Career Crossroad in the midst of COVID-19
By: D. Andres
Tags: Covid Diaries, Career Paths

Career Crossroad in the midst of COVID-19

2020 is a good year! My vision for my career and my life is 2020, pun intended! 2020 is my year. A promotion that I am awaiting will be most likely confirmed and possible exciting opportunities at work is underway. Aside from career planning, back in 2019 B.C. (Before COVID-19), my travel calendar is quite booked, a trip to Japan again (an annual thing, because one can’t get enough of Japan) and a trip to the United States of America (Ah, Land of the Free!) would be one of the many highlights of my 2020. This is my year! I was ecstatic! And yet as the Bible say,

“A man’s heart plans his course but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

My career is well planned out in a way. I was picky with the companies that i work for, the industry should be formidable hence over the years, I got into a financial institution then a manufacturing company and currently for a TMC (Travel Management Company). Before I started with my latest employer, I said to my self that everyone travels, globalisation has always been a trend and surely nothing will happen to the travel industry. My track record would also show that I would always stay with my employers for a long time and that I don’t usually jump from company to another. I try to be loyal because I treat my job as a blessing. My work entails me to interact with a lot of people, as I am part of Recruitment or Talent Acquisition. In my job I get to interview, discuss job offers, speak during induction of new employees and would always remind all my candidates and new hires that – “Every job is a blessing.”

As the news of the virus bombard every news channel in the world, I began to feel bothered. “Is my job still secure?” “Will my company be affected?” And things have escalated so quickly; my worst fear became a horrid reality. My boss from the UK informed me that our local office is part of the location list for work suspension since there will be no hiring of new talents. Hiring is a cost and extremely costly so I will be in work suspension for a couple of months. I was angered about this news and bewildered. COVID-19 led me into an unexpected crossroad, wherein pathways weren’t visible, a road difficult to tread and the destination unknown. Never in my whole life did I imagine I would get furloughed and to be even furloughed in a middle of a pandemic, in the year 2020. Thoughts about my future, my career, my expenses, my life in general, is slowly crashing before me. I felt singled-out and undervalued. I have worked hard, though I’m not a perfect employee, the amount of investment I have given is immeasurable. I’m a year shy of 5 years with this company, almost half a decade.

Anyone who knows me can attest that I am a very optimistic person and that I see things as a glass that’s always full and never ever empty. I have a very positive outlook in life. “Just shun and shrug negativity” My forever mantra. #stoic From the time I learned about my situation, I was dead-stuck in mire. I seemed A-OK but my soul is distressed. My mind was crumbling. It was a freaking cycle of emotions and it seemed difficult to divulge to anyone. (All these thoughts are running my mind during the lockdown). “My situation is still better compared to other people’s woes and predicament.” I would always say this quietly in my mind to encourage myself. I was in denial. I know, at some point I have to allow myself to feel, to feel these negative emotions and actually accept the fact that I am struggling and that it’s OK to struggle. I have to accept this reality and cry out to the Lord. I need acceptance and only then I can be at peace with this situation. “This is not a dead-end, this shouldn’t end this way, and there can be a U-Turn slot along the way.”

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo

“So do I”, said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

Should I allow this scenario be a mental breakthrough or will I allow myself to succumb to a mental breakdown? It’s a day-to-day mental crossroad! This is an everyday battle in my head as I was out of work, lamenting about my situation and witnessing a lot of tragedies due to COVID-19. Do I trust that the creator of heaven and earth is holding me delicately in the palm of His hand? And that He would never leave me nor forsake me, just as He promised. Well, I chose to have a mental breakthrough, have a paradigm shift. Hey, it’s as if I’m in sort of a sabbatical, anyway. I can use this time to learn new things, spend more time with lovedones, reach out and / or widen my network, take good care of my health, tell my family and partner that I love them dearly, attend webinars, finish my unread books, watch Netflix and the list could go on and on. It’s a pre-ordained pause! As Gandalf said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us.” It’s an opportunity for me to be thankful and grateful, in spite of my circumstances. This scenario helped me gain peace and a better perspective. Hold on to all the promises of the Lord. People might think these are cliches but I hope these promises would inspire you, give you hope, renew your mind and remind you that there’s a Higher Being in control. He is working in the background while i wait, while I’m on detour. He is Sovereign!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Apart from these realizations, it is vital to surround myself (and yourself) with cheerleaders. My cheerleaders continued to love and support me even if I felt I was in my lowest of lows. They are a source of comfort and unconditional love. The Lord has given me a nudge to be still and know that He is God. I am still in a career crossroad but with a GPS (God Positioned Standpoint), no more trust issues, just letting go and letting GOD be GOD.

As I was writing this, Hillsong’s Still was playing in the background. Hope you were blessed one way or another.

Picture above was taken during a trip to Banff, Alberta last 2019.