The pandemic has changed the face of the workplace forever. For many workers, new unforeseen opportunities and the flexibility of working remotely are welcome improvements to the 9 to 5 routine.
In fact, a survey conducted by the Harris Poll finds that half of all working Americans now want to change careers. Among women, 56% say they have thought about a career change during the pandemic— double the 1 in 4 women who felt that way in the summer of 2020. Seventy-six percent say they want their company to make work permanently flexible in terms of schedule and/or location.
Employed men were far more likely than women to say they are considering quitting their job because their company (50% vs. 30%) or manager (44% vs. 29%) didn’t give a hoot about their concerns during the pandemic.
For these dissatisfied workers, the pandemic has made them realize that time is precious. If not now, they realized, when will be the right time find a new job or make a career change? Many people who were once risk-averse are becoming more willing to take the plunge if it means finding more meaningful, fulfilling, rewarding work.
The Harvard Business Review has identified three key areas of work that can help reshape your career successfully for the future.
COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU
After a year or more of working remotely, has your concept of the perfect job environment changed? Start by asking yourself how you work best. What environment do you need thrive in your job and what scenario is better suited to your personality?
Some people are thriving in a remote work environment and never want to go back. Others miss the social company of their colleagues and, gripped by loneliness, recognize that office life is right for them. The pandemic certainly validated the feasibility of virtual work — and once a privilege (as remote arrangements used to be seen) has been granted, they’re very hard to take away.
In Dorie’s forthcoming book The Long Game, she shares the story of Annmarie Neal, a successful HR executive who for more than 25 years — even pre-pandemic — managed to convince her employers to let her work from a small town in the Colorado mountains. She’d ask potential employers, “’Do you want to hire the best person for the role, or the best person in your zip code?’” Post-Covid, many more employees will be able to pose that same question.
DID LEADERSHIP CUT THE MUSTARD IN A TIME OF CRISIS?
Crises are often the truest test of leadership: under great pressure, good leaders excel. Conversely, bad leaders have nowhere to hide. During the pandemic, many people gained new insights about their boss and the senior leadership of their company. Did they treat their employees fairly and with respect? How did they navigate uncertainty? Did they prioritize the short-term or the long-term?
Depending on the leadership score card, once the pandemic has stabilized, many experts predict that we’ll see accelerated job turnover. There may be more opportunity than ever to identify companies that share your values and potentially join the tribe, regardless of geography.
REEVALUATING YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK GOING FORWARD
The past year has also shed the spotlight on who you can really rely on. Which coworkers helped you when you were facing personal challenges, or were under a major deadline? Which ones took the time to stay connected, and who only showed up when they needed you?
Plus, after a year of isolation, you’re probably ready to build up your network and add some new connections. Think of this as a unique opportunity both to solidify deeper ties with trusted colleagues and to expand your overall network.
CHART YOUR COURSE
Once you’ve decided to refocus the direction of your career, where do you start? How do you zero in on the path that’s right for you? With decades of experience, Life Working® has found that career assessment tests and exercises can really help job seekers like you make intentional choices based on their natural abilities, acquired skills, interests, personality, values and career goals.
The results of these assessments will provide you with data to guide your career-related decisions with greater confidence. The more data you collect, the more informed choices you can make as you look for your next job or embark on a career change.
Assessments can validate things you already knew about yourself but couldn’t quite articulate. In many cases, they can reveal hidden talents. They run the gamut, from free online quizzes to psychometrically validated assessments that include a debrief with a specially trained, certified consultant.
Here is one Life Working® client, who had a career change of heart during the pandemic. Our career assessments helped her change course.
Corrine*
In the early months of the pandemic, we worked with Corrine, a hair stylist and salon owner who decided to close her business after 25 years. Corrine enjoyed carrying out the financial duties involved in running her business, but assumed she was trapped in the beauty industry.
With the help of assessments, we help Corrine take a deep dive into her natural abilities, skills, interests, values and goals. Three months later, after earning a certification in a popular accounting software program, she accepted a job as the finance manager for a growing company in the home fitness market.
Sometimes a small pivot — for example, doing the same type of work but for a different employer or in a different industry — becomes a clear answer. In other cases, clients like Corrine decide to make a major career change. Sometimes, the answer lies somewhere in between.
Life Working offers the MBTI/SII, which measures personality type and interests, and the Highlands Ability Battery, which measures natural abilities. Both include a 90-minute debrief with a consultant to discuss the results and their relevance to YOU. Contact us to learn more about these assessments and how they can help inform the next steps along your career path.
*The name and identity of our clients are altered to preserve confidentiality.
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