Over the last year, many of us have been reflecting on our life decisions and thinking about how satisfied we are with those decisions. The changes wrought by the pandemic have upended our day-to-day routines across our personal and professional lives.
The economic fallout in 2020 has led to many sectors experiencing difficulty and has diminished the available workforce, leaving people unable to work and depending on financial support from the government. The silver lining to these difficulties is that these unprecedented conditions have forced people out of their comfort zones to explore new possibilities.
In the past year, I’ve met women who previously worked in the fashion, foodservice, personal care, culture or tourism industries, who have now decided to pursue other careers more in line with their values and interests. Some have joined the health sector, while others now work or study in education, entrepreneurial studies or administration.
Below are just a few examples of the kinds of career changes I’ve witnessed people making in my role as a career counsellor.
Camille* worked for several years in the fashion design sector, which was devastated by the pandemic. She found herself on Employment Insurance for the first time in her life, which prompted her to switch careers and pursue work as an interior designer.
Gabrielle* was a server in large restaurants. But due to the pandemic causing the shutdown of many restaurants, she soon found herself out of work as well. She decided to pursue an entrepreneurial path and started her own long-term care home for senior citizens.
Madeleine* was a hairdresser for nearly 20 years. When the pandemic struck, the newfound risks of her job pushed her to look for a new career. She ended up finding a way to transition into the healthcare sector.
These examples show how it’s possible to change careers, even during an uncertain time, by adapting to the needs of the job market. That being said, the women I’ve mentioned above often didn’t know where to start when it came to starting a new career. Taking some time to ask yourself what you really want, and undertaking an inventory of your skills, are essential steps before embarking on a new path.
With daily life still moving at a snail’s pace, 2021 is an ideal time to reflect one one’s professional life. Those of us who are not considered essential workers are lucky have more time to reflect on our lives. It’s an ideal time to listen to our inner voices and explore new paths. It’s also a great time to put new strategies to stay competitive in the job market into practice.
Starting on a new path isn’t always easy, and it’s normal to feel lost, anxious or upset. Maybe your self-confidence has taken a hit after losing a job. Change can be scary, but it can also bring many wonderful surprises. Charles Darwin said: “It’s not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most adaptive to change.”
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Below, I’m going to propose a few exercises that you can do at home to support your reflections on your career path. These are the same steps I offered to my clients to help them achieve their desired career change.
Step 1: Professional retrospective
This first step is the most important. It consists of reviewing your professional achievements in an objective manner.
Exercise 1:
Out of your most-significant working experiences, identify the general elements that you enjoyed or did not enjoy. Identify the skills you acquired and the ones that you would like to continue developing in a new job.
Exercise 2:
Identify and explain the values that are essential to you, and that you want to experience in your next job.
Exercise 3:
Name and explain your top five interests.
Step 2: Professional prospects
This step allows you to dream big and to project yourself into the future by analyzing the options that are available to you.
Exercise 1:
Explore! Find out the pressing needs in the current job market. You can consult the Government of Quebec and IMT online to support your efforts. The idea is to align your energy and desires with the sectors that are in need of candidates, to make sure you’re not going against the grain.
Exercise 2:
Dream! Look for job offers on Placement en ligne or Jobboom and analyze the requirements for each. You’ll then know what areas of your CV to update in order to be competitive when applying.
Step 3: Professional plan
The third and final step involves putting all the insights gleaned from the above steps on the table and making a plan to meet your objectives.
Exercise 1:
Make an action plan. It should be detailed, concrete and have a clear objective. Plot out the sub-steps and establish a timeline.
Examples of sub-steps include updating your LinkedIn profile, getting in touch with ex-colleagues, confirming your references, taking a course to support your plan, or other steps.
Exercise 2:
Stay motivated! Plan your routine and stay active.
- Make sure you have a calm and pleasant working space
- Set aside specific times during the day to work on your plan, i.e. after breakfast or after lunch
- Stay active in your networking: get in touch with ex-colleagues, reach out to LinkedIn recruiters or volunteer – don’t stay isolated
- Keep a daily diary of the tasks you accomplish, your successes and what you’re grateful for. Staying positive will help you achieve your objectives!
To conclude, be patient, active and take good care of yourself. This transition period can be challenging, but it will doubtlessly bring you some incredible surprises!
Written by Emilie Sarrazin-Chalifoux
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