The other day I was speaking to a woman about her current work situation…
“I’ve got a great job, but it’s not felt right for a while now…I think I need a career change but I’m not sure if now is the right time….” she shared.
Ultimately her question to me was…
“We’re in a pandemic, is now the time to change careers?”
We’re living in uncertain and unknown times.
With so much change, it can seem easier to cling on to what we do know, so that we can find a sense of safety even if it doesn’t make us happy….
i.e. stick to the job we don’t love but that pays the bills and offers a secure paycheque.
But what do you do if your heart and soul is whispering to you to consider making a change YET your mind is shutting you down telling you to play it safe?
This is a challenge at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic….
In this week’s blog, we explore this question by unpacking:
- How to know whether you’re really ready for a career change
- Deciding whether now is the time to change careers
- The 2 criteria for making the “right” decision
- What to do about the fear of regretting your decision of getting it wrong
If you’re questioning whether you should make a career change during the pandemic you’re in the right place!
Should you change careers during a pandemic?
Part 1: How to know whether you’re really ready for a career change
Most of us have dreamed of saying “I quit!” and pursuing a life and career with more freedom, greater meaning whilst still earning a steady income every month.
But how do you know whether you’re ready for a career change or simply dreaming and being far fetched?
I believe there are 3 tell tale signs that you’re ready for a career change. I wrote about them in an earlier blog post (pre COVID) which you can check out more in depth HERE but here’s the gist and context in 2020.
Sign #1: You end your day and leave your work (ahem close down your laptop as you’re WFM) completely drained and depleted
We all have tough days that are more taxing and let’s be real 2020 has been EXTRA taxing.
If you’re feeling completely sucked dry more often than not and you’ve tried to solve this conundrum (by protecting your boundaries, saying “no”, getting your rest, looking after your health and well-being) then something’s not working.
Your body could be telling you that something is simply “off.”
Sign #2: You feel completely disengaged and disinterested in your role
A huge tell-tale sign that you’re ready for a career change is when you simply don’t care about what you’re doing anymore. You’ve given up interest and are just over it.
If this is you, you’re not alone.
Gallup, an analytics firm has been tracking employee engagement in the US since 2000.
In a recent study it states that:
Early last month (May 2020), the percentage of “engaged” workers in the U.S. — those who are highly involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to their work and workplace — reached 38%. This is the highest it has been since Gallup began tracking the metric in 2000. Now, with the measurement from June 1-14 following the killing of George Floyd in late May and subsequent protests and riots on top of a pandemic, unemployment, and attempts to re-open some businesses, 31% of the working population are engaged. Taking into consideration three Gallup measures of employee engagement this year, the overall percentage of engaged workers during 2020 is 36%.
In a nutshell: In a good month 38% of workers are engaged, we’re now looking at 31% of workers now being engaged…
No matter how you look at the numbers or why you may be feeling disengaged, many people aren’t happy in their jobs. And if this is you, you’re not alone.
Sign #3: You constantly feel jealous about others lives
Whilst it’s not nice to feel jealous, I believe that jealousy is your heart telling YOU want.
If you find that you’re always jealous of others lives one of things can be going on.
- You’re on social media way too much
- You’re getting clues on what’s important to you and what you desire in your own life!
Part 2: Deciding whether now is the time to change careers
THAT is the question!
There are many factors to consider on timing for making a change:
- Where are you in your life stage? Planning to get married? Have a baby? Retire?
- How much clarity do you have on what you’re pivoting into?
- Do you have the security and resources you need to make that decision? Whether that be savings, a proof of concept, job lined up etc.
- When your next bonus is paid out (if applicable)?
- Do you have to make a decision now?
- What is the risk of not making a decision now?
If you want to have space and time to make a decision around your career change, come and join me in a free 5 Day Online Mini Retreat I’m running called Sabbatical On the Side. This online retreat is designed for professional women to step away from indecision and simply getting through the day to having the space and time to step into your soul aligned career. Learn more over here.
Part 3: The 2 criteria for making the “right” decision
In any given decision I believe you’ve got to take into consideration 2 important criteria.
Criteria #1: Getting clear on what’s important to you.
So often we want to delegate our choices to others. Get others opinions. Defer to get expert advice…
In making a decision I believe that it’s important to welcome all the thoughts, feelings and sensations that arise.
Taking the time to slow down and hear your fears, doubts and niggles can allow you to question them and work with them to fine tune your decision.
But even then, you need to discern if the doctor you are speaking to is recommending what’s in YOUR best interests.
For example the doctor may favour surgery at all costs over a less invasive and slow and steady approach.
The only way to know what is important to you is to check in with your body.
Your heart, your body, your soul, whatever you feel is your portal to connect to the truth of who you are. THIS is where you ask what’s important to you and use this as your compass.
Criteria #2: Honouring your fears, doubts, and niggles.
The mind and the ego can get a pretty bad wrap but the truth is your mind is designed to keep you safe.
In a nutshell: In a good month 38% of workers are engaged, we’re now looking at 31% of workers now being engaged…
No matter how you look at the numbers or why you may be feeling disengaged, many people aren’t happy in their jobs. And if this is you, you’re not alone.
Too often we don’t have time to unpack this…which is why I’m running the free 5 Day Online Mini Retreat called Sabbatical On the Side. I’m designing this online retreat for professional women to step away from indecision and have the space to map out how you can step into your soul aligned career and make a decision around whether now is the time to make a career change. You can learn more about the experience over here.
Part 4: What to do about the fear of regretting your decision of getting it wrong
Oh this is a biggie!
So often when I coach women around decision making the biggest fear that comes up is regretting their decision or getting it wrong.
Do you relate?
If you do, you’re not alone!
What I know for sure, is that the choices that we make are all pointing us back to our unique path, purpose and soul aligned careers.
Getting it wrong is simply feedback.
Regretting a choice is simply feedback.
We can choose to beat ourselves up about the choices we make or we can ask “What is the lesson here?” and then integrate that lesson and move on.
Obviously there’s a cost to making a wrong decision or regretting your choice. Including:
- Walking away from a lucrative career trajectory with your employee
- Leaving money/or your earning potential on the table
- Staying in the questioning and wondering “what if?”
- Living an unlived life
- Staying stuck in fear and indecision
- I could go on….
So what’s the antidote? How do you make the best decision you can knowing that no decision is guaranteed is full proof?
I believe it comes from taking the time and space out of your day-to-day stress and honour the weight and gravitas of the decision you’re desiring to make.
Which is why, I’m going to mention again the free online workshop I’m running called Sabbatical On The Side. Every day for 5 days we’ll be coming together online for an hour to dive deep and unpack whether now is the time for you to make a career change. You can sign up to attend the event for free over here.
That’s a wrap!
Today we explored: Should you change careers during a pandemic?
In the blog post we covered:
Part 1: How to know whether you’re really ready for a career change
Part 2: Deciding whether now is the time to change careers
Part 3: The 2 criteria for making the “right” decision
Part 4: What to do about the fear of regretting your decision of getting it wrong
Now I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment and let me know:
- What is your biggest takeaway?
- What is holding you back from making a career change during the pandemic?
I hope you’ll join me in Sabbatical On the Side where we go deeper into all of this and then some. I’d love to support you to take a proper break and have the time and space to consider whether a career change is right for you and how to make a decision around your next steps.
With love,
Siobhan
Xoxo
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