The onset of 2020 has led us all to times none of us could have ever imagined. Not only are we stuck inside our homes as this seemingly indefinite Quarantine continues, many of us are stuck with our professional and educational lives. The world struggles to come up as it faces a severely crippling economy. Not only are the poor and minimum wage workers facing the brunt of these catastrophic times, the privileged ones have their fair share of obstacles too. Abroad study plans might have been halted, Examinations have no definition, the successful business visions are now difficult to get going. The whole world is now united by the fear and uncertainty of one virus- Covid-19.

However, we humans have been blessed with the potential to adapt and heal like no other animal kind. This is not the first time that our species has been faced with a natural challenge, and together with all our efforts, we can definitely overcome it. It is true that stress and fear come naturally with this lockdown and quarantine. But does this mean that your career, your goals, your ambitions have to be locked down too? Definitely not!

Whether you are an aspiring SEE candidate, an entrepreneur, graduate looking to grow in career, or a student of any background- science, arts, or management, here are 5 tips that will help you get the most out of this Quarantine!

1.Update your CV, Cover Letters, and Profile

There is no such thing as a perfect profile. There are always things to work upon. Utilizing the time you have on your hands, try to master your CV. Include not just your job or academic experiences, but also how you contributed to them. Look at potential job profiles that you might be interested in, and you can use the job descriptions provided to have a better idea of what you want to include in your CV. A good CV does not come up in a few hours, so give as much time as you can.

You can also use your time to make a foundational cover letter. These letters have to be personalized each time for the job you wish to apply to. But now is a good time to look at plenty  of cover letter examples and draft a rough outline of what things you would want in all of them.

Grab this time also to update your LinkedIn Profile, your biography, and your portfolio!

2.Attend Virtual Events

Panic spread Quickly when the severity of Covid was announced. But people were quicker to fight back. Chances are that you are already flooded with advertisements about many webinars and events. Instead of scrolling past them, you might consider looking further. 

The good thing is that many courses are being offered at a much discounted rate than they would generally be. And the best part is that you can have access to them from the comfort of your home. You can attend free webinars, take certified online training, or even take up a whole online course. This is not just about hoarding up on certificates or making your resume impressive. There are genuinely good courses being offered that would help you immensely on your knowledge and grooming.

3.Start Something On Your Own

“Lockdown has got talent” is already a trending meme on the internet these days. Why not utilize this time to actually scale up that talent a notch up?

If you are a business-owner, you could work on your website and social media profiles. As a student, you can try publishing literature reviews or research paper ideas that you might not have time once the regular classes begin. If you have any artistic skills like sketching, writing, or fashion designing- you can utilize sites like wordpress and blogspot to create a platform on your own! You can draft your own cook-book, you can blog, vlog-so many opportunities!

With access to the whole world at the tip of your fingers, you don’t need to wait for opportunities to come knocking at your door. You create them yourself!

4.Network

There is a common misconception that networking can only be done through in-person meetings and networking events. As important as physical conversations are, you cannot ignore how beneficial online networking can be. In fact, this is a great time. Most of us have comparatively more time on our hands at home, so the probability of checking emails, replying back to conversations, and networking is higher!

Grow your LinkedIn connections, be a part of online discussions and seminars, be active in online groups and community discussions relevant to your field. Now is a great time to send that email to your professor, look out for jobs and internships, go for talent head-hunting,and expand your circle.

5.Develop Growth Habits

How many times have we pushed aside an activity saying, “there is no time.” This is an excellent time to refocus on and prioritize your habits. You can start reading short books, listen to some great podcasts, begin a Journaling habit, adjust your sleep cycle to the way you want it to be, or start exercising. The resources are in abundance with the internet, and time just happens to be in our favor.

You can also improve on your presentation skills by practicing in the mirror, practice some sample interviews with family members or companions. Now presents a great opportunity to find your weaknesses and work on them slowly and steadily. 

We understand that being in Quarantine is a stressful period. And we do not encourage putting pressure on yourself to be or act a certain way. All of us have our own ways of dealing with times like these. However it is for the better if we try to find opportunities even in times of crises like this, and look at the brighter side of everything. 

We hope you and your family find the strength and patience to deal with these times, and may you come out stronger than before! Stay Safe, and stay healthy!