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Business Daily

Changing career in a pandemic

Business Daily

BBC

Business

4.4816 Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2020

⏱️ 19 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Some people aren’t letting coronavirus put their plans on hold. On today’s Business Daily, the BBC’s Katie Prescott meets several people dealing with the uncertainty of change in a pandemic. We’ll hear from Sharon, who is considering switching employer, and Sandra who is seizing the opportunity of a coronavirus-related redundancy to start her own business. We’ll also hear from entrepreneur and author Margaret Heffernan how we all accept some amount of uncertainty when making changes.

(Picture credit: Getty Images.)

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is Business Daily on the BBC World Service. I'm Katie Prescott.

0:06.7

Today, we hear from people who, through the uncertainty of the pandemic, have changed their careers during lockdown.

0:13.8

After day one, I did think this is not for me. I can't do it. I wasn't prepared.

0:25.1

And then day two, something just sort of changed for me. I can't do it. I wasn't prepared. And then day two, something just sort of changed, didn't me?

0:31.5

How to navigate a world of unknowns and why sometimes waiting and seeing might be best.

0:38.7

I wouldn't jump to conclusions. I wouldn't make irrevocable decisions right now. I don't think now is the moment to decide to get married or to not get married, you know, to take a new job or not to take a new job.

0:45.5

Business Daily on the BBC World Service.

0:53.0

Do I always think, oh, that could be my, that could be my mum, that could be my dad, that could be me in the future?

0:59.4

That's Sharon Whiston.

1:01.2

That I need this care.

1:02.8

So that was just the turning point for me.

1:06.2

And I do feel that, yeah, I do treat them as if they're family and friends.

1:10.9

And you'd build up such a good relationship with them.

1:13.3

Until a few months ago, she worked for an airline as a cabin manager.

1:17.4

But after losing her job, she's now retrained as a care worker.

1:22.1

It's really rewarding, really is.

1:24.9

It's definitely not pleasant at times.

1:31.7

Definitely not. However, the, you know,

1:37.8

it just pulls at your heartstrings. Sharon, an untold millions globally, have faced some of the toughest career choices they'll ever have to make over the last few months. It's impossible

1:42.7

to guess how many have found their livelihoods

1:45.3

hit by the pandemic. Shutdowns and shrinking workforces have dominated news headlines across the world.

1:51.9

This has led to many heartbreaking choices for some, who've had to abandon long-held ambitions

...

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