How do you feel about your job? Are you in your ideal career? Many professionals discovered new insights about their careers after working remotely due to the pandemic. Now that we are looking at post-COVID, many professionals are feeling anxious about going back to the office. In fact, a recent survey by staffing firm Robert Half found that 1 in 3 would look for a new job if they were required to go back to the office.
The truth is that no one should feel unhappy in their career. However, there is a difference between being unhappy in your career and feeling anxious about returning to pre-pandemic life. We understand these feelings and help mid-career professionals like you every day with these new challenges because we truly care. If going back to the office is making you anxious, it’s important to determine if you’re currently in the right fit before you start to look for a new job. Here are three tips to help you get started.
Define what fulfillment means to you. Fulfillment is different for every professional, so it’s important to take time to think about what this means for you personally and in your career. This involves defining things such as:
- What success looks like to you.
- What your professional interests are.
- Your ideal day at work.
Write down your thoughts about these items. If you get stuck, one suggestion to help you would be to write down the opposite first. For example, what would being unsuccessful mean to you? What are things that you don’t enjoy doing? Once you write that down, it will be easier for you to identify what the opposite would be.
Determine what you want to leverage now. Of course, the items above can change over time. For example, many professionals who have moved to working virtually have discovered that this brings them fulfillment and want to stay in a virtual role instead of returning to the office. This means that it’s important to define what you want now. We recommend taking time to journal about the following questions:
- What strengths and interests do you want to continue to leverage post-COVID?
- What is meaningful to you now about your current role?
Analyze your options. If you determine that you do enjoy your current position overall and you are just feeling anxious about returning to the office, speak with your manager about the protocols that may be put into place to help put your mind at ease. Are there any opportunities available for hybrid roles? Could you ask to work certain days from home? Many companies are willing to work with their employees during this time to help them transition back to the office or a hybrid position, so don’t be afraid to ask. Write down what your ideal schedule would be and present it to your manager with the idea of working together to come to an agreement that works for you and the company.
On the other hand, if you find that your job does not provide you with fulfillment and you stayed on due to the uncertainty that the pandemic brought, now is a good time to get your job search materials in order. Follow the same steps above to get a better idea about what jobs would provide you with fulfillment and happiness. We also recommend conducting informational interviews with those in your network or alumni association that are in the roles that you are considering.
Need more help? We are here for you. Schedule a free consult today.
