Did you know that there were 6.6 million job openings at the end of December 2020? Professional and business services went up by about 296,000 jobs. The pandemic brought about uncertainty in many aspects of life, from family to social to careers. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide to career transitions during the pandemic and how it doesn’t have to be a complicated process.
Can I Switch Careers During the Pandemic?
Did you know that the U.S. lost 20.6 million jobs since mid-March when the pandemic started? The unemployment rate was almost at 15%, which is a level we hadn’t seen since the Great Depression in 1930.
However, as the summer came, there was an increase in job postings, and companies seemed to lift their hiring freezes slowly and were ready to pick up where they left off.
Almost 50 million people were left without jobs and seeking unemployment since March, and the thought of changing careers maybe seem daunting with so many others looking too.
We will go through a few reasons why looking for a job during the pandemic can be a positive change and could lead to career transitions where you feel fulfilled.
What Is My Purpose?
The Coronavirus pandemic gave people time to take a step back and reflect on their relationships, social life, and career. It’s rare in our society today that you find time for breathing room, but everyone was given this pause where we were on lockdown to think.
Some may be thinking during uncertain times, “Do I feel fulfilled?” Or “Is there something that suits me better out there?”
If you’re reevaluating your career and purpose, this is the time to do it. You should make a list of your job times that made you happy and search for opportunities that align with those fulfilling and successful projects.
This is your time to explore new opportunities and dig deep to seek something that you love to do and are successful at the same time.
HR professionals look for people with confidence and a purpose, and you can lead with your thought process behind your career change and the strengths you have that match this open position.
Build Your Skillset
Working from home with more flexibility is a great time to take online classes to enhance your skill set or learn new skills that will make you an appealing candidate in the industry you’re trying to move into.
Healthcare is an industry with significant opportunities right now and looking for people to help out. You can start online school without having to move or uproot your life.
If you’re looking specifically in healthcare, www.ultimatemedical.edu has an endless amount of options and people that will help guide you in the right direction or decide what classes would be the best fit.
If you feel financially comfortable, you could take full-time online school. However, if you feel more comfortable keeping your current job, you can look into night classes or find classes where you can watch everything when you have time and create your schedule.
Making Connections
With so many layoffs during the beginning of the pandemic came many openings when life started to pick up again. HR and recruiters were looking through LinkedIn and other job boards to find potential candidates.
One positive to the pandemic is that everyone is online networking. Don’t be afraid to make a connection at a company you’re interested in, and reach out to do a virtual coffee chat.
Building connections online leaves room for a lot of flexibility and is a great way to see if you would be a good fit by talking to someone at the company first. You can also ask for ways to make your application stand out.
As you build your network, you may even find yourself getting referrals to places and putting your applications at the top of the hiring manager’s list. You never know who will be willing to help, and today it’s much more essential to have a connection than submit the perfect resume or cover letter.
Support System
With 50 million people that have lost jobs, there’s a built-in support network. A great way to put yourself out there if you were laid off is to post a status on LinkedIn and explain your position, skillset, and that you want to connect with anyone to talk about job opportunities.
People will reach out to help, but you will find people in the same situation who need someone to talk to and seek support. It’s helpful to build a network of both kinds of people.
The job search can be emotionally taxing, and you will want people to lean on if an exciting opportunity doesn’t work out or you start to lose hope or feel lost.
Don’t be afraid to be open and honest. It will only make others around you more comfortable to be available as well.
Industries on the Rise
Though many industries hurt during the pandemic, many started to thrive, and we’re hiring a lot during this time.
A few examples include:
- Online meeting services (Zoom, Google Hangouts)
- Online chat services (Slack)
- E-learning resources
- Virtual fitness
- Healthcare
- Online shopping
- Cybersecurity
These are just to name a few but cover many different realms if you’re starting your job search. People found that tech companies were looking for someone flexible and happy to work remotely, and they offer great benefits too.
Time for Career Transitions
Now that we’ve talked through the many possibilities of looking for a new career during this time, are you ready to start looking?
Career transitions during the pandemic don’t have to be complicated. You just need to take some time to figure out what you want, make connections, build up your skillset, and establish a support system.
Take some time to reflect and make a list of your current job’s positive and negative aspects to help start your search or keep reading about the latest in women’s lifestyle news on this blog.
Featured Image by Pixy.org