'COVID-19 has forced many of us to pause - providing the opportunity to rethink what we really want for our future'
The main reason why many people are unfulfilled in their current roles is that they entered the workforce without properly considering what they want to do and why they're passionate about it, according to Malcolm Kinns, Chief Operating Officer at Generation Australia.
Often people feel unhappy about their career because they've followed opportunities without taking the time to consider if the work itself is fulfilling, Kinns told HRD.
“With bills to pay and getting caught up in the day-to-day of full-time work, it’s hard to take a pause and think about what we want to do, how it aligns with our passions and with what we want to achieve in life,” said Kinns.
“COVID-19 has forced many of us to take that pause - giving people the opportunity to stop and rethink what they really want for their future.”
Moreover, Kinns said it’s important to consider which sectors are in demand that will secure long-term employment success.
According to Kinns, it will vary over time depending on how things play out with the pandemic. However, Generation Australia has identified the support and healthcare sectors, as well as a growing number of roles in the tech sector as having long-term, in-demand roles.
“The pandemic has accelerated the growth of the digital workforce; organisations are feeling the pinch to build their online presence and their technology capability.”
Consequently, Kinns said there will be increasing employment opportunities from junior positions, who will be doing work at the front end, to more senior positions that will be helping support digital transformation in the workplace.
He added that HR should be mindful of a number of factors when employing somebody who is changing careers.
“I think it is important to be mindful about understanding the personal circumstances of someone who has just changed careers; they're coming into a new environment and they need to be supported,” said Kinns.
“Moving into something new and experiencing change is often threatening. It's the role of the employer to support those people through that transition and into long and sustainable careers.”
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Kinns added that one of the keys to feeling fulfilled in your career is to cultivate a growth mindset.
“Have a strong view of what your goals are, and why you want to achieve them. Then break them down into manageable steps,” he said.
“It’s not always going to be an easy or straight pathway - you may need to take a step to the side to go forward.
“Always look to the future and be prepared to adjust and adapt. Most of all, learn to be resilient.”
