The previous year was something new to us— an unexpected virus appearance and emergency health crisis that turned the world around. Many lost their jobs, and some went out of business due to bankruptcy. However, nobody is to blame because not a single person expected a crisis this severe.
No one was readily prepared for immediate shutdowns of establishments and businesses. So, if you are one of those who suffered job loss because of Covid-19, don’t hold yourself accountable too much since everything really went without notice.
However, if another pandemic emerges, you will no longer have excuses if you commit the same mistakes. Better learn your lessons now, or else you will suffer the same loss over and over again.
Businesses, employees, and even those who are self-employed should be equipped with knowledge for possible health-related crises and recessions that may arise in the future. This will enable success and high survivability during upheavals.
Before we get into opportunities and predictions for 2022, let’s look at the types of people during a crisis.
People that are unphased
These people are those types who aren’t really concerned about what’s happening around them since their career doesn’t get affected much. Although such kind of person is pretty boring to be with, they have security and stability. The number of people who belong to this population is relatively low, but hey, they are surely out there.
People that suffer from the crisis
Folks who belong in this category either lose their job, money, or even good health (mentally and physically). They are those who lost their hard-earned money on investments that didn’t do well. These people had a brain-boggling time battling with crisis, also affecting their mental disposition.
People that benefit from the crisis
Although many view crisis as something that brings catastrophe, there are few gems that can get the best out of the worst. The people who benefit from the situation are those who managed to leverage it. People who belong under this category are mostly entrepreneurs.
What is in store for 2022?
Recessions require sharp predictions that can back up plans and strategies. No one can really predict the future 100% accurately. However, apparent opportunities brought by the pandemic can bring dramatic changes in your career and business in 2022.
As we look ahead, there are certainly innovative trends that occur during these times of pandemic that you might want to venture into. From these bold predictions in this highly unpredictable environment, you can create a master plan that will bring your career and business to a new level.
Remote work will stick around for a long time
As the economy starts to recover, various industries are considering what kind of work to provide for the post-pandemic operation of their businesses. While some are itching to bring their workers back to the traditional office setup, others opt for hybrid work setup models, and some are thinking of sticking with full-time remote work.
Remote work is a pretty good strategy to minimize the number of cases of Covid-19. It is better for employees to stay at home rather than keeping employees in an office, which can only increase the risk of getting infected. Working from home doesn’t really affect performance since studies have shown that employees work just like when they are in a workplace.
Some companies have already come to realize that having employees work remotely would save them a lot of money because they won’t need to pay office rent, electricity bills, and other utility expenses to keep the operation going.
Snowflake CEO stated, “Covid has changed the way we work forever. Working from office is nonsense.”
Eventually, others will follow this work-from-home revolution to make bigger cuts from their business. More likely than not, remote work is here to stay.
Freelance is still here
If you’re looking for a career shift, you might want to consider freelancing. Being a freelancer almost necessitates you nothing but a computer and internet connection.
There are various opportunities freelancing can offer. You can opt for video editing, copywriting, affiliate marketing, and a lot more. The freelance space might be getting saturated, but you can still take on big opportunities if you begin promptly.
The market won’t be as open as it is now to freelancers in the coming years, so if you’ve got the skills, better start now!
Digital marketing is still in the game
Even when the world begins rolling as it does before the pre-pandemic years, the marketing approach will never be the same as it is before. Digital marketing is the future, and there’s no doubt that it will be a marketing ace player in the coming years.
During the peak of the pandemic, several digital marketing companies rose out of nowhere to take advantage of the transition of businesses from offline to online. There was a huge trendline in the area, hence, a huge competition arose.
At the moment of writing, the world is coming back to normal, so the trend is declining. This means lower competition for you if you’re planning to enter this field. If 2020 and 2021 have done you no good, the coming year might serve you well in the digital marketing industry.
Business travel isn’t as attractive
Discussing business affairs personally is indeed better than talking via phone or video call. However, during a health crisis such as Covid-19, traveling to meet face-to-face isn’t as attractive as using Zoom, Skype, and other handy means to conduct business meetings.
Business magnate Bill Gates uttered his prediction regarding business travel, saying, “My prediction would be that over 50% of business travel and 30% of days in the office would go away.”
Online conferences aren’t going away anytime soon as more people realize that traveling a thousand miles to talk about business is much more convenient. It saves a lot of time and money that could be allotted for other things.
Cyber security will boom
A humungous populace now relies on the internet for important matters, from business to financial undertakings. However, cyberspace is not a safe place to be. There’s a massive risk for malware attacks, hacking, and viruses.
As more people utilize the internet to make transactions, more and more criminals would be attracted to commit cybercrimes to make money. Offenses won’t be limited just to financial transactions but also to stealing ideas and copyrights.
Companies that assist businesses in strengthening cyber security are making some serious bucks. The cyber security industry will continue booming, and you can ride the wave by learning certain skills that can get you into this business.
Interest rates will remain in decline
Having low-interest rates is nothing new. The short-term interest rates have always been low after the worst economic plunge over a decade ago. However, the Covid-19 drove it way lower than it is by going all in to support economic activities.
Inflation is inevitable, but as long as people would need money to live and open up businesses, the interest rates would remain pretty low.
Oil is underestimated
The potential of oil has been underestimated because of the impacts of the pandemic. Due to travel restrictions and lockdowns, people barely leave their houses— vehicle owners aren’t obligated to purchase oil since there isn’t much use of it.
Restrictions are getting lifted, and people are being allowed to leave their homes, so travel will gradually re-open in 2022, airlines will take off, and several industries will resume operation. This will boost the demand for oil. If you’re planning a business or an investment, you might want to keep your eyes on oil too.
