Rethinking Your Career Choices

By Jo Pilon

The world of work is a different place from what it once was, even before COVID-19 people would change their jobs and careers regularly. In fact, it is said most people will change their career 5-7 times throughout their working life. I have changed organisations six (6) times and have been seconded within an organisation at least three (3) other times. These regular changes are not because people are more fickle than in the past,

it’s because the nature of the workplace has changed to respond to different forces:

globalisation, government policy influencing through funding and policies, the impact of technology on everything in our world including our workplaces and now of course COVID-19. Businesses and people have had to become more flexible and agile in their work practices.

This changing world of work has bought on a new perception. It’s not about longevity in one workplace and building your identity around that workplace, it is about the skills and knowledge that you as a worker acquire and bring to each job and how that helps your employer in their business success.

These skills and knowledge (transferable skills) are portable and as the Foundation for Young Australians explains in their New Work Mindset Report for every job that a person does, they learn the skills for 13 other jobs.

Portable or Transferable Skills
Now in the time of COVID-19 this portability of skills and knowledge is a bonus for anyone who has lost their job. By recognising your transferable skills and knowledge you can identify jobs that you will have the skills to do, even if they are don’t seem the same as what you have been doing.

Often people don’t realise how the skills they use everyday are valued by many employers. In fact you may only have to do some coaching or a short course and you would have all the skills you need to qualify you for that job type. Knowing this opens up a whole range of possible jobs for you to apply for.

Maybe COVID-19 has given you the time you needed to think, re-evaluate and realise that you are not happy in your work

that you would really rather be doing something else. If that is how you are feeling, then think carefully about what it is you would really like to do, think about the things you like and the things you don’t in your current work, ask yourself why you feel this way. If you can quickly find what you want to do and you know what you need to do to get there, than that is fantastic, you are one of the lucky ones.

Don’t forget to identify the skills you already have and the ones you will need. Plan your way but build in regular times to review so that you are sure you can evaluate and adjust as you go. Read our article on Want to Change Your Career.

If on the other hand you are not sure, in fact you have no idea, you just know you don’t want to keep doing what you are doing then read The Secret to Choosing the Right Career to get some ways to work things out.

Interested to know more?
So many things to know and consider when starting off in a career or even when you want to change your career.

Knowing about yourself and your interests, favourite subjects, work preferences, values and also knowing what jobs are out there that may suit those areas takes expertise and understanding.

If you are unsure about any of these things, if you need someone to help you plan for your future career then take advantage of the free half-hour “Right Service For You” Session with Jo or Kate at Expand Careers Consulting. Booking a consultation with a Career Counsellor is your first step to taking control of your working life.

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