Due to the current COVID-19 crisis,  January has been replaced by May as the most popular month of the year when people look for new jobs, with nearly a 200%  increase with people searching on Google “I want a new job” when comparing May to January this year.

This is according to employment law firm Richard Nelson, who found there has been a 194% increase in the Google search for “I want a new job”.

There are currently 8.7 million workers who have been furloughed in the UK and may be worried about what the future could hold for them in their current employment.

There has also been increases in Google searches for such terms as “job change” at 157 % as well as “how to move jobs” and “move careers” at 138%.

Steven Ebbers from career coaching firm, Uprise Academy, provided tips for those who are considering a career change:

Think outside the box

‘When we think about career change very often we tend to look at the past and our skills and apply this to the future. We forget there is so much more we could do. Try writing out 3 alternative career paths, some maybe unconventional for someone with your skills, just to open up barriers.’

Develop a personal mission

‘This is a tangible statement that is deeply meaningful to you that guides your decision making. Your Personal Mission describes what has meaning to you, how you want to make an impact and the skills you have that help you with the execution. From there you can start seeing what’s out there that aligns with this mission.’

Community

‘Career change is hard and scary, it comes with a lot of uncertainty. To go through this period of change it can be incredibly helpful to go through it with a community of people who are going through the same thing. You can share little wins and roadblocks, brainstorm on new directions and hold each other accountable. It can make a massive difference to know you are not alone.

The hidden job market

‘Here’s a fun fact: 70-80 per cent of jobs are never advertised! These jobs are filled internally or come via personal networks. So instead of looking for a job on a job board develop a personal mission and start having conversations with people who are in the industry you find meaningful. LinkedIn is perfect for this. “Hi Jane, I love what you do and it would be great to have a conversation with you to learn more about X”, a message like this goes a long way.’

Solve the right problem

‘So you know what you don’t want….but what is it you do want? Instead of running away, make sure you move towards something. Otherwise, odds are that you’ll experience the exact same problems in your new environment. A good way to do this is to do a “Needs Analysis”, what boxes need to be ticked? Do you really need to change careers, or just have a good conversation with your boss? Where are you willing to compromise? How have you been complicit in creating the conditions you say you don’t want and what can you do to change that in the future?’

Embrace the unknown and feel alive!

‘Define what success would look like for you, think bigger than in jobs. Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, embrace the unknown and the uncertainty that comes with it. That’s exactly where life happens…when you try new things and aren’t sure it’s going to work out. Maybe you’ll even fail? So what! Get back up, learn and try again.’