Could the Great Resignation help reinvent your career?

The numbers are astonishing. In February 2022, the U.S. reported over 4 million employees had left their jobs every month for the previous 6 consecutive months.¹ At home in Canada, according to a survey, roughly two-thirds (65%) of Canadians are seriously considering leaving their job.²  Now, the numbers show this may be a global phenomenon.

Welcome to the Great Resignation

Coined by American organizational psychologist and professor, Dr. Anthony Klotz, The Great Resignation was the prediction of a mass exodus of employees during and towards the end of the pandemic. He believed that the global health crisis gave employees an opportunity to stop and take stock of their lives, leading to existential “epiphanies” about “family time, remote work, commuting, passion projects, life and death”.

The pandemic caused significant transitions:

> Large numbers of professionals are seeking meaningful change in their careers.

> Many are returning to school to prepare for career pivots, growth and new opportunities.

> Affordable and flexible, online continuing education now allows students to upskill and maintain a work-life balance as they earn new credentials.

> As industries scramble to fill positions amidst a skill shortage, candidates with updated skills and certificates from accredited institutions can look forward to financially-rewarding positions in business, healthcare, tech, marketing and more.

Now is the time to reinvent your career

To benefit from The Great Resignation, you should start by making a game plan. Ask yourself:

> What do I really want from my career?

• Do I want to work with people?
• Do I want to manage people?
• Do I prefer a project-based career?

> What is important to me?

• What is my current position not providing?
• Do I want to learn new things to challenge my talents in ways they are not being challenged now?
• Am I achieving a good work-life balance?

> Am I willing to sacrifice to get what I want?

• Can I afford to leave my current job?
• Should I go back to school to upskill?
• Can I add skills with online continuing education study?

Dr. Anthony Klotz believed that the global health crisis gave employees an opportunity to stop and take stock of their lives, leading to existential “epiphanies” about “family time, remote work, commuting, passion projects, life and death”.

Pivots and pathways to reach your goals

Upskilling can offer you a multitude of career choices in business, tech, healthcare or marketing.

If you like to support employees while contributing to the growth of a company, consider Human Resources Management. From recruiting to processing payroll, establishing training programs to explaining procedures, policies and benefits, HR management could be a great fit for you. Choose programs that offer a certificate or diploma and prepare you for CHRP and CHRL designations to work in rewarding careers such as:

• Training and Development
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
• Workplace Accommodations

Love working with numbers and yearn for career stability? Consider Accounting. The industry is notoriously stable and continues to grow year after year. It’s great preparation for virtually any career in finance and business, including striking out on your own. Look for programs with also courses approved for admission into the CPA or RPA designations. Earning a diploma or certificate in Accounting will open doors to a wide range of careers, including:

• General or Management Accountant
• Finance or Non-Profit Executive Director
• Controller
• Financial Analyst

Are you interested in motivating and leading teams to ensure quality results, on time and on budget? Pursue Project Management. This highly transferable skill is needed, valued and handsomely compensated. With project management skills, you can take your pick among such varied industries as:

• Construction
• Software development
• Healthcare
• Finance

If you are thinking about a new career path in Tech, boost your career potential with Data Analytics. Analytics is driving our digital economy with a high demand and high salaries for skilled workers. Currently, there are over 86,000 job openings worldwide in this field. In Canada, the average salary for a Data Analyst is $67,000 a year.³  Data analysts can specialize in:

• Business Intelligence
• Finance
• E-commerce

The healthcare industry is booming. Job candidates with the right skills have many rewarding career opportunities. From Applied Clinical Research to Health Analytics to Nutrition, Health and Wellness and more. Check out some of these trending career pathways:

Applied Clinical Research:

• Clinical Research Associate
• Clinical Research Project Manager
• Clinical Research Assistant / Assistant Clinical Researcher
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Clinical Trial Supervisor
• more

Health Analytics:

• Clinical Informatics Analyst
• Health Data Analyst
• Health Information Analyst
• Analyst – Privacy and Access Operations
• Data Analyst – Health Surveillance
• more

Nutrition, Health and Wellness offers a wide range of professional roles in variety of industries, including:

• Long-term care homes
• Senior living facilities
• Fitness / wellness centres
• Weight loss services
• Private consulting

Looking to enter or branch out in the field of Digital Marketing? Learn online data measurement and digital strategy through the use of new media tools. You can work as an independent freelancer, start your own business or work for an e-commerce company in the following roles:

• Content Manager
• Email Marketing Specialist
• Digital Marketing Manager
• Analyst and AI Specialist
• more

If you are reflecting and rethinking your career choices, consider upskilling with McMaster Continuing Education. Choose from online programs and courses to gain in-demand skills, foundational knowledge, practical experience and credentials you will need to succeed in your new career path.

Sources:

¹ Fortune
² Benefits Canada 
³ Talent.com
⁴ Indeed.com