Author: Tammy Doss
In December of 2020 I was furloughed from my position for 172 days. Covid pulled the rug right out from under the career I have had for almost 24 years. During this period, I had plenty of time to reflect on what working a normal work week meant to me.
For starters, I thought back on all of the jobs I have had during my life. It was fun to remember some of my earlier work experience and how it shaped my idea of working and my passion for being timely and accurate. The fun part of taking a look back was reconnecting with some of my old work buddies.
With plenty of time on my hands, I spent many hours communicating and catching up with old friends and learning how they were doing during the Covid experience. The good news is that I only lost one close friend to Covid and only a couple were hospitalized. Otherwise, the updates were positive and it was a pleasant experience.
However, things have changed when you consider I’ve been working for over forty years. Who would have thought so many people would have lost their jobs? The good news is just as many are reinventing themselves and opening new and exciting pathways to success.
It occurred to me that for quite some time I had not taken that extra 10 minutes to really reach out to friends, family, and loved ones as often as I should. It made me think about the times I wished I had communicated, called, or visited that I did not. It made me sad to think that I missed a perfect opportunity to engage and now those moments are gone.
With this in mind, I made a decision that I would try my best every day to make one phone call or text to a friend or relative and check-in to see how things are going. When I started getting lots of feedback, I realized that pretty much everyone likes to be thought of. Taking just a few minutes a day can open so many avenues that could lead to stronger relationships, better communication, and job opportunities.
When you apply this logic to searching for work it can certainly open many doors. One friend with whom I attended High School is now the Vice President of a bank. Another friend owns an Antique Store. The diverse group that I reconnected with brought knowledge about different industries, lifestyles, and working environments. Taking a few minutes of your day can expand your possibilities for employment and friendship.
I appreciate that I am no longer furloughed, and I look forward to communicating with my colleagues and catching up on their experiences over the last few months. Keeping busy and staying focused on work, friends and family is always a positive! Good luck reconnecting! Good luck in your job search.