The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on people all over the globe, not least in terms of how business is done. You might, for instance, have had to adjust to working from home and been surprised at how efficiently you can achieve your daily tasks; or, less positively, you might have lost your job. If 2020 has had you seriously considering where to go next in your career, you may be feeling stuck in a rut with no way out. To help you out a bit and give you a few ideas, here are six ways you can reset your career.
1. Go For a Promotion
You might be finding that, although you enjoy your job and are comfortable in carrying it out, it is nevertheless no longer challenging you as much as it used to, perhaps even to the point of boring you. This might be a sign that your current job has become too easy for you, in which case you might like to consider going for a promotion. There are, however, several things you should consider before going for promotion. For instance, you could arrange an appointment to speak to a person in that role to learn more about what exactly their position entails and what qualities recruiters are looking for. They might even be able to point you in the direction of any further training that is required for the role.
2. Pursue Further Training For Career Development
Continuous learning throughout your life is never a bad thing and can be hugely instrumental in keeping you inquisitive and mentally stimulated. To further your career development, you might like to consider what further training opportunities there are available to you. There might be a clear pathway: a Master’s degree that will allow you to specialize in a particular area, enabling you to move forward in your career, for instance. Alternatively, you might study for certificates in workplace skills such as time management and managerial skills, which will demonstrate to your employer and other recruiters that you are serious about furthering your career and have the skillset for a managerial position.
3. Establish A Self-Care Routine
With targets to continuously meet and daily deadlines, the workplace is undeniably a high-stress environment. This type of stress can have a negative impact on your mental and physical health. So you should consider establishing a self-care routine. Get enough sleep and eat a balanced diet rather than snacking on sugary treats and energy drinks for a quick energy boost, and try to build in at least 30-minutes of physical activity into your day. Even though it may sound counter-intuitive a little exercise can give you more energy once your body gets used to it, So a walk around the block on your lunch break or an evening online exercise class can do wonders for your emotional health. Such self-care activities are especially crucial if you work in a high-stress job such as Teaching, Social Work or Nursing. For instance, this year teachers have had to make major adjustments in how they do their jobs, nurses self-care is also essential for coping with the new situations on the ward and Social Workers have new problems as well.
4. Go Freelance
You might have a particular skillset which you can market to people. For instance, you might be an editor or a landscape gardener. Doing such roles as an employee of a larger company is great for building up your industry knowledge and experience and contact list; however, now might be the time for you to set off on your own and go freelance. This gives you the freedom and flexibility to work on only the projects you feel most passionate about and follow your own creative vision. However, going freelance does involve a lot of hard work, as you have to constantly market yourself using such methods as creating an attractive and up-to-date online portfolio of your work. You can go freelance even if you don’t work in a creative industry. If you have a lot of experience in your role and have perhaps held a senior position for several years, you could consider doing some consultancy and passing on your knowledge to the next generation of industry professionals.
5. Set Up Your Own Business
You might have a similar dream to freelancers and want to work for yourself, but envisage being the boss of your own company with employees rather than working alone. If this is the case, then now might be the time for you to set up your own business. There are certain things you need to consider before doing this, however. First and foremost, setting up a business takes money, so you will need to figure out how you will finance it. There are several business loans offered by the U.S. government, such as the Small Business Administration loan, so make sure you explore all funding options. Additionally, you should take time to create a comprehensive business plan detailing plans for the establishment and growth of your new business. Doing this will provide great support to loan applications.
6. Switch Your Career And Retrain
One consequence of the ongoing workplace changes caused by the pandemic is that you might have realized how much you dislike your current job, and nothing can be done to improve your satisfaction. If this is the case, then now is the ideal time for you to take stock of your situation and find a different job or even career. Spend time revamping your resume and consider what transferable skills you have developed that will make you an ideal candidate for any role. Communication skills, critical thinking, and teamwork are desirable skills for any business, whether that is in a bank or a barbershop. Your career change may involve completing some additional training to ensure that you have the specific skills and knowledge required by your new industry. For instance, a new career in law will require a law qualification and so will require you to go back to school. However, this additional training will set you up to be a successful candidate in your new, fulfilling job role.
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