Did Covid curtail your career? Here's how to move on

Image credit: Magnet Me from Unsplash

Now that things are returning to some sort of normal, you can start to think about taking steps towards climbing up the career ladder, or, if you are feeling particularly daring, looking at a whole new industry.

Remember what you do best
Make a list of the things that you enjoy doing and the things that you are great at. In most cases, they are the same thing. So do not think about jobs just yet; instead, consider your abilities and hobbies.

Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing, including some that you believe are not profitable.

Consider what other people have to say about you and how you perceive yourself. If you are good at fishing, for example, include that on your list.

Make a list of the talents and skills required for those activities – for example, fishing takes keen powers of perception and meticulous attention to detail.

Look at the jobs that use those skills
Look for information on the Internet. Search for job skills, career skills, skills evaluation, and anything else that springs to mind.

Narrow the list down to the ones that you would want to do
Reduce the number of potential professions to just three, maybe four. Continue to revise your list until you are convinced that you would enjoy working in those fields and that you would be successful in them. Then reduce your options down to a single career and devote your full attention to it.

Do your research into the career.
Look for information on the Internet - it is a wealth of information. You will find case studies, real-life thoughts, experiences, and just about everything else about it. 

Consult your local job centre to learn about work opportunities in your new field of study or profession. Enquire about training opportunities and courses such as SMP Liverpool. 

Talk to people who are already working in your chosen field. Remember that you are not asking for a job; instead, you are learning about the profession itself. What is it about it that attracts successful people? What are the most significant abilities? What is it like on the inside? If they could go back in time, would they have chosen something different?

If there is a union, you can find out more by contacting the local office. It is a good idea to join a union if there is one, as this can give you legal support.

If you have found your career curtailed by the Covid pandemic, turn it into a positive. Perhaps this is your chance to branch out and try something completely different!