Staying Home Doesn’t Have to Mean Stalling Your Career
It's clear now that we can’t just wait for the storm to pass before we resume working toward our goals.
This has been a strange year to be a part of the workforce. Those who are fortunate enough to still be employed have either been thrown into the weird and isolating world of remote work, or returned onsite to the workplace under a new set of rules like mask-wearing, social distancing and sanitation protocols. Even those of us who have always worked from home (like the CU Times staff) have faced challenges, like the cancellation of in-person meetings and events – which we previously considered key elements of professional relationship building.
With so many disruptions throwing off the work routines we envisioned for ourselves this year, it’s easy to toss aside some of the goals we would have worked toward had 2020 not been so, uh, 2020 – like advancing in our careers.
From a business and productivity perspective, credit unions have done well amid the current crisis, thriving in areas like mortgage lending and stepping up to help struggling families and businesses. But a gap that is persisting in the lives of credit union industry professionals is the time spent networking with others in a way that is familiar and traditionally leads to new contacts and opportunities – those impromptu conversations that happen in office break rooms, in conference center hallways and at after-work happy hours.
The longer this pandemic drags on, the clearer it becomes that we can’t just wait for the storm to pass before we resume working toward our goals. We have to find new ways to pursue them under our current circumstances, and that includes rethinking how we network and climb the ladder.
If the flurry of new hire and promotion announcements that we’ve received from credit unions, fintechs, CUSOs and trade associations in recent months have been any indication, the opportunities to advance in this industry are definitely still there. Landing them might require more proactive efforts to leverage digital tools than in past years, however.
New York Times writer Julie Weed dove into this topic in a Nov. 2 article, “How to Keep Climbing the Ladder While You Work From Home,” giving examples of strategies professionals can start putting into practice now. Here are some top tips for getting ahead remotely:
Improve your communication strategy. As I mentioned in a previous column back in April, when many people were just starting to get the hang of remote work, it’s important for remote teams to establish expectations for when and how often they’ll check in with each other, and through what channel (phone call, Slack, text, video call, email, etc.). This helps prevent miscommunication between miles-apart employees and allows them to easily voice concerns about the team’s current workflow and process, helping you to iron out any snags preventing you from being the best remote worker you can be. At CU Times, we’ve found a combination of Slack messaging, standing weekly check-in conference calls and email works well for keeping everyone in the loop.
One business executive quoted in the New York Times article noted that it’s OK to seek feedback more often when working remotely, so don’t be afraid to ask others how you’re doing and how you can improve. This is an especially important habit to pick up if you’re looking to nab a promotion from afar.
Use your newfound free time wisely. While not everyone has had the advantage of spare time this year (homeschooling parents, I’m guessing this tip doesn’t apply to you, and I apologize), others have gained hours previously spent getting dressed up in the morning, commuting, traveling and going out for lunch. That time can be used to take a Spanish language class with the goal of communicating better with Hispanic credit union members, for example, or to master Excel through a LinkedIn Learning course, giving you a new skill to add to your resume.
In the New York Times piece, the same business executive recommended reaching out to a colleague with a skill you admire and asking them to set up a time to show you the ropes. If the admired colleague also has more time on their hands, chances are they’ll be happy to use it to make a difference in someone else’s professional life.
One way I’ve been leveraging my free time this year is by saying yes to any opportunities that get thrown my way involving public speaking – an area I’ve always considered a weak spot of mine. In September, I was a guest on a digital banking podcast, and next month, I’m planning to moderate a panel during a virtual industry conference. It’s satisfying to know that through outlets like podcasts and virtual events, it’s still possible to grow professionally and gain exposure without leaving my home office.
Find and engage with virtual communities. Let’s acknowledge that first, compared to in-person gatherings, group chats and Zoom hangouts are lame. They’re not as fun or fulfilling, and they’re not intended to replace meeting up IRL. That said, staying connected with people outside your household, even if it’s only online for now, is important for your professional life and mental health. So take advantage of your workplace’s Slack channel dedicated to sharing pet photos or recommending TV shows, or organize a weekly virtual coffee or happy hour with coworkers.
Also, refresh your LinkedIn page (LinkedIn Learning has its own course on how to improve your profile), then join groups that align with your interests, follow people in professional roles that you aspire to and engage with other users regularly. Virtually introduce people who might benefit from working together, and ask for an introduction to a person you’d like to connect with if you share a mutual contact.
And don’t underestimate the possibility of making professional connections through online social groups outside of your workplace or industry. A few months ago, I joined The Lounge, a virtual community run by the media brand Girls’ Night In that allows its over 1,000 U.S.- and Canada-based members to connect through a website, Slack channels and regular virtual gatherings. Most of the content is centered on lifestyle-related interests, such as cooking, books, fitness and health, but one of the Slack channels is dedicated to work and jobs, where members can ask for and give career advice, and post about opportunities.
We’re all longing to start gathering and networking again the way we used to, and eventually we will. In the meantime, we have to work with the tools we have to ensure our professional lives don’t get put on hold, because at this point, we still don’t know what “eventually” means.