2020 wasn’t a great year, and while 2021 is shaping up to be better in some respects, we’re still not in the clear. For most people, it’s the uncertainty that is hard to handle.
After all, you never know when your employer will call you into the office for a difficult conversation. Even if you are only furloughed, the chances of your job being around in the future are slim.
Without a career you love, it’s tough to put food on the table for your family and keep the roof over everyone’s heads. So, the last thing you will think about doing is taking a risk, such as switching job roles, companies, or industries. Instead, you prefer to hold on to what you have in the hope you are one of the lucky few.
Probability aside, playing it safe can be a very risky option for several reasons. You could cling on for dear life for months, scraping by, only to end up unemployed. This is time wasted as you could search for another position while the market is relatively healthy.
Sometimes, you need to go against the grain because it’s the smartest long-term alternative. With that in mind, here are four reasons you should switch jobs right now.
1. Companies Are Still Hiring
A glance at the world’s unemployment figures will tell you that now isn’t a good time to search for a job. Except, the data aren’t what they seem, not on the surface. Will millions out of work, it’s tempting to assume businesses aren’t hiring as they attempt to ride out the current wave of restrictions.
However, this isn’t true as certain sectors, and the organizations within them, have benefitted from the crisis. The examples that spring to mind, such as supermarkets, might not appeal to you, not when you have a demanding, well-paid management role.
The good news is, this is only one example. If you delve deeper and learn more about the market as a whole, you’ll see top companies are advertising challenging and lucrative jobs. They include:
- Unilever
- Wells Fargo
- Squarespace
- Siemens
- Philips
As you can see, there are more opportunities than you might imagine, and they are very healthy ones, too. As a result, whether you’re looking to start fresh or make a sideways move, enough businesses are hiring for you to connect with brands and apply.
2. Searching Lets You Use Your Time Wisely
Free time has never been more ubiquitous than it is during the pandemic. Due to restrictions on daily life, people are having to stay at home more and slow down. In the beginning, it was novel to sit on the sofa reading or watching the TV. There’s nothing wrong with doing nothing, especially if you work hard.
Of course, the novelty wears thin, and now you’re running the risk of being unproductive and wasting time. When this happens, it can be tough to get back into the same ethic and routine you previously had, and your standards can slip. Boredom is dangerous.
A job hunt changes everything. By getting lost in the process, you can use your time wisely. The end goal is to find a new career path, so there’s nothing wrong with spending the day levelling up and enhancing your skills. For instance, you can apply for roles, or you can spruce up your LinkedIn page for networking purposes.
Alternatively, online courses are accessible and very effective at teaching new skills. Seen as some platforms have experienced a 640% increase in attendees since last March, massive open online classes, or MOOCs, are working.
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3. It’s Time To Focus On You
It’s amazing how many people focus on others and not themselves. It’s understandable when it’s family as you have to do what you have to do to get by for the sake of your partner and kids. Still, it’s easy to use your loved ones as excuses. Why didn’t you move jobs years ago? It’s because you didn’t want to uproot your children.
But, if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that life is too short not to invest in the individual. As selfish as it might sound, it’s an essential part of building a fulfilling life. Anyone who has spent time in a dead-end job, or a job they hate, can testify to its soul-destroying nature.
With a new perspective, you will have the motivation and passion to follow your dreams. And, for some people, it’s never been simpler.
For instance, wannabe doctors and nurses are in short supply, so candidates are fast-tracked. You can learn more about your options by following the link.
The trick is to strike a perfect balance between what’s good for you and what’s healthy for your family. Just remember that sometimes, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, too.
4. Job Hunting Has Never Been Easier
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Firstly, the move to virtual applications is a big plus. The fact that you don’t have to sift through newspaper advertisements or overhear people talking at a bar is a bonus. As long as you have a mobile device and internet connection, you can finalize your application from anywhere in the world with a click of a button.
However, the pandemic offers more positive side-effects. Have you invested in your home office during Covid? Millions of people have, which means your house is an incredibly comfortable and productive base.
Also, there is the fact that everyone is in the same boat. Usually, you would feel alone searching for a job due to a lack of fellow job seekers. But, Covid means it’s easier to find a buddy who will join you in your quest. As a result, your friend will keep you honest and productive. To let yourself down is to let them down, and you will feel guilty if you do.
Finally, the extra spare time you have allows you to have your cake and eat it too. Why? It’s because you can find ways to sneak in job searches and applications that are almost impossible in the workplace.
Where do you stand on the topic? Is a pandemic a good time to switch jobs, or should you stay put and cross your fingers?
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