This too shall pass
By the power vested in me from this universe, I hereby declare this week -- AMAZZING!
Welcome to One Up Your Career - the weekly info-vitamin capsule 💊 by Unnati to help you growth hack your career.
To read this issue online and leave your comments, click here.
Holla People!
To be honest, the past week has not been amazing for me. Even though I have been running a fully remote company for years now, this pandemic and lockdown are getting to me. I feel suffocated at home these days.
We just survived the second wave of COVID and yet it is far from over. We are living in the fear of the looming third wave. It gets depressing.
This past week I have been thinking about what the future will be like for me, my family, my loved ones, and this entire world. We keep talking about the ‘new normal’. But in reality, there is nothing normal about the conditions we are living in.
So, yeah I was feeling low and I resorted to my trusted mode of escaping reality - Reading. I read blogs, newsletters, articles and listened to a couple of podcasts (listening to podcasts is equivalent to reading). And I came across this wonderful blog with a completely new perspective on adversities.
I felt good after reading this!
Without wasting any more pixels, let’s dig in…
You are made for Adversities
Recently I read an interesting article on the positive effects of disaster on mental health. The article quotes, "When disaster strikes, people come together. During the worst times of our lives, we can end up experiencing the best mental health and relationships with others."
The article further substantiates the thought by stating what happened in England before and during the second world war. The British government feared that the looming war might cause three times as many psychiatric casualties as physical ones. Authorities wondered how the population would cope with financial distress, difficulties of food distribution, breakdowns in transport, communications, gas, lighting, and water supplies. Yet, contrary to the anticipation, the social and psychological collapse never happened. During the war, there did not appear to be an increase in mental health. Some sources suggest that the suicide rate might have decreased.
Does this prove that humans feel more at home in a crisis? The unique effects of World War II on the British population proved so. Of course, I am not saying that disasters are good, but the point to note here is that, times of crisis are closer to environments we need to flourish as an individual.
The human species have evolved, running the race to survival which needed collaboration within communities. Thus, when normalcy breaks down, we experience the same condition we evolved in, and we instinctively react positively to the crisis.
What does this teach you?
A bad situation is not to be scared of. When in crisis your natural instincts will help you sail through. Learn to rely on them.
Do not fight change, embrace it. The sooner you adapt to adversity, the easier it would be to overcome it.
At last, I would like to quote Sebastian Junger, author of Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging.
“Humans don’t mind hardship, in fact, they thrive on it; what they mind is not feeling necessary.
— Sebastian Junger
Click here to read the article I am referring to.
Career Concerns…Answered
Do you have a career-related question? Confused where to find the answers? 🤷 Need help with practical career advice? Your search ends here…👇
Drop your questions here and tune in every week to read the answers.
I did my graduation in food technology and then went on to do MBA in marketing and supply chain management. For two years now I have been working in an NBFC as an assistant product manager. Right now, I am looking to switch companies and I want to work for an eCommerce firm. The problem is that I am not getting shortlisted due to no degree in technology. What would you suggest? Certifications/one-year courses from abroad? -Mansi
Dear Mansi,
A lot depends on your current role. Most eCommerce companies looking to hire people with directly relevant experience in the domain of product management. And if you are not handling a digital product in the NBFC you are working in, then you would not get qualified.
Instead of directly applying to eCommerce companies - try to first apply to fintech companies - they would value your experience more.
And consider doing a paid online boot camp or certificate courses from one of the ed-tech companies on product management that also offers placement support. Most such courses are part time and you will be able to do it with your job. I recommend that you check out upgrad.com or greatlearning.in for such courses.
Job Corner
🤝🏼🤝🏼🤝🏼Senior HRBP | Leading Logistics-tech Platform | Bangalore
Apply Here
🔢🔢🔢Accounts and Administration Executive | Disruptive Women’s Health App | Mumbai
Apply Here
📞📞📞Outbound Caller | Education Loans Fintech | Delhi
Apply Here
💻💻💻Full Stack Developer | Language Upskilling Edtech Platform| Remote/B'lore
Apply Here
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