The pandemic should be called The Great Transformation. Why? Because in the past year, many Americans have transformed their lives by making career pivots which would have been unthinkable in early 2020. According to the most recent JOLTS report from the Labor Department, 4 million American workers quit their jobs in April 2021 alone! Yahoo! Money highlights a few of those stories here.
If you’re in that number, here are three tips that can help prepare you for your next big career move:
TAKE TIME FOR SELF CARE AND BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.
Whether you’re looking for a new position or trying to launch a business, it is important to make time for self-care before you leap into a new career role. A great book that I am confident will help you on a personal and professional level is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People®. 7 Habits is full of timeless principles that will you view your life in a profoundly different (better) manner. I enrolled in the 7 Habits seminar and read the book when I was considering making a career change. Afterwards, I actually found more purpose and fulfillment in my job, as well as in my personal and professional relationships. No, you may not stay in the same job, but the principles discussed in 7 Habits will help you make better decisions wherever your career takes you.
NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO MEET WITH RECRUITERS.
Whether or not you’re answering a job posting on Indeed or Monster, now is the best time to schedule calls or face-to-face meetings with recruiters. With lots of people leaving their positions, this is a great way to get current job market insight and tips for refreshing your resume to fit marketplace needs. One thing to keep in mind is that some new retirees have been in their position for decades, so their retirement is as much of an adjustment for the supervisor as it is for them. You may have big shoes to fill, but you can fill them if you are prepared for it. So don’t hesitate to ask a recruiter questions!
ENROLL IN A PRE-ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.
If you have a product or service idea, or if you’re interested in working at a startup, I highly recommend that you sign up for a pre-accelerator program. I recently completed the IDEAinstitute, a 10-week pre-accelerator program produced by New Orleans-based non-profit Idea Village. If you’re a founder, this program will teach you how to validate your business idea and build a pitch deck for potential investors. You’ll also get face time with several accomplished business coaches. The program was worth every penny and some. Learn more about the IDEAinstitute at ideavillage.org.
Best of luck!
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