NEW DELHI : The covid-induced job crisis reminds Ashutosh Vyas of the hard times he faced during the 2008 recession. He had just started working as a sales executive in Bengaluru’s Barclays when the financial disaster hit the world. Soon, he, like many others, was without a job, and realized that the formula for a secured future—studying hard, cracking exams and finding a well-paying job—was not exactly perfect.
“I did all of the things that Indian parents expect their children to do. But the future, or rather, the job was never secure. I decided to refocus, started studying and enrolling for courses on marketing and innovation, and that helped me turn my life around," says Vyas, 39, who now works as a business growth consultant in Udaipur.
As the world figures out a new normal, anxiety levels around job security, salaries and the future, as a whole, continue to rise.
Experts say instead of worrying about the uncertainty, people should focus on doing what they always planned to do, build that skill, reach out to their network and make a solid plan for the next step in their career, even if it is not a vertical change.
“It is always a good time to look at transitioning, but especially so when you have been put on a break. This gives you time to re-evaluate where you stand, to think about your strengths and plan accordingly," explains Joel Paul, general manager (India), RiseSmart, a career transition service provider.
For 37-year-old Vikram Poddar, the 2009 job loss in a management consultancy company meant a combination of feelings—denial, anger, bargaining, depression and, finally, acceptance.
He continued to attend interviews, hid the news of the job loss from parents and met as many recruiters as he could. Deciding not to let the time go waste, he joined a toastmasters club and brushed up his public speaking skills. This, in retrospect, came quite handy in his current role as a corporate stand-up comic.
“I have realized two things: When you don’t have an option, you will hustle and hustle hard. And, two, if you work hard enough, you will be able to get over a lot of other shortcomings. I went on to join a marketing role and learnt only on the job. I cracked one of the biggest deals there and was always scared that people would know I don’t belong here," says Poddar.
Click here to read the Mint ePaperLivemint.com is now on Telegram. Join Livemint channel in your Telegram and stay updated
