By Max Dougé

It’s a few weeks late, but it’s still a good time to put some hopes and goals in place for 2021. Let’s face it, 2020 was quite a forgettable year for most of us. The economy was hit hard by Covid-19 and caused many to lose their job; even employers who managed to do well struggled. So it seems fitting to project a brighter outlook for this year. Here are some suggested resolutions for a new and better year:

Achieve Good Health

Let’s all work together towards better health. Vaccines are making their way to communities around the country to protect us from Covid, offering a sense of optimism; let’s also continue following CDC safety guidelines (facemasks, social distancing, etc). Better health metrics should lead to opening up impacted segments of our society, including small businesses, schools, and entertainment venues.

Develop a new skill

If we could learn one or more new skills, imagine the opportunities it might create for ourselves… and for employers. Here are some of the potentially endless ideas:

Business: QuickBooks for bookkeeping; public speaking for sales presentations; analytics for online or social media marketing; project management
Technical: Coding for application development; certification(s) for IT technical support; database management
Artistic: Photography/graphic design; music/audio technology; interior decorator; landscape design
Healthcare: First Aid/CPR; medical technician; nurse’s aide; medical coding; physical/occupational therapy technician
Education: Online or in-class instructor; teachers’ aide; curriculum design
Trades: CDL driver; welding; plumbing; HVAC; landscaping; construction

If you’re in the job market and seeking training, check out “One-on-One Career Services: 3 Steps to Connect” to find out if you can qualify for funding to cover the costs associated with the training.

If you’re an employer with plans for upskilling your staff this year, you may also qualify for grant funding support. Check out www.FrederickWorks.com/employers, or click here to contact a member of the business services team.

Get involved in the community

We’ve seen many images of long lines of cars waiting for food distribution; natural disasters that disrupt life and force communities to rebuild; homeless shelters that are overwhelmed during the winter months – these are a small sampling of the existing needs. Find something you are (or can be) passionate about; our communities and fellow humans need our help and support. Nonprofit organizations function as a business, so they also felt the impact of Covid during 2020. They rely heavily on the good nature of volunteers. If you can spare a couple of hours a month, your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Enjoy the outdoors

Indoor activities have been limited because of the higher likelihood of spreading Covid. However, with proper social distancing and precautions, outdoor activities offer a great alternative to conduct work, volunteer, take a class, or simply unwind.

Become a mentor

A mentor can be a great asset to a company, an organization, and an individual by providing their insight and experiences to others in a constructive manner. Some organizations even provide best practices and structured guidelines to assist those interested in becoming a mentor.

Engage in virtual networking

It may seem counterintuitive to emphasize networking during a pandemic that has forced us to isolate. However, thanks to online tools and resources, there are still opportunities to meet new people. One note of caution: if you conduct a lot of Zoom meetings for your job, you may find this a bit difficult to commit to. But if you can push through an additional one or two per month, you can grow your network in this new virtual environment. Give it a shot!

Lastly, stay healthy! I know this has already been stated, but it’s worth repeating. Have a great 2021!

New Year's Resolutions - Workforce Edition