January is often the point at which we make resolutions for a career change, and the pandemic has forced many of us to review our current choices, or forced our hand through furlough or redundancy. In fact, COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on the employment industry, and as you might imagine the UK labour market has paid the price. In the first half of 2020 6.1% of those employed in the UK changed their profession. A Career Healthcheck might be the answer to all your concerns. So how do you start?
1. Review your current role
Outlining the pros and cons in your current job is an ideal way of highlighting the consistencies and the changes you expect to see in your next. Make a list of ‘deal-breakers’ for any new role and ‘nice to have’s. This could be on anything from salary to location to dress code.
2. Review your skills, values, and interests
Make a list of your interests, hobbies, likes, and dislikes and evaluate your strengths. Consider how you would like to incorporate these into your working life, and anything that needs further development. Again. What are your deal breakers? Being close to home, work-life-balance?
3. Consider a Plan B
Consider a flexible career or a fall-back plan to protect yourself financially until you secure the role you are looking for. There are options out there that could provide extra income if needed; upskilling for self-employment for example Digital Mums, the government’s Rent a Room scheme, becoming a partner for an established business such as Utility Warehouse, Forever Living, or Usborne Books.
4. Check your mindset
A positive mindset will help you make the best choices and decisions, particularly when you have a dream job in mind. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed by it all (as many are right now) or are fearful that you’ll never get the role you want try these few steps:
- Notice the steps you have already taken towards your goal, no matter how small, and congratulate yourself for taking them
- When you notice a negative thought, ask yourself what other perspectives there are on that thought. How would your mother, partner or boss view things?
- Define your goal as clearly as possible
- Consider how you will feel when you achieve your end goal, and what it will bring you.
By completing these tasks, you will be able to see a clearer picture of your future, and giving you the motivation to get there.
5. Get tested
You may want to take one of the many professional career tests for some extra food for thought.
6. Career coaching
A great career coach will help you to achieve better alignment between your current job and your longer-term career and life goals. Working with you through our first 5 steps and more, a career coach can help you take a fresh look at the possibilities, clear the uncertainty and brain fog, and make sure your steps to success are given the attention they deserve.
Benefits of career coaching include helping you:
- establish a tailor-made career path
- recognise your true value as a professional
- build confidence in yourself, your skills, and your ability to move forward
- take difficult decisions
- stay motivated and accountable
- gain skills and strategies to secure your next role
Career transformation following redundancy
Many people have access to outplacement support following a redundancy process. This form of support often includes the elements we have set out above, plus CV writing or Interview Skills training. Outplacement is a way of giving you every chance of a transition into a new job path and that the transition will run as smoothly as possible. We would encourage employees facing redundancy to take up outplacement support offered as a great benefit and helping hand along their career journey.
The team at Redway HR carry a wealth of knowledge and would be very happy to help with your Career Healthcheck or Outplacement. Just get in touch today.