Will Moving Forward Mean It’s Time for a Change?
As we moved through June of 2020 and into July, more and more I was hearing talk, especially from politicians, about people returning to work, and “a new normal.” Having been in the business of job search strategy coaching for almost 10 years now, I said to myself, “Gee, they make it sound so simple.” People just pick up like their life was in late February to early March, their companies put a number of “precautions” in place, and everyone starts working just like before. That is a nice concept, and for some it may be true, but there are likely others where this is nowhere near the reality they may face.
I live in a part of the United States where a large number of people commute on public transportation. Often at the busiest times of the day, public transportation vehicles get very crowded, as do the waiting areas where passengers wait for their respective bus or train. After hearing messages for several months about the dangers of close contact, being back in such environments will not be easy for many. There may be individuals who decide they would like to have the flexibility of working remotely. Or perhaps, they no longer may want to make that public transportation commute, and find a new place to work closer to where they live, and drive to work each day.
Some may find that the jobs they were doing not as numerous as they were before. Perhaps their company suffered economic losses during the pandemic, and they have to cut staff. Other companies may have come to the conclusion that they can get the same amount of work or productivity done with less people on staff. Companies may decide to interact with their customers differently, perhaps less on a face to face basis, and more in an online or remote delivery approach. As one of the staff, are you prepared to work under those different ways of working and perform the job you are paid to do?
Even before the world of work took the hits it did earlier in 2020, there was always the reality of individuals making changes within their careers. Perhaps, they did not like their current job at all. Or maybe the job may have required so much of their time, there was little time left for family or personal activities. It is rarer in today’s world that people outlast the lives of their companies. Companies, get created, and then ultimately may disband. Or, they may get created, and then be bought up or merged with another firm. Usually when a company goes through a structural change, impact on the people who work with and for those companies is sure to follow.
It is likely that sometime during the lifecycle of your career you will need to reinvent yourself. It may be not of your choosing, or very much of your choosing. Whatever the circumstances, realize you are not alone in this phenomenon. In fact, realize you are likely to have a lot of company and role models to help you through the process. Is reinventing yourself easy? Of course not. You likely will have to convince others of the transferable skills you have to bring to your new field of endeavor. It is possible you may have to accept a lower salary initially as a newbie in the field. There likely will be training and course work to do. However, the effort you put into the process, may help you to live the lifestyle you choose at a particular point in your life.
So, as we move slowly out of these months of “social distancing,” “working from home,” “isolating from direct contact with others,” etc., be open to the fact that the changes in your life may not all be over. Working the way you had previously, may not be an option for you. Or frankly, it may be a choice to which you do not want to return. Just remember, we all may have a definition of what “Reinvention Means to Me?” Don’t let you fears get in your way. Remember, if you are open to developing a plan, seeking help from others that have been down the road of career change, and are disciplined to follow “career change” as a process, you will be well on your way.
