As of 2021, half of workers considered themselves “job-seekers”—either in the sense that they were actively looking for a new job, open to a new job, or planned to actively pursue a different job in the near future. Overall, 48 million people quit their jobs in 2021. Some retired, some paused to reconsider their life priorities in light of the pandemic, and many used their renewed sense of purpose to find a workplace that better aligned with their personal ideals and professional goals. This massive shift, taken together, is what has come to be known as “The Great Resignation.” At the top of 2022, this trend continued, with historic numbers of people leaving jobs in pursuit of better opportunities.
Whether or not you’ve changed jobs in the past year, have you paused to consider if “The Great Resignation” has impacted your own work at all? If so, has it helped or harmed your work?
How It Might Have Harmed Your Work
Maybe your team has changed dramatically in a short period of time, meaning that you’ve spent a lot of time hiring, training, and learning to work with new colleagues. This might have depleted morale of those who’ve stayed, especially if they’ve had to take on extra work to cover shortages between new hires. This could have changed the structure or culture of your company.
For many people, this has set them back by depleting their robust network, which might have taken years or even decades to establish. Have you felt the need to establish new connections at the institutions that you frequently partner with? Do you find yourself seeking new vendors after years of reliable service? Feeling like you’re back at square one and trying to court new relationships with businesses whose collaboration you’ve relied on in the past can be frustrating and time-consuming.
On the other hand…
How It Might Have Helped Your Work
Have you followed any of your favorite contacts to new business, and has it expanded your network? In some cases, this could be a great opportunity for you. As they meet new people and expand their contacts, this can roll over effortlessly onto you.
Does getting back into the grind and establishing new outreach benefit your business? It might’ve been a while since you looked around at who’s out there to work with. Maybe you’ve worked with the same vendors for a long time and felt a sense of loyalty and obligation. Perhaps you’ll discover that a fresh perspective, new client discount, or the search in and of itself will open your world to new opportunities, people, and profit.
Here are some tips about how to make the most of this new landscape:
- Go through LinkedIn and see where your contacts now work. Reach out and congratulate them on the new job. Let them know that you’d like to continue the relationship if possible.
- See who your new connections are. When people move around, it changes your extended network. See if there are any opportunities to ask for an introduction or ask to connect directly.
- Customize a few email lists and reach out to your contacts to learn what they’re working on (and where they are now). This also reassures them that you’re still around.
- When people change jobs, ask if they can refer someone else to work with you. They might know who’s about to replace them or know someone reliable in the same industry. This will save you some legwork in starting a search from scratch—plus, you start out with an introduction and recommendation, which is a great way to start your new long-term relationship.
No matter how this might have impacted you so far, it’s not too late to start turning things to your own advantage. It starts by acknowledging the current climate and taking steps to protect your network and fortify your most meaningful relationships. Jobs change, but good working relationships should remain intact. And though that’s a two-way street, you can always be the first one to demonstrate that it’s important to you.
We’d love to know how we can strengthen our relationship and learn about your team and needs today. Let’s catch up: Contact Us.