Initially, lockdown was a difficult experience for everyone. Most of us are not used to working from home. Trying to navigate zoom, online viewing rooms and a very different world seemed kind of scary, right? But as time went on, we got used to it pretty quickly. It may come as a surprise, but you can brag about how you coped during this time in your next interview. It seems lockdown saw us all acquire some pretty good skills. Want to know what they are? Read on!
Adaptability
We all had to adapt at the beginning of lockdown. Our businesses changed and so did the ways in which we worked. But, for the most part, the majority would have been able to continue working as if things were “normal” despite the world being a very abnormal place. And that ability to keep on working is a true sign of being able to adapt swiftly during challenging situations.
Resilience
This period was anything but easy. We experienced increased stress levels and a high degree of uncertainty, not to mention abnormal workloads and domestic working environments. Being able to keep cool during this time demonstrates a kind of resilience like no other.
Tech
For the first time in a long while many of us were unable to call the IT Dept for help when our computers stopped working. We all became completely dependent on our phones and laptops, as well as on new apps like Zoom, Teams and probably countless others. 2020 was the year that everyone officially became tech savvy!
Communication
Lockdown saw us communicate in a whole new way. Forget IRL meetings, everything happened on Zoom. On top of that, our email game reached another level and I’m pretty sure nobody used their phone more than they did during this period. Checking in on your colleagues in order to maintain good working relationships during this time shows a real ability to communicate during times of extreme stress.
Discipline
It would have been so easy to cut a few hours off of your working day while your boss wasn’t looking, or simply gone off track altogether. Working from home requires a lot of discipline and effort, and if you managed to pull it off, you certainly deserve a pat on the back.
Focus
During lockdown we were constantly bombarded with bad news, making it almost impossible to concentrate. Add to that the dozens of extra hours in front of our screens and you have a recipe for disaster. But despite all of that, most of us managed to keep focused on work, and if that’s not something to brag about then I don’t know what is!
Empathy
Let’s face it, the world is super global these days and while your office may usually be based in London you’re probably dealing with people in Rome, Shanghai and LA. while the situation might be OK for you right now, it might not be for your colleagues somewhere else. Likewise, your boss may have childcare issues or a family member could have become ill. We’ve all become a little more empathetic during these times and thank goodness for that!
Text Lizzy Vartanian
