Wed 15th Feb Newsletter

Hey, everyone! 👋

Welcome back to CareerAddict’s revamped newsletter. If you’re just joining us, you’re in for a real treat, as we’ll be bringing you industry news, expert tips and career inspiration, as well as freebies and many more surprises every day of the week.

Let’s jump right in — and celebrate the fact that we’re halfway through the week!

In today's email:

• Women leading the labor market recovery: men are yet to bounce back

• “Quiet thriving”: What is it and how can you succeed?

• Succeeding in a male-dominated industry: How to thrive

• Dealing with anxiety at work: Expert tips to follow

TRENDING NEWS

Women Leading the Labor Market’s Recovery

The story: Amidst the post-pandemic recession, 13.6M women in their prime working years (ages 25–54) suffered job loss. That was steeper than the collective 11.9M jobs that men of prime working age lost in the same period. However, as of January 2023, 76.9 per cent of women between the ages of 25 and 54 have returned to work, matching the pre-pandemic percentage of 77. The number of working men of the same age group, on the other hand, has yet to rebound to its February 2020 equivalent.

What this means: The US labor force looks different today compared to pre-pandemic times. Overall labor participation of workers aged 16 and above falls short of pre-pandemic quotas, largely due to the numerous retirements resulting from an aging workforce. In contrast to this trend, women of prime working age have made strong employment gains at a time of historically low unemployment.

School reopenings and vaccines: The world shifting back to normalcy made this change possible. Specifically, an estimated 993,000 more mothers went to work in December 2022 compared to the previous year. This highlights the contributions of women with young children to the labor market’s recovery.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Transitory inflation is out, “supercore’ inflation is in” — According to the Federal Reserve, “supercore” allows for a more accurate investigation of inflation drivers. (CNN)

• Ford is set to cut nearly 4,000 jobs in Europe within 2 years, including 1,300 in the UK, blaming rising overheads and the need to focus on electric vehicle production. (The Guardian)

• More teens and young adults are finding jobs and moving out of economic inactivity as living costs soar, according to the Office for National Statistics. (BBC)

WHAT'S HOT

Quiet Thriving

You might have heard of the term “quiet quitting”, where you mentally quit your job or even a relationship. But, this year, its antithesis “quiet thriving” is what it’s all about. The term was coined by psychotherapist Lelsey Alderman in an article for the Washington Post, and means actively making changes to your workday to shift your mental state and help you feel more engaged in your job.

And this positive mindset makes a whole world of a difference to your career. Instead of sitting back and watching the day go by, the new trend invites you to take control of your day and feel like you’ve achieved your goals. So, 2023 is about discovering ways to manage your annoyances and find the silver lining in whatever you choose to do.

How do you feel about quiet thriving? Reply back and let us know.

TODAY'S ADVICE

How to Succeed in a Male-Dominated Industry

Male-dominated industries are renowned for reinforcing harmful stereotypes and creating difficult working environments for women. In 2020, only 6.5 per cent of women in the US worked full time in male-dominated occupations. Can they do the job as well as a man? Absolutely, they can!

However, even in 2023, there are still plenty of issues that women face in the workplace — the gender pay gap is still a thing, and there’s still such a thing as “gender bias”. And while the number of women joining careers in these male-focused industries is increasing, it can still be challenging.

So, how do you succeed (nay, thrive) in a male-dominated industry?

Here’s how!

1. Trust your knowledge and skills. Even though you’re surrounded by men, it doesn’t mean your qualifications and skills aren’t as good. You trained just as hard (and for just as long), so put trust in your knowledge and know that you're just as qualified.

2. Make your thoughts and ideas known. If you have a valid idea, share it. Discuss your ideas and explain your reasoning. Don’t feel like your ideas are worthless (they’re not!). Make sure you’re not hiding away in the corner waiting for the meeting to end — actively participate.

3. Build strong connections. A good line of communication with your coworkers can make a huge difference to productivity and teamwork, so make sure you’re actively listening and connecting with the people you work with to achieve leading results.

4. Keep learning. There’s no doubt: you already know your stuff, but continuous learning will benefit you as you progress in your career. If there’s an option to take further training, do it. If you have a mentor, learn from them. In turn, doing this will also boost your confidence.

5. Maintain a work–life balance. While your career is important to you (and rightly so), it’s also important to maintain a good work–life balance so you can mentally and physically recharge from the trials you face at work. Make your wellbeing your priority, and everything else will fall neatly into place.

DON'T MISS

🚩 Feeling down at work? Here’s how to have a positive mindset.

⏲ Working part-time? These are the transferable skills that you’re gaining!

🗨 Thinking of becoming a personal assistant? Here’s a complete guide.

✍ A master’s degree can help you succeed at work. Here’s how to apply for one.

WEDNESDAY'S TO-DOS

Happy Hump Day! Here are some tips to help you make it to Friday.

✅ Prioritize the hard tasks. Getting these out of the way first will make you feel much more relaxed, satisfied and accomplished.

✅ Make Marie Kondo proud. Tidy up your workspace by discarding whatever you don’t need — and by adding something that “sparks joy” (like a plant or a family photo).

✅ Hide your mobile. Put it in your desk drawer so that you can focus on crossing things from your to-do list — and not be tempted to scroll through social media feeds.

✅ Plan for the weekend. Saturday is looming just over the horizon, so start planning something nice. This will give you something to look forward to and improve your mood at work.

✅ Provide a helping hand. If a coworker is struggling with a deadline and you’ve finished your tasks, give your help. You’ll feel good about it, and they might return the favor one day!

WATERCOOLER CHAT

Dealing with Anxiety at Work

Everyone has feelings of anxiety at one point or another.

But if you feel like you’re in a constant state of worry, panic, fear, dread and uneasiness, you may have an anxiety disorder.

So, what can you do?

Here are our best tips for dealing with anxiety at work:

Seek professional help. A qualified mental health professional will be able to provide you with the help and support you need.

Identify your triggers. Once you figure out what these triggers are, you’ll be better able to steer clear of them. Keeping a journal can be immensely helpful.

Plan ahead. The more prepared you are, the less anxious you’ll feel about work, so planning the week ahead is a good place to start.

Work smart. Break tasks down into manageable chunks, give yourself realistic goals, ask for help when needed and, above all, be kind to yourself.

Talk to your boss. Alternatively, contact your HR representative. Beyond providing you with support and literature, they could make reasonable accommodations to your workload.

Breathe. Try slowly inhaling while counting to 4, and then slowly exhaling, again while counting to 4 — repeat for 2–5 minutes.

Practice self-care. Self-care can mean different things for different people. Figure out what activities work best for you, and incorporate a self-care routine into your day.

How do you handle anxiety in the workplace? Let us know your tips and tricks!

MEME IT

Like what you read? Reply and let us know your thoughts.

Created with care by Chris Leitch, Joanna Zambas, Hayley Ramsey and Electra Michaelidou