New survey reveals that 54% of adults have considered a “major career change” during the pandemic.
NEW YORK — Very little good is coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. One thing the year-long crisis is providing some workers is time to rethink their path in life. A new survey finds the average American has experienced four “lightbulb moments” about their lives since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.
A OnePoll survey of 2,000 Americans discovered that seven in 10 believe they’ve had at least one “great” idea during the last seven months of pandemic stress. Over half have already taken steps to turn their recent “lightbulb moment” into a reality; from starting a new business, to writing a novel, or growing an at-home garden.
The study, commissioned by Fiverr, aimed to uncover how people approached their careers during the pandemic. The results find over half (54%) have considered making a “major” career change during COVID-19.
The age of job dissatisfaction
In fact, two in five respondents are unhappy with their current job. Another 45 percent say they’re not working in the career field they want to be in.
For Millennials, a possible career shift would be especially meaningful. Fifty-two percent reported that they aren’t satisfied with their current position. Fifty-nine percent believe that the ongoing coronavirus crisis is encouraging people to pursue their dream jobs.
Young adults have also been exploring their career options more aggressively. The typical Millennial has researched between three to four possible new jobs, at least an entire job more than the national average of respondents. At the same time, Millennials also reported feeling the most pressured to stay at their current job (63%), citing their desire to support their partner, their kids, and themselves as top factors.
Only 20 percent of Baby Boomers said they felt similarly, although they were also 24 percent more likely than Millennials to already be working in their ideal career field.
“Not everyone had the luxury to be able to work from home. Now is the time for people to start taking stock of what exactly they want from their jobs” a spokesperson for Fiverr says in a statement.
Chasing down a dream job
Despite post-pandemic uncertainty, 71 percent of all respondents saw themselves going after their dream job someday and 45 percent think it’s possible to do so on a full-time basis. However, not everyone is so optimistic. Forty-seven percent admit they believe their dream job is simply a “pipe dream.” Still, 48 percent are using this uncertain time to pursue their passions, whether it’s a new career, hobby, skill, or something else. Forty-two percent even credited the pandemic for inspiring them to make a change in the first place.
“Many successful people often end up in a career they never expected to be in. Whether it was through a hobby or a new skill they picked up when they were older, finding a fulfilling job and turning that into a thriving career is completely possible. And if not now, then when is it the right time for people to begin pursuing their passions” the spokesperson for Fiverr adds.