Have you thought about changing your career? If so, what is the most influential factor in making that switch? Many workers seek a career change in hopes of higher pay and better benefits. According to a recent survey, however, higher pay isn’t the biggest motivator for a career change; it’s better work-life balance.
How COVID-19 Has Changed the Job Market
COVID-19 has forced many employees to alter the way they’ve done their jobs, while also pushing some out of their jobs completely. This time of uncertainty has allowed workers to reevaluate what’s important to them in a career, and it’s showing through the extensive amount of job openings. More than 68% percent of surveyed workers said that they would consider changing careers, while another 19% said they would consider it if it was an “amazing opportunity.”
HR Executive Scott Hamilton suggests that “one of the biggest factors [of the struggling job market] is employers are essentially having to buy back job applicants’ Covid lifestyle.” Along with work-life balance and higher pay, reasons workers consider career changes include wanting a more fulfilling career, wanting an expanded skillset, and having lack of advancement in their current career.
What Is Workplace Flexibility?
Flexibility has numerous benefits to work-life balance. When thinking about flexibility, many people think of the ability to work remotely. While this is a large part of great work-life balance, there’s more to it than just working at home. Workplace flexibility refers to the “willingness and ability to adapt to change, particularly regarding how and when work gets done”. A lack of flexibility could prevent a parent from caring for their sick child or someone experiencing a family emergency to travel with the rest of their family.
How To Begin Making the Switch
While more than half of workers believe that switching careers would be tough but manageable, 28% think that their transferable skills would make it easy to make the switch. No matter how you view a career switch, it can’t happen overnight. Start by assessing the fields you have worked in or are currently working in. Are there any signs that it may be time to look for another career opportunity? If you think that a career switch is right for you, start by learning more about your desired field of work, evaluate your transferable skills, and tailor your resume for the field you want to work in.
Regardless of what motivates you in your work, make sure to keep those values in mind in your current field or when looking to make a career switch.