Kristine Penning
January 15, 2021
Newsletter Article
This should come as no surprise: the COVID-19 pandemic has created countless changes in the job market globally. Thoughts about changing jobs before the pandemic as well as during have felt useless due to the circumstances. But while things might seem uncertain and the terrain difficult, agricultural employers are still hiring, and there are great opportunities available. Here are some tips to exploring job opportunities in a pandemic world.
Define Your Goals
What do you really want right now? Do you really want a new job, or are you just feeling stagnant in your current role? Can this be helped by speaking honestly with your supervisor or a trusted coworker/mentor?
Take some time to examine what your goals really are. If they are simply to grow, brainstorm some ways you can grow in your current role. If they are to find something new, create a strategy to find a new career. The following are some ways to help make that happen.
Expand Your Network – Virtually
Because there aren’t a lot of in-person events right now, explore options to expand upon your network online. Here are a few that we recommend:
Sign Up for Job Alerts
It can be discouraging and tiresome to check the job boards every single day. That’s why AgCareers.com has the option to set up job alerts. You can sign up for either email or text alerts (or both!) with the latest jobs that match your search criteria on AgCareers.com. Create an account on AgCareers.com here. Sign up for job alerts here.
Expand Upon Your Skill Set
Whether you’re looking for a new job or not, a good way to get out of your rut is to invest in some continued education. This could be as simple as attending a webinar or an online workshop, or as in-depth as pursuing an online degree. Again, define your goals and determine what education might be beneficial to achieving them. Also, be sure to talk with your supervisor and see if they are willing to cover the expenses of the online workshop or program you decide upon.
Be Patient
This has been something difficult for me personally during the pandemic: being patient. This is a confusing time for everyone as it’s something none of us have navigated before, and it took a long time to accept the way things are and adapt to them with limited information. Now that nearly a year has passed, we have a better idea of how to handle a pandemic world, as do employers and organizations in agriculture. And employers are still hiring, especially in agriculture!
As cliché as it sounds, the world is your oyster, and despite what’s going on in the world, there is still ample opportunity to break out of your COVID rut. Define your goals, explore your options, and don’t give up.
