The key building blocks to a successful post-lockdown career

With the Chancellor Rishi Sunak recently confirming an extension to the furlough scheme by another four months, the UK workforce is still certainly some way from returning to a semblance of pre-lockdown ‘normality’. Yet, we have seen businesses adapt during this difficult time, and the Government’s conditional plan to restart parts of the UK economy will allow us to take the necessary small steps in easing the lockdown. With that in mind, many workers have naturally been starting to think about their careers and personal development. Grant Zaccaria, Associate Director at Page Personnel HR, Secretarial & Business Support, shares some of his key tips on keeping your career moving.

Plan ahead if you want to achieve some measure of career success

“You first have to ask yourself, what is it that you want to achieve? There is nothing more frustrating and demotivating than a directionless future. People like to know where they are going and not just in their careers. By defining a clear goal for yourself, one that will potentially deliver happiness and fulfilment when reached, you will gain a measure of clarity. You don’t always have to put a timescale on success.

“A lot of people use time as a way to define success, but process is more important than the length of time. It is important to reassess goals constantly to make sure you are on the right track.”

Learn how to transform your downturn

“Personal downturns can stop all forward progress, inside work and outside of work. Are you accountable, responsible and capable? Do you view your career in real time, and learning as you go? There will never be a time when things will always go your way. It is inevitable that you will face setbacks and failures throughout your life despite your best efforts, but it is how you bounce back that counts. The first thing to do is assess what went wrong, and how to avoid the same situation in the future.

“Make a plan about how to climb out of the downturn and reduce your self-doubt.  Have you got a personal development plan in place? Have you been upskilled enough to meet the demands of your business? Positive action gives you control, which can zone you into what is really important.

Set boundaries

“Once you have set a clear plan of success for yourself, it is up to you to set and enforce the boundaries that will allow you to keep on track. Stay clear of bad habits, people, and behaviours that will derail your progress.

“Don’t compromise on your goals, because time invested is time well served. Practice makes perfect.”

Commit yourself fully and be 110% in 

“To be clear, there are so many variables that can go against you and throw you off track. Even people who you may consider to be the luckiest and most successful among us face these challenges. The difference is the ones that keep going versus those who give up easily. Put in the extra hours, practice and don’t be afraid to fail. When you fall, get back up and start again. When you get a rejection, try another route.” 

To summarise, keep your game plan and overall goal in mind knowing that at some point you will be tested.

Communication is key and your story and vision can be very powerful

“Make sure you are confident and that what you say isn’t manufactured, because people have to buy into it. Stay true to your ideas. These ideas, thoughts, visions and goals need to be clearly communicated.

“Use the technology your disposal to get the message across.”

Build your connections

“I started on a graduate scheme as PageGroup with 66 people across the UK and have kept in touch with many of them who now do different work, whether that be at councils, banks, accountancy, sales and working for themselves. It’s important to invest in mutually beneficial relationships over long periods of time. Recognise the importance of relationships too, LinkedIn appreciation, sharing articles and recommendations.”

“Connections are important in striving to build our own future successes, especially while working remotely during the global pandemic.”

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