The COVID-19 pandemic has聽delivered聽the聽unexpected聽to communities across the country and around the world, from lockdowns聽to聽toilet paper shortages.聽Now, we鈥檙e facing聽another聽phenomena聽unforeseen by most: The Great Resignation.聽聽
Moving on
According to the , more than 4.4 million American workers voluntarily quit their jobs in September.
聽That may seem counterintuitive. Many聽households struggled to make ends meet聽when strict restrictions were in place聽and relied on unemployment assistance to get by.聽When businesses reopened, it seemed natural that the employees聽would return, too.聽聽
However,聽that hasn鈥檛 been the case聽across the board, and many聽factors have influenced聽this dramatic shift. For example,聽a significant number of聽hospitality workers聽decided to look for work in new industries when employers were forced to close temporarily.聽Some聽were relieved to get out of jobs that required them to come face-to-face with聽customers who were聽on edge聽and forgetting their manners.聽
After having time to hit pause during the height of the pandemic, workers across a range of industries had time to evaluate what was important to them, too. In a recent , many say they quit because their jobs didn鈥檛 offer childcare, paid low wages, required a long commute or put them at an increased risk of catching COVID-19.
鈥淔or some, their values simply changed,鈥 explains Francine Blume, PhD, assistant vice president of career development at UMGC. 鈥淎fter getting a taste of a healthier work-life balance, many workers are moving on to jobs that offer greater flexibility so they can spend more time with their families or enjoying other personal pursuits.鈥
Making a transition? Do these five things.
You may be one of the workers across the country moving on from your pre-pandemic career path. Whether you鈥檙e completely rebooting your career or looking to advance in your current position, here are five tips to help you make your move.
1. Do your research
Is the grass greener? You won鈥檛 know until you take a deep dive into your options.
鈥淩esearch is the first thing you should do, whatever your career aspirations,鈥 Blume says. 鈥淩ead as much as you can about any industry, field or company you are considering so you are going in with your eyes open.鈥
That includes industry trends, what credentials you may need for the type of position you seek and how well a company is performing. Don鈥檛 forget to find out about the culture in an organization so you can determine if it is a good fit for your professional style and values.
2. Refresh your personal branding
It鈥檚 a good idea to revisit your resume a couple of times a year to ensure it is ready to go if you are presented with an unexpected career opportunity. However, if you are shifting gears, it鈥檚 more important than ever.
鈥淵our resume and LinkedIn profile鈥攁nd personal website, if you have one鈥攁re important tools when it comes to marketing yourself to prospective employers,鈥 says Blume. 鈥淢ake sure they reflect not only your past experience but where you envision yourself in the future.鈥
If you鈥檝e done your research, you know which skills you have that are transferrable and add value everywhere. Be sure to highlight this relevant information on all your touchpoints so everyone else knows it, too.
3. Get out there and network
This tried-and-true career-boosting tactic is your secret weapon as you break into a new industry or field. As you explore possible professional moves, get out there and talk to everyone you can. Attend networking events and industry meetings鈥攊n person or virtually鈥攁nd ask contacts for informational interviews so you can ask questions in a one-on-one setting.
鈥淵ou never know what can happen,鈥 says Blume. 鈥淥pportunities are everywhere, and the more you put yourself out there and connect with people, the greater your chances are of stumbling upon a position that aligns with your aspirations.鈥
Networking is a two-way street. Don鈥檛 forget to give back, too, and help make meaningful connections for others, when possible, to help them along the way.
4. Reflect on the value you offer
As you learn more, it鈥檚 important to pause and reflect on what skills you have to offer and which ones you may need to add to your repertoire, so you are more marketable in your desired field or industry.
鈥淭hat could mean anything from participating in webinars to pursuing a degree,鈥 notes Blume. 鈥淔ind out the minimum requirements for the job you want and create an action plan to acquire that expertise.鈥
5. Tap into the career resources at CareerQuest
With , 兔子先生students and alumni have access to an entire suite of tools and resources to help improve their resumes, upgrade their LinkedIn profiles, practice interview skills, research companies and find contacts in their industries.
National hiring managers also come to CareerQuest to find qualified and motivated candidates, so be sure to add your resume to UMGC's online database so they can find you.
鈥淭he best part is that CareerQuest is available around the clock from anywhere with an internet connection, so you can access it wherever you are,鈥 Blume explains.
By following these proven career management techniques, you increase your chances of success as you transition to the next stage of your professional life.
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