Reaping the rewards from a pandemic career pivot

Allen admits he would likely have continued flying had it not been for pandemic forcing him to start a food business.

“After losing one career entirely as a result of COVID, it feels great to have created something which may now support us through lockdowns and beyond. We are immeasurably grateful for the support that people have shown us so far,” he says.

“I know I can make this work and not have to go back to an industry that chewed me up and spat me out.”

Employment expert Ruth Bridgstock from Griffith University said while coronavirus had cost some people their jobs, it had also created opportunities for others.

“There are instances of individuals who have maybe taken advantage of the push that coronavirus has provided to reinvent themselves and their careers,” Professor Bridgstock said.

When Simone Yammine was made redundant from her job as a retail assistant last year, she utilised her contacts in the textile manufacturing industry in her home country of Brazil to produce premium quality organic cotton face masks and clothing.

The 37-year-old who has called Sydney home for five years launched Eden Organic.co to supply ethically made, organic cotton pieces free from harmful chemicals.

Her products have proven a hit with eco-minded customers concerned about disposable masks polluting the environment.

“With so many reusable face masks on the market what makes Eden Organic.co stand out is our commitment to the environment while making a sustainable fashion statement,” Yammine says.

With hindsight Tim McNamara says losing his dream job running Australian coffee chain Bluestone Lane in San Francisco was “probably the best thing that could have happened to me”.

Originally from Melbourne, the 35-year-old begrudgingly returned home in the midst of the pandemic to figure out his next move.

“I moved into a cool loft-style apartment in South Yarra and everyone was like ‘why aren’t you entertaining here’?” he recalls. This sparked the idea for a supper-club style venue.

“I started Clandes.dine from my loft in Melbourne to reignite human connection.”

Depending on government restrictions McNamara hosts 15-20 strangers around a dining table. Guests receive a text message on the day with the location and menu and only meet their fellow diners when they arrive at 6pm. “That said, by 11pm they’re exiting as new friends and that’s so cool,” McNamara says.

The strictly word-of-mouth nightspot has become so popular in Melbourne that, like any hot dining destination, it now has a wait list replete with sports stars, chefs, political advisors, artists and TV personalities.

“COVID has been an amazing chance to reset, do things differently. None of this would have happened pre-COVID.”