?
It’s OK not to settle—even when the job market opportunities feel bleak. While it’s always smart to take the time and debate the pros and cons of where you’re at in your career (Do you love your work but feel ready for a bigger challenge? Have an incredible team but feel you’re ready for different responsibilities?), if you do feel that it’s time to make a move, don’t let the work-related pandemic fallout deter you from starting your search. In fact, the earlier you start reacquainting yourself with the process—and learning more about what’s new (like interviewing on Zoom, eeeek)— the better prepared you’ll be for when you do spy your dream job pop up on LinkedIn.
So you take the initial steps and reach out to a new connection—be it for an informational interview or just to pick their brain about their job—how do you make a lasting impression that will benefit your career in the long run?
Show initiative
Demonstrate you’re organized and dedicated from the start by setting up the meeting with a calendar invite, call link, and reminder for the day before. Pay attention to detail—if your contact is casual about chatting but mentions they feel burnt out by the end of the workday, schedule a lunchtime meeting or something before their work hours start.
Get creative
Send a $5 gift card and treat them to a cup of coffee as if you’re meeting up IRL, or come up with questions sure to stand out (a personal favorite—what would you have told yourself five years ago in your career or when you were in my shoes?).
Follow through
It’s easy to neglect our to-do lists when we’re as exhausted, if not more, than ever (yes, COVID-related emotional burnout is a proven thing). Set yourself a reminder to send a thank-you email (or even a snail-mail thank you if you’re closer with your contact) the following day that references a key takeaway from your conversation—something they’ll be sure to remember you by.
The cramped commute and catch-up coffee breaks aren’t returning in our near future, however, this doesn’t mean you need to put your professional prowess on pause. Start a list of key, solution-oriented ways you can build on your career success (or begin tackling a new job search) and you’ll be fit to lead in no time.
