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Does your career need a spring cleaning?

TAKE AN ASSESSMENT DURING THE SPRING

Corey Edwards / Western Governors University

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Spring has sprung, and we’re coming out of pandemic hibernation. Finally. As we re-evaluate our personal commitments, many of us find ourselves taking a harder look at our professional careers and asking: do our careers need a spring cleaning too? Recent surveys paint a picture of increased introspection on career changes.

Nationally, 64% of the workforce is looking for new job opportunities or would consider moving jobs according to Ceridian, and 47% of teachers have considered making a major job-related change. In Colorado, 40% of licensed teachers are weighing an exit from the profession, as are 33% of professionals in education support roles (CEI).

Now may be the time to take a look at our careers with fresh eyes – but how do we get started?

Evaluate what you don’t like about your work as you are picking a new path

Maybe you want to work in an entirely different field. Maybe you want more pay, flexible hours, or the chance to work with patients or kids. Sit down and list the pros/cons about your current work as you decide what resonates for your next opportunity. Take a self-assessment as part of the career change process. Know where you want to end up before you take any steps, like going back to college or leaving your employer.

Identify your skills

Look at the skills you have, and the tasks you most enjoy, and determine how you can best utilize your talents and skillset in a new career field. Be prepared to explain to a potential employer how these skills can transfer or help you in a new job. For midcareers, change is about demonstrating how your experience transcends to another industry or position and how that makes you an exceptional choice. Plant the idea that this career change will be an asset for the company, not just for you.

Determine what new field you want to pursue

Whether a big or small change, make sure you know exactly what you want to go after. You may want to pursue a slight deviation from your current position or industry or moving into an entirely new profession. Do the research into careers and industries so you understand what to expect. Especially in midlife, be sure to choose a field you’re excited about to finish out your professional life. Be thoughtful and intentional before changing careers – change is good, rash decisions are not.

Obtain new job skills

Acquire or update the necessary skills needed to be successful. This may mean going back to school and furthering your education to obtain the right skillset to meet new career requirements. Programs at WGU make it easy to allow students to keep a current job while getting the needed training for a career switch. You may also need experience in your industry to get the job training you need through internships or job shadowing.

Find part-time or flexible training so you don’t have to quit your current job

Everyday responsibilities often make it tough to seek training. Online courses are ideal for adult learning as you develop new skills for a new job as part of a midlife career change. Look for a competency-based education; once you can demonstrate mastery of a course, you can complete it. This can cut down the amount of time students spend in school by a year or two, or less.

Update your resume and portfolio

As you gain advanced education, training, and certifications, make sure your resume and portfolio accurately reflect your new skills. New volunteer experience, clinical, or demonstration-teaching are great resume additions. Display new skill sets to employers in your resume, cover letter, online portfolio or website.

The mentality of “what’s stopping me now” is being turned over – and the options available are numerous and affordable. As we emerge from the pandemic, it’s time to take charge of the things we can control, including our careers.