Your career and COVID-19: Making the most of your time

This year has been a rollercoaster of emotions and most of us would have experienced more downtime than we ever have before. This newfound time has allowed most of us to spend more quality time with those we live with, build new hobbies and simply destress from the demands of a working environment. 

But there have been many people who have, unfortunately, found this time more challenging than others, specifically those who have been made redundant from their jobs, left with nothing but stress in this new world of rising unemployment and very few jobs available. 

Without undermining the severity of these situations for people, it is possible for there to be a silver lining amongst all this madness. If you are going through a redundancy period and the job you lost was simply one you did not enjoy and that did not push you to fulfil your potential, then you could look at this situation as a blessing in disguise.

Losing your job may give you the chance to finally work on yourself and discover your passions, interests and life goals before jumping into a new 9-5 office job with no true appeal. 

This may be the best time for personal development and a career change, a chance for you to spend this time working on yourself and finding your true purpose in life. If there is something you have always wanted to involve yourself in, whether that be starting a new business or training to become a teacher, then it’s time to put those plans into action and build yourself a better future.

You could also be experiencing some confusion about what your passions are and what you want to do with them. Career coaching can help you connect with your real purpose and show you the steps to achieving greatness. A coach can help you to unravel your ideas, aspirations and goals in a safe space. Your time is much better spent deciding your true calling than applying to job after job that you know will not satisfy your drive for an interesting career. 

Don’t allow yourself to settle back into a 9-5 kind of job because you will find yourself back at square one with no more free time to make a change.

Three steps to making a career change

1. Decide 

The first step to any big career move is making the decision. This can be the hardest part of the entire process. Stepping out of your comfort zone and saying goodbye to a life you have lived every day up until now can be extremely challenging.

To make it easier, you can begin the decision-making process with a pros and cons list, scope out potential new careers and do as much research as you can. This would be a great time to hire a career coach to help you make the leap and decide your true purpose.

2. Prepare

Once you have made the decision to go after a new career, it’s time to get prepared. Your new career may require a specific skill set so now would be the best time to learn any new transferable skills and build your CV.

Another great thing to do is network with as many people as you can within the industry. The more people you know, the better, especially when starting a new career. If you decide to start your own business, a good place to start is writing your business plan. This will give you a good idea of all aspects involved to run a business. 

3. Apply

The final step is to commit to the decision and to apply to as many jobs within your chosen line of work as possible. Always remember that this process can take time and you may be rejected a few times before you are successful. It’s all about having a positive attitude and staying motivated.

When changing your career, it’s always good to stay flexible for a while, to give yourself the best chance in landing a job and you can work your way up from there. If you have decided to start your own business and have your business plan ready, the next step is to speak with your bank for their help and support. 

Good luck!