THE GREAT RESIGNATION: WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOUR CAREER?

“As pandemic life recedes in the U.S., people are leaving their jobs in search of more money, more flexibility and more happiness. Many are rethinking what work means to them, how they are valued, and how they spend their time ….”

- NPR, “As The Pandemic Recedes, Millions Of Workers Are Saying 'I Quit'”

Are you wondering if you’re in the right career? Working at the right job at the right company? Making a difference in the world?

The pandemic has made many people ask these questions as they realize that life is too short to feel unfulfilled, chronically stressed or undervalued at work. And they’re doing something about it. In many cases, they’re quitting. 

According to statistics recently released by SCORE:

• 17.9 million people quit their jobs between January and May 2021.

• The top reasons for quitting jobs included lack of childcare, fear of COVID-19, low wages, inflexible hours, a change in values and new career goals.

In haste, some people are jumping from the frying pan into the fire, accepting another job that may not be a better fit. Reflecting on what’s right, what’s wrong, and what’s missing in your work can help you prioritize the things that are most important to you as you plan for your next career move.

Know Before You Go

Before handing in your letter of resignation, ask yourself a powerful question: “Why do I want to leave this job? 

Open a blank Word doc on your computer (or start a clean page in your journal if you prefer to put pen to paper) and let the answers flow. Set a timer for 30 minutes to let it all out — on paper. 

Is it what you do for a living, or where you do it? Does your work lack meaning?  Do your values match the company’s culture? Are you missing out on opportunities for personal and professional growth? Do you feel micromanaged?

Everyone has different reasons for wanting to leave their jobs. It’s critical that you understand yours. Taking a step back can help you avoid taking a misguided step forward. Give yourself permission to vent for the full half hour. Then, do something else to clear your mind. 

When you return to the drawing board, it’s time to focus on your future.

Why Now?

The pandemic has changed the way many people work — and think about work. 

• Working remotely has prompted many people to reevaluate their priorities as well as their options. After gaining an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening that used to be spent commuting, many question whether they’re willing to give up that newfound time. On the other hand, working just steps away from the family kitchen has blurred the line between “work” and “life,” creating an always-on-call mentality. 
  Among remote workers, 54% want to continue working from home after the pandemic ends, according to the SCORE survey.

• Some professionals with established careers in industries that were once thriving and are now struggling have had to reinvent themselves — think tourism and hospitality as two examples. Many workers in these fields were subject to mass layoffs even before given the opportunity to become part of the Great Resignation.

• Parents of school-age kids felt, and continue to feel, the repercussions of remote classrooms and hybrid learning models. Many women, in particular, were forced to leave their jobs, transition to part-time or lower-level positions, and in some cases, give up promotions to put their families first. With the surge in the Delta variant, navigating the upcoming school year is anything but certain.

• In addition to the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter and MeToo movements made many people question whether their work was making an impact. The quest for a purpose-driven, meaningful career expanded beyond millennials to include people in all stages of their careers. 

Related: How to Find More Meaning at Work

The pandemic forced many dissatisfied workers to realize that time is precious. If not now, they realized, when will it 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 a risk if it means finding more meaningful, fulfilling, rewarding work. 

Chart Your Course

The easiest or most obvious next move isn’t always the right one. Career assessments can help you make intentional choices based on your natural abilities, acquired skills, interests, personality, values and career goals. 

The results of these assessments 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 are a few Life Working® clients* who benefited from career assessments:

Ashley

We recently worked with Ashley, who was working 80-hour workweeks for an upscale department store chain. Despite the long hours and energy she invested in her job, she felt underappreciated. The reasonable boundaries she put in place to maintain work-life balance were not respected. The psychological toll of her job was beginning to manifest in physical symptoms, from headaches to chronic back pain. Conversations with her manager were unproductive. She knew it was time to leave. 

After inventorying her transferable skills and prioritizing her values, Ashley took a similar role for a company in an adjacent business with a very different culture, one that promoted work-life balance and encouraged employee wellness. 

While Ashley knew what was wrong with her prior job, assessments clarified what was important to look for in her next job. In Ashley’s case, finding a job with a company whose culture aligned with her values made all the difference.

Related: Cracking the Code on Company Culture

Jake

For as long as he could remember, Jake thought he wanted to become a doctor like both of his parents. But before he even started med school, he realized that it wasn’t his dream after all. 

After taking career assessments, he discovered that a career in marketing would be a much better fit. He took a semester off college and worked as marketing intern for a professional medical association, where he was exposed to a variety of roles that aligned with his interests, abilities, skills and career goals. He returned to college with a renewed enthusiasm and commitment. This early course-correction saved Jake and his family the cost and frustration that would have ensued had he continued on auto-pilot.

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, as was the case for Ashley. In other cases, clients like Corrine decide to make a major career change. Sometimes, the answer lies somewhere in between, as Jake’s story demonstrates. 

At Life Working®, we offer 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 Great Resignation and You 

The pandemic has left its mark on the work world in ways that vary from person to person. In what ways has it impacted you and your career? 

Maybe it’s not time to leave your job just yet. Maybe a seed has been planted for a career change … whether in a few months or in a few years. 

Nothing you’ve done thus far in your career is a waste, as many wannabe career changers assume. The skills you’ve honed and the experiences you’ve gained allow you to bring tremendous depth to your next role. You’ll be able to offer a fresh perspective. And you’ll demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow. 

You’re probably more resourceful and resilient than you know. The first person you need to prove it to is yourself, especially if you’re considering a new career.

We believe that “change is good.” It also might be more feasible than you think. The next step in your career journey awaits!

*Names and identities of clients have been altered to preserve confidentiality.

Ready to begin the next chapter in your professional story? 

We can help you take the first step.

Learn more about our Career Coaching services.