The year 2020 will go down as a turbulent year for many people’s careers in history. 2021 though, offers a time of transformation. Majority have not or are making this year’s resolutions while looking at the different aspects of their lives. According to author Jenny Darmody, while Covid-19 has complicated many aspects of normal life, and brought others to a grinding halt, the start of the year is still a good time to evaluate your career direction. “While turbulent times can be a cause of worry, they can also enable employees to think about future-proofing themselves.” She said. Adding that, “In fact, the continued remote working for many employees might even make it easier to consider alternative options. The worry of a commute for the dream job might almost disappear completely.” In the next paragraphs, Darmody shares three things you should consider for your career in 2021. Figure out what you want most While this might sound vague and oversimplified, it’s important to really think about what you want and what makes you happy on a day-to-day basis. Darmody explains that, this isn’t about going after your dream job at any cost, citing that it is about creating a life that gives you the satisfaction you need. “Make a list of your priorities and figure out which ones are non-negotiables. Then, ask yourself how you can achieve them. It might be a matter of discussing a career development plan with your own manager or you may be on the lookout for something new. But having a tangible list of the things that will make you happy rather than a list of jobs you might like will help you on your journey.” Reflect back on the past year A flashback on the previous year, she observes, has never been more important. 2020 threw many employees curveball after curveball, the most common of which was setting up a permanent office space in people’s homes. (remote working). “How have the changes of 2020 affected you? What parts of remote working brought you better work-life balance? Which parts do you want to change? How the pandemic affected your career and working life will help inform your decisions going forward.” While not all changes from 2020 will be permanent, most experts agree that nothing will quite go back to the way it was before. How each employer moves forward will differ but they will also most likely be flexible to their employees’ needs. The solemn idea of up skilling If 2020 taught us anything, the author points out, it is the fact tnhat adaptability and flexibility is key. While countless employees had to completely switch careers and roles due to Covid-19 putting their own jobs on pause, others had to pivot their role internally as organisational needs and priorities shifted overnight. “While this may have led to a lot of quick upskilling and learning on the go, a new year can give us time to think about upskilling before we need to leap into action. And once you’ve made your list of priorities and figured out some areas in your career you’d like to change, you may have also identified some skills gaps you’d like to address.” She reiterates.
