Confession I started writing this blog post about six weeks ago. Australia was coming out of lockdown. The kids were happily settled back at school and I was starting to get enquiries about my career coaching services again after a short lull.
There was a sense of relief and optimism in my neck of the woods but also a lot of busyness. For a while I barely saw my husband as he became reacquainted with our local pub and friends (as an extrovert he had been climbing the walls) and I launched full throttle back into a life of organising, planning and juggling. No wonder it has taken me so long to write this post.
But I noticed in some of my chats with women that there was a fear of going fully back to normal. These were women who were working from home and enjoying the extra, commute free time in their day. Extra time to be with their kids, get some exercise or ease into the day without panic. They were also feeling more freedom without the watchful eye of a micromanaging boss. Some were working reduced hours and experiencing a better balance that more than made up for the financial loss. And then there were the women who had been stood down and felt that they should be job hunting but just couldn’t bring themselves to do it.
It seemed like we were heading back to reality whether we wanted to or not …
But then cases started to spike in Victoria with whispers about NSW not being too far behind.
One thing that has been constant throughout this crisis has been change. The other thing that has been constant is the impact on women. We are more likely to lose our jobs because of the sectors and work types that have been hardest hit and will take the longest to regain work. Partly because it’s a shitty job market but also because of all the uncertainty.
So what the hell are you supposed to do with your career when you have no idea what is going on in the world?
If you’re enjoying working from home but your boss wants you back in the office what do you do?
If you hate your job do you stick with it because unemployment is at an all time high?
Should you put off your career change?
If you’re going round in circles trying to figure this out then consider the following:
Focus on what you can control
You’ve probably heard about the circles of control and influence. It’s one of my favourite concepts from Stephen R Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Basically, you draw a big circle and inside it you write down everything that’s bothering you at the moment. For example, you may be worried about coronavirus cases spiking or about the state of the economy. In my case you might be concerned that you haven’t sent an update to your mailing list in some time.
Within your large circle of concern there are some situations within your direct control or influence. As a mother of two young children, I sometimes make out that there is very little I can control but that is not totally the case. On the days that my kids are at school and daycare I have control over how I spend those precious six hours i.e. I could write this blog post, or I could decide to scroll through facebook and eat chocolate. You get my drift.
Once you’ve written them down reflect on those worries that you have about your career. If you’re concerned about going back to the office, then what can you do to influence that situation? Is it time you had a discussion with your boss? If you want to find a new job but you’re concerned that the jobs market is dire then what can you do to control or influence that situation? Whilst you personally can’t change the jobs market you can change the way you approach it. You can control which jobs you apply to (see below re industries that are booming). You can influence employers by having a standout resume. You can improve your chances, and in turn influence, by developing new skills.
It’s easy to blame external forces but, in reality, we have more control than we think.
Develop your toolkit
If you’ve been stood down, had your hours reduced or simply decided you’ve had enough and it’s time to find a new job, then it’s time to develop your job hunting toolkit. It’s tough out there but there are jobs and some industries are booming. Think healthcare and social assistance, IT services, logistics, online education and training, and as the government invests in major projects, the construction and infrastructure industries.
You need to be prepared to pivot. If you’re an accountant who usually works in the hospitality industry, then it may be time to transfer those skills to the healthcare industry. Think about who you know that works in your target industry and set up a meeting with them. This is about getting information not a job (although sometimes it can lead to that). You want to know what it’s like to do that work, how they got into it, what tips they have for you and who else they know that can help you.
Look for people not jobs. Job sites are being inundated with quality applications for vacancies they are posting. You need to get to employers before the jobs are advertised.
If your pivot involves developing further skills or training then now is an ideal time to do that too, with the government pairing up with universities, TAFEs and training providers to offer free or heavily discounted courses in areas with high employment demand.
Play the long game
Now is a perfect time to be working on your long-term career plan, particularly if you have been thinking about a change in direction. Successful career change rarely happens overnight. Take the time to begin reflecting on yourself, your interests, your work likes and dislikes and what you want from the future. Then start identifying the steps to take you there. Download my new 12 week Career Change Planner to help you get started on changing your career.
If you’re still feeling stuck and need some help figuring out your individual situation then I offer a complimentary half hour Working Mum SOS call. There is no obligation to book further coaching but you’ll be amazed at the difference a quick chat can make. Click here to book in a time.