How to make 2021 the year you finally rethink your career – despite the pandemic

Have you finally reached your tipping point and need to change careers?

At the same time, that voice in your head may be telling you this is the worst possible time to change direction. While a global pandemic may not be the most obvious context in which to make a career change, it is actually a very good time to think hard about what you really want from your working life.

If you use this time well, you’ll be primed and ready to go for it once the employment market is more vibrant. When you know exactly what you need for a more fulfilling working life, you’ll be focused and motivated to start creating a career that makes your work feel truly worthwhile.  There’ll be no stopping you.

Before sharing some ideas to help you get ready for a career change, let’s also get real. Career change is tough. In the best circumstances it requires clarity, determination, energy and a healthy dose of luck – some of which you can make for yourself.

Employers may also be suspicious of career changers. You pose a risk and they’ll need to be persuaded that you’re worth taking a chance on, that you have the relevant skills, understand what this role entails, and will perform effectively. But they will also prize your career change clarity, commitment, enthusiasm and focus – these are attributes they’ll want on their team.

Before carving out a new career in an industry that’s actually sinking below the horizon and has no future, do your homework. Find out what the realities are in this industry right now - and whether there really is a future for you here. My next article will suggest 10 ways of checking out a potential new career, so watch this space.

With these reality checks in your pocket, you’re ready to start preparing the ground for your leap of faith. Without a clear understanding of WHY you need this change, the chances are that you’ll be quickly blown off course, lose heart - and give up.

6 ways to start exploring better careers for you – right now

Here are 6 things you can start today, for free. They’ll help you start thinking, diving into your real needs, your dreams and the life and work that can deliver them. They may not be enough to get you there (a proven career change process or your own career coach may be your best bet), but they are a great place to start.

1.     Know what you want from your career – beyond the regular pay cheque, what else? When you know your personal measures of career success you’ll know if your new direction is right for you and where your current work misses the mark. Try my free guide to get the clarity you need.

2.     Carry out a mini audit of your current work: what’s wrong and what’s missing? What do you want less of? And more of? Do you need a complete career change or more a redesign of where you are? The latter can be easier than you think - or buy you time until you’re ready to start your new career. Get in touch if you’d like some help with the idea of ‘redesign’ rather than ‘resign’.

3.     Know what matters most to you, what you prize most highly and how these values need to find expression at work for you to feel you’re in the right place. Do your personal values clash or align with those of your current organization or work? When your values are in harmony with those at work, you have more chance of thriving. Read more about identifying and activating your values in this article.

4.     What are your favourite skills? When are you ‘in flow’ – engaged in activities when your talents, interests and energy are all aligned? How many of your favourite skills can you use in your current work and how often are you in flow? Use my free guide to gain more clarity on your flow – and how this could be a game-changer for you. Just contact me for your copy.

5.     What are your strengths  - what are you known and appreciated for? This might be about how you work, what you know, or why people go to you for help. How much can you play to these strengths in your current career? You almost certainly have more strengths than you think! To get started, try the ideas in this article: Focus on your strengths.

6.     What fascinates and absorbs you so time disappears? What fires you up and motivates you? Start a list and ask yourself how far these interests or passions find an outlet in your current work. Then ask how you can bring these interests to action in other areas of your life, develop further expertise, or gain experience while also having fun. You may not immediately be able to see how these could lead to another career, but they can provide energising ideas, so don’t ignore these important clues.

This is another vital part of my career change programme - and how I changed from a university lecturer to head of programming at an international literary festival. It can really happen!

What next?

If you’ve been noting down your answers as you read, you’ll quickly see you have quite a lot of data to play with. This is where most people give up the challenge of changing careers – they don’t know how to channel this information into a plan. 

·      How can you explore new options that reflect these needs?

·      How can you make a clear decision in the knowledge that this is the right move for you?

·      How can you build a transition strategy that delivers?

·      How can you keep on track, manage your gremlins and make a successful career change?

You don’t have to go it alone!

I can help you stay on track, keep the faith and brainstorm ways around what looks like a dead end. You can read more about why I might be the right coach for you here, but here are the highlights:

- I’ve made three career changes of my own (including across continents), so I understand first hand what the challenges and rewards are

- I’m a qualified and experienced career guidance practitioner with a good knowledge of the employment market and how to secure your target role

- I’m also a career coach who understands the bigger picture, how life and work fit together, what gets in the way of career change, how to stay positive and committed to your transition, what support and accountability will make a difference in this move

- I use a systematic and creative process – it gives you both space to dream and a framework to develop a practical plan

- I’ve a wealth of experience - read testimonials to the work I have done with career changers throughout my website 

If you’re ready to make the most of lockdown to finally get clear about the working life that will inspire and satisfy you, I’m ready to hear from you.

How can we work together?

I’ve developed a process that genuinely works for many different kinds of people - and two different ways of accessing it to suit individual preferences. The content is the same but the approach is different.

The Quickstep Career Change Coaching Programme

With 6 coaching sessions, this edition is personalized, offers regular accountability, an effective process & can be adapted to your needs.

The Quickstep Career Change Coaching Programme Online

This self-study edition is affordable, flexible, and puts you firmly in the driving seat. Whether you have 10 minutes of 3 hours at a time, you can make progress on your own terms, knowing the process will guide you through.

If you’re ready to make the most of 2021 and make it the year you set yourself up for a successful career change drop me a message using the button below and we can set up a call as soon as you like.