How to change careers in the midst of COVID-19: Career advice for women of color [FREE DOWNLOADABLE]

If you’re a woman of color who’s wondering how to change careers during this COVID-19 pandemic, you might feel panicked. Which is to be expected. If you ask me, it’s totally acceptable to panic a little and get it out of your system. So, by all means, do what you need to do to process your response and reactions to what’s happening. And then remember that you are resilient. You are resourceful. You will make it through this too.

Illustration by Alyssa M. Gonzalez: Panic a little and then keep going

Although we are all going through a collective trauma right now, to be totally honest, you might not be in a worse position than pre-coronavirus. It’s hard to make blanket statements for all women of color who are looking to change careers right now because each of your situations and trajectories is so specific to you. But COVID-19 is going to have short- and long-term effects on the landscape of the working world. At least some of those effects could make your career change easier.

As a career coach for women of color, I’m not in the business of predicting the future. But what I can do – for those of you who are wondering how to change careers in spite of coronavirus – is condense my career advice for women of color career changers into 10 tips, with accompanying resources, to support you in this uncertain time.

1. Revisit or create your career transition plan

You might’ve already been thinking about a career shift before COVID-19. Or maybe you’re considering a career pivot because of the economic fallout of coronavirus. Either way, it’s important to set aside some time to think about the bigger picture of your career, as things continue to evolve.

If you were already planning to change careers, reassess your plan. Does it still make sense for you now? Does it still make sense given the current (and projected future) landscape – as best you can tell? Do you need to adjust your strategy or approach?

If you weren’t already planning a career pivot, jot down all your ideas and sketch out a rough plan. Think about what societal needs there are now and what needs there may be post-coronavirus. Do those needs overlap with what you offer? Do both of those things overlap with your values and what you’re interested in?

After you’ve pondered the above questions, turn to your financial responsibilities and goals. How do the above line up with the salary range and earning potential of the jobs in your target career?

Use the next two tips – and the questions and prompts in the accompanying resources – to help you think through some of these bigger strategic questions when it comes to your career shift.

2. Reflect on your ikigai

You might have heard of this concept, but ikigai translates roughly to “a reason for being.” It is the overlap between what you love, what the world needs, what you’re good at, and what you can get paid for. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I still don’t know if I’ve really identified my ikigai, but I do love looking at the visually-pleasing graphic and thinking about it. And as a career coach for women of color, I often guide clients through thinking about it, too.

While reflecting on your ikigai can be helpful in that it can lead to insights and revelations, it can also be elusive. So don’t put undue pressure on yourself to identify what’s in the center of these overlapping circles right away.

Use the accompanying resources to help you explore your ikigai.

3. Find a way to build “proof of concept”

Once you’ve gathered enough information and advice, focus on maximizing your chances of a successful start in the new field. The best way to do this is to create evidence that you are an ideal hire in the new field. If you’re starting your own business or venture, you need to create evidence that your product or services are needed, high-quality, and valuable; this is something I explore further in my COVID-19 Career Guide for Women of Color Entrepreneurs.

You can do this in any of the following ways:

• volunteering safely and/or remotely in the new field, 

• doing research and writing online about topics relevant to the new field,

• practicing and studying up on the new area – whether through reading, listening to podcasts, taking online courses, or all the above,

• doing enough informational interviews with people in the field to demonstrate your knowledge, talent, and skill for the work and leveraging those professional relationships into work opportunities.

You could also cold apply, but it’s generally harder to go this route. Either way – to the extent possible – make sure your resume, LinkedIn profile, and online presence also strategically support your career pivot. Use your skills assessment and the next tip (in the accompanying resources) to help with that.

To continue reading, download the COVID-19 Career Guide for Women of Color Career Changers, now in fillable PDF.

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