Consistent learning in a volatile market

Rocky Balboa famously said – “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it's about how you can get hit and keep moving forward”. While the infamous Rocky is but a fictional character in an infamous film series, the message hits closer to home now more than ever. A lot of us have recently found ourselves at the pointy end of the stick due to an increasingly volatile employment market from 2020 onwards (some even earlier than that). And if not for you, count your blessings because chances are you know of someone who has been in this situation not too long ago.

It can be a frightening wake-up call for someone closer to the start of their career. What might’ve appeared to be a steppingstone into the professional world out of university with expensive mind-numbing years of academic competition finally paying dividend, only to be abruptly ended without so much as a handshake on what might feel like a very impersonal virtual call (virtual due to “COVID” reasons, of course). And like every one of those unforeseen life circumstances, it might be better for some and worse for others depending on how prepared you were for this ugly phase, although this is still going to count as one of the lowest points in your week or month, if not your life.

Most of us are bound to experience this moment at least once in life. It’s generally not a matter of “if”, but “when”. And when eventually this does happen to you, I’ve learned through recent personal experience that often, the battle is to be won from within. Because that is when survival instincts kick in and you might need to fight against them. The knee-jerk reaction to moments of stress for young professionals still learning the ropes might be to buckle down, isolate oneself and focus all time and resources into one thing and one thing alone - applications, in search of that next opportunity that will help us toggle the box in our brain from “Unemployed” to “Employed” (Notice, I didn’t say “Happily employed” or “Driven and motivated”).

But applying for the sole reason of employment, is like eating for the sake of living, even if it means eating the same yucky stuff for the rest of your life because you believe there’s nothing else better suited to your skills and talents. The incessant, nagging need to feel financially secure again, without regard for whether the new role would make us happy, help us discover meaning, realize our potential or even provide basic happiness in a culture that aligns with our beliefs. And while I understand these things are easier said than done, in particular if you have personal responsibilities, commitments to live up to or financial plans to achieve, I’ve learned it is crucial during this time for us to put in place certain processes and habits that can help cushion the initial blow, help find our feet quickly and get to the top of our game. After all, bringing your best self to any stage in the application process, serves both you and the other party alike.

So, if you recently find yourself in a tense employment situation, it is imperative to make your peace with it as quickly as possible. This may take you a few days, months and maybe even years. Quicker, the better – for you, your family, those around you and believe it or not, the future company that’s out there waiting to hire you. Have zero regrets about the past and move on. It’s certainly not easy, but I hope the following will help you put your best foot forward and deal with the pressure you might unknowingly be exerting on yourself during this stage. It is important to accept that your emotional and mental state have taken a beating. Feelings of weakness, alienation, and a fear of being laughed at will nip at your anxiety. It’s natural and you’re certainly not alone. It might be appealing or sensible to lock yourself away in your tower and stay focused on the next application all day every day. Brush these thoughts aside. Keep the emotions at bay.

For now, is the time more than ever before, to instead reach out to friends, family, your partner, acquaintances you haven’t spoken to in a while, your social circle – they will act as your premier line of defence. Use any and every excuse to talk to someone - birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, New year or even just, to say hello, if you’re up for it. Stay in touch with your hobbies, get out of the house more, find ways to make yourself laugh and show love more often to those closest to you. It helps to remember that sadness shared is halved (and equally happiness shared is doubled - thanks dad). Reach out to your mentors (personal or professional), your colleagues who helped you along the way, clients - for recommendations and feedback (these will go a long way) or even to say goodbye and thank them for their time and help.

The second tip that younger professionals today aren’t taught early on, is that unlike our parents, ours isn’t necessarily a job for life anymore and that it is important for us to keep learning and seek out opportunities to prove ourselves time and again, regardless of our employment situation. I learned this harsh truth to be especially true for those of us in technology, an industry that is in constant rapid evolution. From dirt cheap courses on Udemy to brilliant short ones on YouTube, the internet has brought the best of resources to your fingertips. All you really need is the willpower and time to do them. It can be tempting to think during this time, that every moment you are not applying for a role, you might be missing out on an opportunity and hence it isn’t worth the time and effort to pick up a new skill now. Surely, we can do so once we are back on our feet at a new role in a new company, right?

Not necessarily, and I have my partner to thank for cluing me in on this. Keeping your skills up to date, getting those creative juices flowing by working on a course or a side project as you shoot out applications, having an end product developed at the end or even talking about or presenting your work at an interview can enable you to stand out from the crowd, bring out a contagious energy as you talk about something that gets you excited and make you feel productive and on the move while you’re on the lookout for that next opportunity that takes your career to the next stage.

We don’t need ALL the recruiters we send our applications to, to say yes to us - just that one dream gig we’re gunning for. So, while hunting for a job in this market might be a numbers game, it is equally vital to invest a few hours towards learning something new, with the additional benefit of breaking the mundane of cover letters and CV tailoring. The added benefit of this being that it increases your chances of discovering a role that aligns with your interests.

So, for those of you who are in this (understandably quite scary) situation right now, don’t lose heart. While there is no single formula to finding a new role and it certainly isn’t necessarily easy this year, I do hope you find the tips helpful. In the end, I’d like to (hopefully not too optimistically) believe that we’ll all get through this, victorious in the end, and hopefully look back on this moment with a smile knowing we grew and learned so much from it, emerging stronger than ever before.

To quote Rocky again - "Never give up and never stop believing"

?PS: I understand my views might be limited to my experiences in the technology sector. I still hope you find the message (all or parts of it) helpful and I wish you all the very best in your endeavours.