How To Change Career While On Furlough

The spectrum of work has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic. Many elements of work recently changed, with “working from home” as a growing concept, millions of employees being furloughed, and company plans needing to be totally revamped.

It’s no surprise that this period has compelled others to reevaluate their careers and start questioning themselves what their next step could be.

There is no denying that the present situation is daunting and stressful to most, but this is also a perfect time to contemplate and focus on your career prospects and perfecting your CV with the help of professionals such as PurpleCV.

Furlough is a huge subject, but fear must not characterize it. This could be the start of a new path. You could even use your time on paid furlough retraining in a new career.

The unpredictability of the economy and labour market

The biggest obstacle for those who want to change their careers at present is the uncertainty of how the economy and the labour market will look like over the next few months.

We are presently determining and adjusting as to the set up of the ‘new normal’.

Most businesses acknowledge that working from home will continue to be the norm for the upcoming months and conventional workplace environments need to adjust to social distancing rules and other safety protocols.

Shifting jobs can be an intimidating proposition at any time, and other challenges currently faced by the British people could make that prospect much more daunting.

Nonetheless, it is not impossible, given obvious obstacles, taking time to consider your career prospects carefully can be a reasonable and beneficial practice in these difficult times.

Reassess your skills and realize your abilities

First, take a while to reevaluate your skills. To plan for a career change while on furlough, identify what skills you may offer to the employers.

This helps you to think about your strengths and limitations and to assess if there are skill deficiencies that might need further training.

You may your list to update your cv, create cover letters, and make an excellent impression during work interviews.

This method will also help you determine which industries or occupations can be well suited to your skills.

Update your resume, your LinkedIn and other online profiles

After identifying your skills, qualifications, and work experience that you would like to highlight to a recruiting manager, it is time to complete your Resume and update your online profiles.

Include all relevant and recent certifications, skillset, and competence that showcase your achievements.

Keywords are necessary to make your profile more interesting for recruiting personnel and algorithms.

Most employers compile and filter applications using tracking systems, so it is vital to use keywords that enable your resume to be more visible.

Look more closely at your online profiles from the vantage point of your ideal employer and make sure you are looking just like their dream employee.

Take part in training to develop your skills

You can spend your time improving your skills by participating more in training or pursuing new options for a career change.

There are numerous free coaching and development opportunities presently offered online.

The UK government has unveiled a new online learning program called the Skills Toolkit that provides free and high-quality technical, digital, and math courses to encourage people to progress and boost their job opportunities.

Many established universities offer free short courses and a variety of curators that can help you determine your main learning needs. There are other ways to learn as you are waiting to earn.
You may also do a freelance job or generate a working hobby or passion if you feel like developing new skills.

Job Search Plan

The finest job search strategy is something not focused on just one resource. You can never be sure where to find the next job, it could be a career board, a networking contact, or a casual social media article.

  • Combine resources to maximize your odds.
  • Starting to meet people in the industry you like is a smart opportunity to continue developing professional ties for the future.
  • Cross-reference job posts on the LinkedIn network, searching for possible recommendations.
  • Use your career network to find jobs and then review the online job sites to help you decide which credentials will help you stand out in your field.

Sharpen Your Interview Skills

Particularly if it has been a long time since you did a job interview, it’s an excellent time to hone your technique and approaches.

Whether you’re going to meet in person or through video calls, you have to be sure to prepare and respectfully present yourself. Pay a lot of attention to your grooming, interview clothes, body language, and body posture.

Also, come prepared with questions. Try to figure out whether you’re going to be satisfied and effective in this job, or whether it fits into your career goals.

Be Optimistic

The current situation may have caused you to reconsider what you want about your career, including having a healthy work/life balance. This phase will allow you to determine just what kind of careers and industries would perfectly match you and your particular circumstances.

Think about this “time off” as a way to fundamentally change the short-and long-term perspective about work marathons and career sprints. Consider it to rethink your future, because even when we get back to work, it would be very different from what it was in the past. Therefore, as you continue to explore your career change, remain confident and optimistic, above all.