"What Is Going To Happen To My Job After the COVID-19 Pandemic?" - 03/25/20 Edition
Stephen Says Column
Dear Stephen:
I am sure you are flooded with the same panicky questions this week. I am in outside sales and very nervous about the future of my job and income. We had a lot of projects on the board before the pandemic broke out but now customers will not let us make sales calls on them, and my company has us working remotely. Everything in my world seems to be on hold. I work for one of the largest furniture manufacturers in North America, headquartered in the Midwest with subsidiaries all over the world. As a corporation we have made contingencies and seem prepared, yet who can be prepared for something that has never happened before? Snowstorms we know, hurricanes and natural disasters we know, and we even survived the tragedy of 9/11, but this is new territory. Business has just stopped. Stephen I am scared. Afraid on so many levels; af-
ter my family and my health it is my job and income I worry about. You wrote the book “Bulletproof Your Job,” and if I ever needed to bulletproof my job, it is right now. What are your tips for staying employed during this scary time, and what will my job be like, if I still have one post COVID-19?
Sign,
Self-Quarantined
Dear Friend,
Everyone is feeling scared, even a bit depressed, however, I really do believe your job will survive, and we will recover stronger and wiser. Just start to work in a new and modern way. Sales will pick up where they left off. Yes, it is scary as our cities shut down, but the only companies who will lose out are those who are not immediately ready to take orders and serve their customers when this is over.
Let me start by saying you must stay home and be mindful of CDC/WHO rules and guidelines. And now your answer: We work in a compassionate industry with leaders and owners who care about the people who work for them. The furniture industry has experienced record sales and profits over the past five years and leaders tell me cash reserves will allow these fine companies to stay the course. I have contacted many of the CEOs, presidents and owners of manufacturers and dealers, both contract and residential, and they have told me with confidence that jobs will be saved. So stay safe, and accept the new reality.
As far as you and your worry, yeah it is normal. Everyone has different ways to cope, so mix it up and try to go out of your comfort zone with things that may make you happy or that may stimulate your mind. For instance, since you’re in the interiors industry, maybe this is a good time to learn more about it. Stuff you wanted to do but never had the time, like reading through this issue of BoF and other industry publications instead of just scanning. How about books relating to the history of furniture design of architecture? Or getting into industry forums, blogs or podcasts to make you feel closer to others who are in the same boat as you. Or just learning more about your own company. Wouldn’t all that make you a better prepared (and a more interesting person) for when business gets back to normal?
For me it’s important to keep up my regular work routine — but from home — during regular business hours. The good news is my headhunting business has many open searches. We sold three new ones just this week, and so far no one has stopped hiring or put anything on hold. Overall that is good news for everyone. Companies want to keep working, just in a new and innovative way. Self-isolating for me means I avoid the news all day, then I watch old TV shows, movies and Netflix and Amazon Prime at night. I Facetime a lot with friends and family. I am a man of faith so I have always prayed and now I get to do that more. Roll your eyes at me if you like, but my faith keeps me grounded and I am not embarrassed to share that. Hey, it is my column.
One of my very favorite clients, a president of a major company, once told me “Viscusi you can hear the grass grow in this industry.” What she meant by that is as the head of one of the industry’s largest recruiting firms I am hot-wired into almost every significant change at dealers and manufacturers nationwide. Client or not, I am the headhunter CEOs, presidents and VP Sales love to hate. Yet they want me in their orbit, and they love to share with me. When I tell you your job is safe and business will recover fast, that is what hearing the grass grow is telling me. We are good. First, get through this pandemic by following all the guidelines, then get back to work and do an even better job than you did before.
Stephen
You can send your workplace questions to Stephen at: StephenSays@bellow.press
Questions selected to be answered, will appear in this column. Please use the Subject: Stephen Says for all emails. Stephen Viscusi is a bestselling author, television personality, and CEO of The Viscusi Group, global executive recruiters located in New York. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenviscusi. Like Stephen on Facebook; and follow him on LinkedIn.
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