When we defeat the Coronavirus, the odds are good we are headed for a recession – or worse. That could mean layoffs and older workers are always a prime target. But with every crisis comes opportunity and now is the time is to boost your technical experience with conference tools.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many workers to telecommute and forced employers to accept it for now and likely consider it as the norm later.
Eliminating work from home options will be a tough sell. Some surveys report over 70% of employees citing telecommuting as “somewhat to extremely important” in choosing their next job. Smart employers will make policy changes because the same survey cites remote work as slowing “the brain-drain due to retiring Boomers.”
Even if you are working now, prepare for the future by imagining the new interview questions you will have to answer:
- Have you worked remotely?
- What tools did you use?
- Tell me about your typical day as a teleworker.
The ongoing (and incorrect) assumption that younger people know technology will rear its ugly head at your next interview. If your employer has a video conference tool, use it – even if others use only the audio features. If not, learn to use other tools by setting up calls with family and friends.
If you are working remotely now, log your time. Record your activity hourly or even every 30 minutes to provide proof of what you did in addition to any delivered work. Checking email and attending staff meetings take time so make note of them.
Write down your experiences as a teleworker. This is not something to put on a resume (that may change) but you will need that information to answer the “soft skills” questions which will help prove your adaptability as an older worker – shattering another prejudice before it surfaces.
You’ll need to be familiar with several tools to demonstrate your competence. Click here to explore leading video conference platforms for 2020.
Practice with the free ones. Learn the technical and record the experiential parts of working from home.
Your current job – and maybe your next one – depends on it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Sullivan is a project manager who enjoys bringing order to chaos. He is fascinated with the chaos that is career management and publishes articles to bring order to your career.
Pat gilkeson says
April 1, 2020 at 2:57 PMI have purchased a good tripod and a high end boot and holder to phone along with with light ring. I am retired but I can use this to talk to great grandkids. Also useful tools for volunteering.
donna kastner says
April 2, 2020 at 12:15 PMLove this – thanks for sharing, Pat!