While health professionals refer to COVID-19 as a novel virus, it no longer feels novel to most of us. We have been dealing with the upheaval created by this virus for close to six months. And as a result, we’ve come to realize this will be our new normal for some period of time to come. But this does not mean, however, that everything needs to come to a halt like it did in March. While we need to practice social distancing, wear our masks, and follow other necessary guidelines, we can still work to advance our careers. Perhaps this is even a good time to do so.

Here are six ways you can advance your career in the middle of a pandemic:

1. Talk With Your Mentor

First, if you don’t have a mentor, then find one. A mentor can help you focus your career goals and lay out a plan to advance your career.

2. Sign-up for Low Cost and Free Webinars

Currently, there are plenty of low-cost or free webinars and conferences covering topics ranging from education, supply chain management, management, health care, technology, crisis management, growing revenue, and the list goes on. Some of these webinars even offer certificates or badges of completion. Take this opportunity to enhance your knowledge base or learn something new.

3. Update Your Resume

If you have not updated your resume recently, then do so now. It is important to keep your resume up to date because you never know when an opportunity will present itself.

4. Update Your LinkedIn Profile

Similar to keep your resume up to date, visit your LinkedIn profile and add any classes you have taken or additional skills you have mastered, or tasks you have completed.

5. Offer to Work on Other Projects

This is a great time to raise your hand to help with a project. It shows you are committed to advancing or helping the institution and it demonstrates initiative – both of which are qualities managers look for when they promote. It also may give you the opportunity to work with more senior staff, which will help you gain exposure – a key element to advancing your career.

6. Talk with Your Manager about Goals

Finally, if you have a good relationship with your manager, don’t wait until your performance review to talk about your future. Start that conversation now. Talk about your career goals but be careful not to suggest that you are unhappy or simply looking for the next best thing. If your manager is in your camp, they can be incredibly supportive in advancing your career.

While these suggestions can help you advance your career, the first step is up to you. You have to be ready and willing to consider, think and act to make possibilities and opportunities an option. These are extraordinary times, but companies are hiring, and people are getting promoted; why shouldn’t you be one of them?

Stay safe and healthy,