According to the Pearson Global Learner Survey, 81% of women have taken some action over the last year—searching for new opportunities, updating resumes, submitting applications, etc.—to change their job or career path. As the Founder of Boss Women Collective (BWC), a community focused on empowering women through personal and professional growth, and an employee of a fully remote tech company, I can confirm that this statistic is relevant to me and many other members of the BWC. As women assert more control of their careers, we are seeing a huge increase in women driving one of the most significant labor disruptions in modern history, with the majority of this stemming from Covid-era challenges.
My Covid-era Job Hunt
I spent the first five months of the pandemic unemployed, actively looking for a new role. As companies were laying off their employees, making the job market that much more competitive, I knew I needed to focus on improving my professional abilities and skills to become a better candidate. Doing so included attending virtual events to level-up my business-related skills, as well as focusing on following the career paths of influential leaders through podcasts and blog posts.
I had never really understood the concept of a fully remote company until I started seeing more job listings pop up on LinkedIn for “remote friendly roles.” I quickly understood how attractive and beneficial this opportunity could be for women who did not want to live in major cities, and have to pay the price for it, literally. After making the decision to move to NYC, while still on the job hunt, I knew that although I would likely be in a remote role, I wanted to be in a city and a community that would challenge me personally and professionally.
From the diverse network I have built in NYC, I’ve connected with many other women who share a similar sentiment of how the pandemic has impacted them. Almost every person I have met has expressed that the pandemic has encouraged them to rethink what they would like out of their career. Many of my close friends have changed their job or career path, and have focused on building their network as in-person events and networking opportunities have picked up.
My Version of Success
As we continue to navigate the new norms from the Covid-era, I believe more women will place a larger emphasis on taking ownership of their careers and seek opportunities that bring them both personal and professional growth and satisfaction. More women will demand more from their careers, as they should, to ensure that the space in which they are dedicating 40+ hours per week is leading to an alignment of their version of success. For me, that looked like a remote role that would allow me to travel to different cities to visit friends and family, while also ensuring I remain challenged intellectually, and motivated to hit my quota goals. This newfound clarity has enabled me to ensure that my current and future professional opportunities continue to enable me to find balance in both my personal and professional life, while still being able to level-up in my career. While the future is still uncertain, one thing I am sure about is that more empowered women will continue to write and shape their version of success to ensure that we remain adaptable and optimistic towards the challenges ahead.
Riana Singh is the Founder of Boss Women Collective, a community focused on empowering women through personal and professional growth. She also works full-time at a tech startup while focusing on creating lifestyle and travel content in her free time. She recently moved to NYC and is passionate about supporting women owned businesses.