How to Navigate Your Career Through the Ever-Evolving Workplace

There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed all aspects of our lives, including how we work. Across industries and sectors, “business as usual” has been permanently disrupted: millions of people have been laid off, companies have tightened their budgets, and some industries were upended overnight. Meanwhile, employees have had to quickly adapt to working remotely, and a growing number of ‘digital nomads’ are choosing to take their jobs on the road. For others, the sudden job market shift has made it necessary to change careers or industries altogether. In fact, 63% of workers who lost their jobs because of COVID-19 have changed industries, according to a Harris Poll survey.

These developments have led to a tremendous amount of uncertainty, but at the same time, they’ve created unique opportunities for those who are willing to adapt. Fields like healthcare, education, and finance have had to ramp up hiring to meet increased demand, and there are many other jobs on the rise. In fact, 64% of American workers say they are looking for new job opportunities or will consider moving jobs if approached by another company, according to a new study from Ceridian. And the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 6.3% in January, which is a sign that the economy is improving.

Despite the optimistic outlook, you might personally feel like your career has stalled this year, and you’re certainly not alone. It can be difficult to know how to continue advancing at work, but remember that this is about career progression—you don’t have to aim for a promotion or a new job right now. Instead, think about how you can invest in your personal and professional development and set yourself up for what’s next. Or, perhaps you’ve wanted a career change for a while—now might be the perfect time to build the skills you need to enter a new industry or start a new role.

During any unpredictable situation, the key is to be adaptable and open to change. During a recent conversation I had with actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas for my "5 Questions" podcast, I asked her for her best piece of career advice. She emphasized how critical it is to always be willing to evolve, learn and grow, no matter how long you’ve been in your industry. While it may feel like everything is on hold right now, it’s important to figure out how to make the best of the situation so you can start making progress toward your goals. Here are 5 key areas to focus on:

1. Be intentional about your work and life goals 

Whether you’re looking to advance within your current company or explore a new field, it’s essential that you’re specific about what you want to achieve. This means setting clear goals and defining the steps to get there. If you’re aiming for a promotion, what do you need to do to accomplish this? If you’re contemplating a career change, are there ways you can gain experience or skills that will help prepare you? Create a plan for yourself with the actions you’ll take, and put deadlines in place to keep you on track. You might even want to set aside blocks of time on your calendar dedicated to your objectives.

Another key success factor is making sure your boss is aware of your aspirations. While you may already have regular check-ins, make a point to schedule a meeting specifically to share your career goals and ask for input. If it makes sense for your role, you could ask for more responsibility or opportunities to build your skills. And don’t be afraid to seek out feedback more often, especially now that people aren’t in the office. Some managers aren’t comfortable giving feedback (especially when it’s negative). But if you’re proactive about looking for ways to improve, this can help signal your readiness for a new role or opportunity. 

As you work toward your goals, be sure to track your progress and accomplishments. COVID-19 has made it easy for things to get forgotten, between the lack of facetime and the distractions people are dealing with at home. It’s up to you—and only you!—to record the evidence of your contributions so that when an opportunity does come up, you have a clear case for why you’re the best candidate. And remember to capture data points along the way; don’t just keep a log of your projects, note how they measurably impacted the business. 

2. Level up your skillset 

One of the best ways to prepare yourself for the next step in your career is to enhance your existing skillset. Perhaps you already know what you need to improve, but if not, start by asking your manager what you should focus on. There are plenty of free or low-cost online courses, tutorials, and other resources from renowned institutions and companies like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Udacity, and Skillshare. You might even decide to go back to school part-time. Or consider volunteering for a nonprofit, which is a great way to get hands-on experience and learn skills that you will make you stand out. 

If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at what the experts say are the tops skills for 2021 and beyond. LinkedIn puts out an annual Top Skills list, and the World Economic Forum recently published its list of the Top 10 Skills of 2025. Not surprisingly, innovation and technology are featured prominently. No matter your role, it can’t hurt to gain an understanding of what’s new or emerging in your industry. With respect to soft skills, LinkedIn highlights the importance of creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

Along these lines, one skill that everyone has needed to become adept at during the pandemic is communication. Now might be a good time to ask yourself whether you’ve truly mastered the technology, tools, and etiquette required for virtual collaboration. With many companies extending their remote work policies (some indefinitely), employees who want to be considered for career advancement will need to become experts at virtual communication.

And remember, part of mastering the virtual workplace involves knowing how to adapt to your colleagues’ communication styles and their individual situations. Many people are dealing with much more than work right now, and showing kindness and understanding can go a long way. Try to tune into your co-workers and their emotions—know when to be empathetic, but don’t be afraid to add some lightness to your interactions when it makes sense. Having the emotional intelligence to navigate the complexity of interpersonal relations during this time is a key skill that will make you stand out for leadership roles.  

3. Be a key resource for your boss and your company

As I noted in my book "Promote Yourself", the most important person you need to be a resource for is your boss. If she or he is unsuccessful, their frustrations will undoubtedly rub off on you, and the chances you’ll ever get a promotion are pretty slim. But if you support your manager’s career, make their life easier, and earn their trust, they’ll take you with them as they climb the corporate ladder—even if that means going to another company. So learn what your boss’s priorities are, request stretch assignments, and do more than is expected. 

However, your manager isn’t the only person you should try to impress. There’s always something happening in your industry or among your competitors—make it a habit to stay on top of the latest news and trends, and share these insights as it makes sense. You might even offer to hold a virtual learning session to disseminate your knowledge. Being future-ready and forward-thinking will make others look to you as a source for new ideas and opportunities, and especially during the pandemic, this perspective will be greatly appreciated. 

But perhaps you want to take it a step further. If it makes sense for your role (and with your boss’s go-ahead), you might think about ways to enhance your company’s operations. You could propose a program that solves a specific problem or identify ways to streamline certain processes. It’s not always easy to pinpoint areas for improvement, nor it is easy to define and implement solutions to address those issues. Demonstrating these skills will position you as a leader, problem-solver, and critical thinker.

4. Boost your visibility and exposure

Going hand-in-hand with becoming a key resource is increasing your visibility as much as possible. As a first step, be engaged in all aspects of meetings, phone calls, and emails. Be sure to share your video during Zoom sessions, and try to come up with comments or questions so you’re seen as adding value. Depending on the size of the meeting and the attendees, be prepared to interject with your viewpoint and make assertive (rather than passive) statements and suggestions.

But perhaps you’re dealing with a more immediate obstacle: your boss isn’t giving your work the visibility it deserves or isn’t including you in meetings where your work is being presented. Jean Choy, an associate dean at the Foster School of Business, suggests presenting a concrete reason why you should be part of a presentation or high-visibility team, for example, because you did the research and can answer questions about the data. You want to convey how this helps the business and your boss look good, instead of saying that you felt insulted not to be included.

Another way to gain more exposure is by taking on tasks outside of your job description. You might offer to mentor employees, contribute to an employee resource group, or help another team meet a deadline. Whatever route you decide to pursue, try to seek out work where you’re most likely to shine. It’s also helpful to gain exposure outside of your company, especially if you’re considering a new line of work. Make it a habit to post ideas and articles on social media, and comment on posts from industry insiders, experts, and influencers. 

5. Become a master networker 

Whether you’re looking for that next promotion at work or thinking about a career change, you’re making a critical mistake if you decide to go it alone. There are numerous ways your connections can help you achieve “what’s next,” whether it’s your colleagues at work, your professional network, or a mentor/coach. However, given the limited in-person interactions right now, you may have to take the initiative to do some outreach—don’t be afraid to do so, most people will take it as a compliment that you’re seeking out their advice.

If you’re interested in a different role, reach out to employees in other departments and learn what they do. This will also help you understand the bigger picture of how your team fits into the overall company strategy. If you’re looking for referrals or a job offer, it might make sense to connect with peers who can help advance your plans. For example, a colleague in HR can mention your name when the next big opportunity comes up—but only if they know you’re open to a larger scope or new role.

In general, it’s a great idea to grow and nurture your network—by building it now, you’ll be better equipped when you decide to move on from your current role. Of course, the easiest way to do this is by adding new connections on sites like LinkedIn. But you might also try reconnecting with colleagues from previous roles or employers; you never know where they’ve ended up or what doors they could open for you. Professional or trade organizations are another great way to expand your network, and you’ll also benefit from the development opportunities they typically provide.

While networking can go a long way, you may find that you want to invest a bit more in your career progression. See if your company offers a mentorship program, and request to be matched with someone at least a level above you. Or you could consider hiring a career/business coach who can help answer questions, make connections, and provide guidance and motivation. Self-reflection and growth can be nourished by talking with people who are invested in you and who’ve had similar experiences.

Adapt now to set yourself up for success

While the pandemic has brought about unprecedented change to the business world, it has also created opportunities. By showcasing your ability to navigate through these uncertain times, you’ll put yourself on the path for a promotion or a new role, even if it doesn’t happen overnight. So be patient but proactive—set goals for yourself, learn new skills, nurture your relationships, and make sure your contributions are seen. And above all, make sure you are seen as adaptable and forward-thinking, as these are the traits that everyone needs in order to succeed right now.

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