This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Published on July 2, 2020
How Young Professionals are Adapting to the Covid-19 Pandemic ¶
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, young professionals are having to adapt to new ways of working and living. In this article, we speak to four young professionals who share their experiences and lessons learned as they navigate the challenges of remote work and social distancing.
Jackline Jeptoo Terigin, a 26-year-old economist, has seen her work schedule significantly altered by the pandemic. Her job now involves more phone calls and emails, and she has had to learn to use apps like Zoom to host and attend meetings.
"My job now involves a lot more phone calls and emails. We even had to learn to use apps such as Zoom to host and attend meetings," she says.
Despite the challenges, Jackline has found that working from home has improved her work-life balance and given her more time to learn new skills and pursue her interests.
"I have also had time to learn new skills in IT, identify my strengths and work on my weaknesses," she says.
Another young professional, Dollycate Muriuki, a 23-year-old procurement officer, has had to adapt to a new system of cashless transactions and online ordering. She has also started a new hobby, moulding concrete flower vases and selling clothes.
"I have since decided to embrace change. I have learned that for a long time, we have been so engrossed in our comfortable routines that we forgot to think critically, to diversify our lifestyles, to be more innovative and to keep learning," she says.
OMONDI OTIENO, a 26-year-old digital content creator, has had to adapt to a new work environment where he has to call colleagues, drop texts or write emails and wait for responses. He has also had to invest in fast and reliable internet to attend online meetings.
"Adapting to the new work environment where you have to call a colleague, drop a text or write an email and wait for a response was quite challenging at first. However, things became easier along the way," he says.
These young professionals, and many others like them, are having to adapt to a new reality. But as they navigate the challenges of remote work and social distancing, they are also learning valuable lessons about resilience, innovation and the importance of staying focused and positive.
