7 Questions to Ask Yourself If You’re Thinking of Making a Career Change During COVID-19

Christina Pendleton built her career working with kids—she’s had stints as a preschool director, early educator, and educational consultant. But she always wanted to launch a nonprofit. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed her to finally realize that dream.

“Having the time to think everything through, decide on a focus, file the necessary applications, write a business report, apply for grants, and hire someone to develop a website—all of that would not have happened if it weren’t for all the extra time I’ve had since March,” she says. Her new nonprofit will benefit adolescents whose parents struggle with substance-use disorders.

Maybe, like Pendleton, you’ve been thinking about a career change for a long time. Or maybe you’re reconsidering your career path in light of challenges you’ve faced—or realizations you’ve had—since the start of the pandemic. You may be rethinking your priorities and preferences, whether you’ve discovered that you thrive working from home or you feel as though you belong in another field entirely.

“There are a multitude of reasons as to why someone might want a career change, especially now, after all we have been through,” says Melanie Ross Mills, a life strategist based in Dallas who coaches people through life transitions such as career changes. “Anything goes—from their position dissolving to wanting to ‘personally rebrand’ and take the leap.”

Jumping into a new career isn’t something to take lightly—especially with all the uncertainty that comes from living and working through a pandemic. Now could be the perfect time for you to make that change. But the stresses and realities of the moment might also be skewing your perspective.

If you’re wondering if a career change is really the right move for you in this moment, ask yourself these questions first.