COVID 19 has changed many things for many people. Lives have been turned upside down and inside out. Limiting your social contact means re-evaluating what is important in life. This means that it is a good time to look at your executive career and assess whether you are heading in the right direction.
There are many things happening in the world right now that are 100% out of your control. Being forced to work at home, shifting job functions, organizational re-structuring to name a few. This can cause stress on workers and this ‘busy work’ can distract you from focusing on your true future vision.
One great quote to summarize these occurrences is as follows:
“Sometimes we are so busy looking at what is right in front of us that we fail to see where we are going.”
If this sound like you, if may be helpful to ask yourself the following questions to determine whether you are moving in the right direction.
Does your work still fulfill you? If you were to assign a percentage to the amount of fulfilment you feel in a week, does this percentage satisfy you?
Have you achieved what you originally set out to achieve in your executive position?
Are you ‘playing it safe’ in your job because you have a scarcity mindset (re: job search)?
Do you anticipate there are other roles in your sector that are better suited for you skill set?
Although things seem hectic right now, the best time to plan your next career move is RIGHT NOW! If you are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed at work, it is wise to conserve your energy. This energy should be reinvested in yourself. In your future.
NOW is the time to start planning and strategizing. Don’t put this off for another month/year for the world is changing and your energy is best used working in a job that fulfills you. Yes, it is true that very few people enjoy 100% of their assigned job tasks but remember when you enjoyed 80% of the work? Why shouldn’t you feel that same sense of pride and joy at work? Why do you have to slog away at a job that feels unfulfilling?
The truth is that it is an EMPLOYEE job market out there right now. Businesses are struggling to find suitable workers and there is an abundance of job postings and requests for skilled executives. This means that it is the best time for you to be looking for work. There has been no better time in the last 20 years to be an executive job seeker. Opportunities are everywhere! COVID 19 has expedited work-from-home opportunities which means that there are more flexible job opportunities then ever before. This means that you have more choice in HOW you want to work.
So, stop delaying your job search. If you are unhappy at work (and have been for a while), stop procrastinating and expecting that your next job opportunity will simply land on your lap. Take the initiative NOW to start your career search.
Firstly, this means that you need to identify some jobs of interest. Better yet - why not identify some companies of interest and be pro-active and reach out to them to see if there are any opportunities. Secondly, you need to craft a great executive executive resume so that you can properly align yourself to their job requirements. Crafting an executive resume takes skill and it will be critical that you ‘speak their language’. That is, make sure to include important keywords in your executive resume and highlight all your significant achievements under each job listed on your executive resume.
One important tip to get your executive resume noticed, is to add measurable results when you can on your executive resume. This doesn’t have to mean adding in a percentage or a figure. This can simply mean identifying the RESULT of the task your performed. How did this add value to the organization and improve organizational efficiency? Ask yourself, what was the OUTCOME of this task? This will make it easier for you to craft impactful achievement statements on your executive resume that are measurable and in line with proper business writing.
Lastly, you will need to dedicate time daily/weekly to job search. This means identifying potential job opportunities, networking, following up with applications and leads, customizing executive resumes and cover letters and sending out applications. The amount of time dedicated to this endeavour will depend on you. However, the more time you put into this - the better your results!! I would suggest spending at minimum 5 hours a week for the next 3 weeks on these endeavours. Set some goals for the number of applications (executive resume and cover letters) you want to send out. If you are not getting results, don’t lose hope. Instead, increase your output. The more effort you put into these activities, the sooner you will be able to move onto a job that is better suited for you!
If you find the whole process of executive resume writing frustrating and need some help customizing a great executive resume and cover letter suited to your career goals, reach out to us at Vanttedge to discuss your project and determine how we can meet your executive resume writing needs. Please email us as info@vanttedge.ca