Almost exactly a year after Covid-19 first upended our world; it’s springtime once again. We’re witnessing the stubborn remaining gray snow rinsed away, making way for new life to start growing. Watching the seasons change is a natural reflection point to acknowledge how life is somehow, exactly as it has always been, and in others, completely different.
For our global economy, change and innovation was a necessity in the past year. Job loss was at an all-time high in 2020, with 22 million jobs disappearing and a record 14.8% unemployment rate. U.S. tech sectors shed 112,000 jobs in April alone. Companies transitioned to remote work over the course of days, and, as individual workers, we had to contemplate how safe our roles were, what a future looks like, and how to balance life/work/family, etc.
In short: where do we go from here?
This is where General Assembly comes in. Over the years, GA’s career coaches have helped thousands of students from their full-time immersive programs land jobs with A-list hiring partners. Now, with a transformed hiring climate, many career changers are faced with more uncertainty than ever about the likelihood of getting a new role, let alone navigating a job search remotely.
Taking stock of the aforementioned variables is a never-ending process, and very rarely do we feel like there’s a perfect solution or single path forward. Instead, it takes daily reflection, goal setting, and trying new things in order to determine if a career change, shift, or pivot is the right move for us.
If you find yourself overwhelmed at the thought of more change but know something’s got to give, consider the following questions:
- When is the last time you felt fulfilled at work? What factors played into that feeling?
- What makes you curious, inspired, or motivated? How frequently do you experience these things in your day-to-day life?
- What hasn’t been a good fit for your work? Why?
- Where do you see yourself in 3 years? What’s the first baby step towards this path?
Finally, craft your strategy. We often hear of others making life-changing decisions quickly and decisively; that’s great for some but not realistic for everyone. Create a vision for how you want this change to play out, and then plan backwards for how to start down your path, starting with day one.
And if you need extra motivation, remember the vast amount of change and transition you were resilient in the face of in the past 365 days. Just like spring after winter, growth will find a way.
Whether you’re thinking about making a pivot or simply want to learn a new skill, General Assembly is here to help! Their library of free classes, guides, and tools are designed to equip you with the most in-demand skills in design, marketing, technology, and data to help you pursue your personal and professional goals.
Now ask yourself, where do you want to grow from here?