Considering a career change? The time is now!

The fexibility of employers following COVID

These days employers are offering more attractive salaries and benefits, as well as flexible work schedules. This is especially true in industries where talent is in high demand. Since COVID, for example, there has been a shortage of professional services jobs in Australia in industries such as law and accounting, as border closures resulted in talent fleeing offshore despite high demand for their services in Australia. As a result, many employers are seeking to retain and attract new employees by offering better pay, benefits and other accommodations.

The events of COVID have also shown that many jobs can be done remotely.  Despite remote work having been in place for a long-time, its use has skyrocketed in recent years. Many employees feel that they can spend a large chunk of their working hours doing remote work, and some even believe there’s no reason to work from an office at all. As a result, employers are starting to take this into consideration and are allowing employees to work remotely if possible. This also works to the employers’ benefit, as they don’t need to use as many resources to accommodate employees in the office.

How to choose your career path

I believe most people have an idea of what they want to do, even it’s a vague idea. What people should consider when choosing a career are their motivations. Is salary important? Do you want a career where you can work remotely? Are you okay with being required to travel? Is it most important to work in a field you find engaging? People need to ask themselves these questions. Maybe you want a career that pays a lot of money, but you’ll dread going to work every day. Is the decent pay really worth it then? Or maybe your ideal career will be personally fulfilling, but it doesn’t align with your financial goals. Will you still be happy with your career choice? Or sometimes we really like a certain career choice, but don’t understand the nature of the work. For example, maybe you are considering a career in investment banking, but haven’t yet been exposed to the long and stressful working hours this career demands.

The best thing to do is network with people in your field of interest. You should strive to learn as much you can about any careers that interest you, and weigh the pros and cons. Particularly, I found the University of Western Australia provided me with many resources and opportunities to learn about various industries – whether from past students or lecturers within the UWA network. This was invaluable to me being able to choose my career path!

IT and adaptability, what employers really want

IT is one of the most in-demand fields in the modern era. Expertise in skills such as data analysis, artificial intelligence, programming, and cybersecurity are some of the most sought after skills in the job market today. Whether it’s banking, online learning, social media, or the rising trend of cryptocurrency, it’s easy to see that technology permeates just about every aspect of our lives. Not only that, our reliance on technology is only increasing, with various companies and startups each competing to revolutionise a new niche. As a result, the demand for individuals with technological skills is only going to grow in the near future. If a person wants to make themselves valuable in the job market, investing in computer-related skills is an excellent place to start.

One incredibly important soft skill employers look for is adaptability. Especially in 2022, employers are looking for employees who can take on a variety of different tasks, and still work effectively in the face of unexpected challenges. COVID has shown the necessity of adaptability in the workplace. Employers have had unforeseen events impact their businesses, requiring employees to break out of their previous routines, and possibly take on new roles. For example, doing work over Zoom has been a drastic change for many employees, with many finding the sudden adjustment to be overly taxing. Many workplaces recently have also been understaffed, requiring employees to take on new roles and a greater workload. Prospective employees should expect potential employers to look for adaptability as an important soft skill.

Look before you jump (careers)

The biggest mistake one can make is not properly researching a career before committing to it. Your idealised version of what your new career might be can be dramatically different from reality. But many people make the mistake of switching their careers without knowing what they’re getting themselves into. Sometimes they see their friends or family in another career looking happy, or they’re not satisfied in their current career and automatically assume the grass is greener on the other side. You really should not change your career until you are absolutely certain it is what you want. You should be honest and thorough in your research, and seek to learn all about this career before you commit to it. Research things like working hours, salary progression, and a “day in the life” etc. Reach out to people who work in that field and ask them about it. Don’t just look for the positives. Be honest about the negatives too. Be sure to have a very honest picture about what working in the career you’re eyeing will look like. Be honest about your capabilities too. Different careers work for different people, so take the time to reflect if your set of skills and personality type will really fit the career change.

The power of LinkedIn

LinkedIn is incredibly important, especially if your career requires networking or you’re applying for a job. It’s almost certain that potential employers or business partners will search for your LinkedIn profile upon meeting you. It’s no secret that social media has permanently altered the way we interact with and meet others, and LinkedIn is no exception. It allows you to make a great first impression, showcase your skills and talents, and prove your credibility before going out and professionally networking.

Some fields may make use of LinkedIn more than others. For someone working in business or marketing, I honestly can’t see a reason why they wouldn’t at least maintain an active LinkedIn profile. You would be putting yourself at a disadvantage in comparison to someone who has one. A person with a profile will be able to make a stronger immediate impression than someone who does not.

Is LinkedIn absolutely essential to get hired or network? Probably not. But a professional LinkedIn profile provides benefits over someone who does not have one. Using LinkedIn provides a bonus which in this day and age, would almost be silly not to take advantage of.

Some people find LinkedIn to be more of a social media distraction than anything. Honestly, there may be some truth to this. But if you see LinkedIn as a tool and use it for what it’s meant for, it will certainly add to your career.

Growing your connections during COVID

COVID may have significantly impacted the way we network in person, but that does not mean it can’t be done. There are many ways online to meet people, such as LinkedIn, and other social media. Scheduling meetings on Zoom has become increasingly common as well. But bringing people online has also turned their attention to the endless possibilities of meeting people from around the world. You can easily network with people even if you can’t physically meet them. You can find business partners or clients even if they are halfway around the world.

One major effect the pandemic has had on people is making them crave authentic human connection. To effectively network, you should aim to be as authentic as possible. While you’re networking, don’t just view people as numbers and names to add to a list. Be genuinely interested in their careers, ideas, and topics that intrigue them. Remember, networking is a people-based activity. The better you become at understanding people, the better your networking will be.

But even during the midst of a pandemic, people are not completely isolated from each other. There are still plenty of opportunities to go for coffee or lunch. Feel free to be creative in how you build relationships. You can follow pandemic guidelines while still building valuable relationships if you have the willingness to do so. Don’t let your mind be bogged down by the gloom of the pandemic. Be optimistic and hopeful in your networking!

Words of wisdom for students

It’s hard knowing what to study at university as a 17 year old just graduating from high school when you put in your university applications, especially without a lot of real world experience. So it is not uncommon for current university students to feel unsure of their career path. The best thing to do if you feel this way is to take on some internships so you get to experience what it is like “on the job” in your chosen field, as well as network and pick the brain of those already working in the field. You should do this early during your degree, so that you have plenty of time if you feel like you want to go down a different path – I haven’t personally done this, however I know people that have and have done very well!