Make Your Next Career Move Stress Free!
Guest post by Kelli Brewer at Deploycare.org
A record 4.3 million people quit their jobs in August. That’s 2.9% of the workforce, according to a report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Are you one of them?
Whether you’re looking for a new career or just want to make some extra cash on the side, figuring out your next career move can be a challenge. Job hunting can be a tedious, frustrating process, especially if you’re already overloaded with responsibilities at home. This is especially true if you’re considering starting your own business.
Fortunately, if you’re seriously planning to go out on your own, there are some simple things you can do to get the process going.
- Think about where your skills lie and how to put them to use
- Consider whether starting your own business is right for you.
- Make sure you have a central place in your home from which to conduct business
With these in mind, this guide can help you dive into how to jumpstart this process!
Assess Your Skills
These days, starting a business is easier than ever before, and many people are choosing this route after experiencing a career setback because of the benefits it provides. Not only are you able to set your own hours and possibly do something you enjoy, but you would also have the opportunity to work from home.
Think about your skills and how to make the most of them. For example, do you have a strong background in a certain industry? Perhaps you could be a consultant. You might even turn a hobby — such as sewing or embroidery — into a business via a market platform like Etsy.
If you’re not ready to take the plunge into business ownership, think about how you can use your skills to your advantage in the workplace. Customer service, coding, and web design are a few examples of marketable skills that many employers look for. Depending on your experience, it might help to go back to school or take a few classes for certification. Do a little research on the companies you’re interested in to get an idea of what they need.
Know Where to Look
If your main goal is to work from home, the good news is you no longer have to start your own business to enjoy the flexibility of a remote work experience. There are tons of remote jobs available if you know where to look, but you’ll want to make sure the postings you respond to are legitimate. Make sure to get familiar with the best sites for work-at-home opportunities. These jobs are perfect for those who want to earn extra money, but you might be able to find long-term work there, too.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
Whether you choose to work from home, start your own business, or go back to work in person, it will be extremely helpful to create a work or office space at home. This will allow you to stay organized throughout the year and keep your tax paperwork in one place. As an entrepreneur, you’ll need a business license and local tax forms each year, and you may be required to have those documents if you perform freelance work on the side as well, depending on how much you make. Having an organized space at home to keep important documents will save you a headache come tax time.
If your current home isn’t large enough to accommodate a home office, it may be time to move into a bigger space. If you don’t have kids, you can easily rent a two-bedroom apartment and use the extra bedroom as your workspace. Currently, the average cost to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Indianapolis is just over $900 per month.
Looking for work can be time intensive, so try to be patient as you start the process. Look for resources and support online via social media sites like LinkedIn, and make an effort to network as much as possible in order to find new opportunities. Keep in mind that staying organized will take much of the stress out of this task.
