The pandemic caused 1.4+ million working moms to leave the workforce and working parents are signaling to employers that things must change, which has led to a Great Resignation. Really, though, it’s a Great Realignment where working parents especially are aligning their professional lives with what they what from their lifestyle in general. Whether you’re an employee, entrepreneur, or stay-at-home parent, you can take advantage of this moment of change. Not sure where or how to get started? I’ve got 4 tips to help you set yourself up for opportunities during the Great Realignment.
Before we start, keep this in mind. This is going to look a bit different, depending on where you are in your journey. Embrace what you need from this list and leave the other things out or engage the other ideas at another time. Ready?
A mindset shift may help
If you want to set yourself up for opportunities during the Great Realignment, start with your mindset. Chances are to find what you want you might need to shift your mindset a bit. A few of these might help:
- You can find what you want. Have faith that what you want is out there and you are the right person for that role.
- You can do hard things. It will take effort and it might not be easy going, but you can absolutely do hard things. It won’t happen to you. You must take action. You’ve got this!
- You bring value to your team/employer/client. You have skills that employers or client need. This is not the time to be shy or wait for others to uncover your strength. Be confident in what you bring to the table and showcase those skills.
- It’s the right time. There is never a perfect time, so why not now? Don’t wait until the next week or month or quarter to kickstart your efforts. Start your research, figure out a plan, make connections, etc. now. Take action in this moment of change. You won’t regret it.
- The universe works in your favor. This goes hand in hand with the idea that you’ll find what you want. Have faith that you will find that you want and need.
Know what you want
Now that you’re in the right mindset, know what you want. Visualize it. What do you want to be doing? What types of roles do you want? How will your day look? What kind of flexibility do you want? How will your employer support you? Do you want to spend time in the office or do you want a remote role? What are you looking for from your long-term experience as you go up the career ladder?
Analyze your employer experience to date. What things do you like from your current role? What about previous roles? What do you want more of and less of in your day?
If you’re an entrepreneur, what is your expectation from your clients? How do you want to spend your time in your business? What types of clients will support what you’re looking for in your life in general?
Pull out your answers from the questions in the last post or from the Mompowerment Know Your Why Guide to help get you with this. Haven’t done that yet? Check either out to get started.
Do it your way
You will see lots of tips that help you create opportunities during the Great Realignment. Lots of posts and ads talk about doing things in a specific way to get ahead. Don’t let someone’s sales pitch convince you that you won’t succeed without what they offer. There is not only one way to get to your end goal. Get ideas, but don’t feel you have to mimic anyone’s specific path or plan to find success. As I shared at the beginning of this post, take what you need from here (or from other articles) and don’t get bogged down by the rest.
A few things will help you do it your way. First, know your strengths and value. What do you bring to the table that others don’t? What do you consistently get kudos for from managers and colleagues? What do your clients say about how you bring value to them? These are all helpful when you consider the skills you highlight as you consider roles and opportunities moving forward.
Your tribe matters
If you want to set yourself up for opportunities during the Great Realignment, don’t feel you have to figure this out or make changes alone. In fact, you’re more likely to get what you want if you take time to network. It’s that important. Networking was the #1 tip from working moms I interviewed on how to create more of the balance you crave. Remember that networking serves many purposes as you find or create new opportunities. You can find mentors to guide and help you make better decisions. Networking gives you access to allies who can recommend you for new projects or roles. You could potentially find new clients. And you can connect with sponsors who can open doors to new opportunities, projects, funding, etc.
I have written several posts on networking, both for employees and entrepreneurs, so you can dig more into either version of networking. A few things will help you, regardless of your career plan and goals.
- Take your time. You want to have the right kinds of conversations for your needs to bring in the right people. This isn’t simply a checkbox. The right conversations matter for you to get to your end goal.
- Create a plan for networking. Your plan for networking should be part of the bigger plan you create. This way you can make sure you find time and speak to the right people for your needs.
- Know your ask. When you’re talking to someone, what is the end goal? Are you looking for an introduction to a specific type of person? Are you trying to get feedback on your resume or LinkedIn profile? Do you need help assessing how your strengths fit in a new industry? Know what you want to speak about or request. Especially as you talk to new people, don’t ask for a job.
- Do your homework. You don’t simply want to have a conversation. You want it to be intentional. Know who you’re talking to. Ask about specific things from their background or current role.
You’ve got 4 steps to help you set yourself up for opportunities during the Great Realignment. What are you working towards? What steps have you already taken? If you’re struggling, how can I help you? Remember that you can set up a 1:1 strategy call with me to help you get going or to give you some new ideas if you’ve already started.
