All careers undergo change at some point. Some changes can be swift, like being laid off or suddenly needing to care for an ill family member. Others can be gradual, such as adapting to new leadership at your organization, or working toward a promotion.

And still other changes – like a novel virus forcing us to quickly adapt to an increasingly new normal – bring about a level of uncertainty that is in and of itself novel. The current COVID-19 pandemic is different from anything we have experienced before.

How we adjust personally and professionally to this unprecedented change will help us not just get through it, but keep going in those critical moments when it seems easier to give up.

Research shows that practicing gratitude on a regular basis is linked to enhanced self-esteem, feeling more positive about work, improving and strengthening relationships, becoming more effective managers and teammates, and reducing stress. To name a few!

Here are three ways to practice gratitude to improve your career happiness – and perhaps even find deeper meaning in your work.

In 2020, you likely discovered your resilience, based on the many challenges you faced in life and career. Resilience speaks to your ability to bounce back from a setback, overcome adversity, and strengthen yourself mentally.

But what about your resourcefulness?

Resourcefulness hasn’t gotten as much airtime, although it is just as crucial in this new, Covid-19 landscape. Resourcefulness is your ability to think creatively or imaginatively in finding solutions, and it can be key to conducting a successful job search during challenging times.

You were laid off from your job. Whether you saw it coming or it was a total surprise, you are probably experiencing a lot of emotions, including that feeling of “What do I do now?”

Informational interviews are a key tactic to a successful job search and career transition. They:

• Provide a wealth of information about what it is like to work for a potential employer.
• Are direct paths to the hidden job market.
• Help us expand our networks and improve our networking skills.

How we conduct the informational interview—from the questions we ask, to how actively we listen, to the action we take as a result—is important for making the most of this opportunity.

If you have ever thought “I would love to make a big career move!” you are not alone. What often comes next, however, is: “I could never do it, though.”

But….what if you did?

Taking a big career leap (BCL) is not the same thing as other professional goals such as aiming to meet your annual performance metrics, or challenging yourself to go to more networking events, or, give more regular feedback to your team members.

Taking a big leap is life changing. It can be daunting. You might not know where to start. You might be unsure if you have the resources. It might not be the right time in your life.

But with exploring and moving it forward bit by bit – it just MIGHT be possible.

Are you wondering what it would be like to work for a particular company? To find out, you need great intel – and current intel. And that starts by networking with someone on the inside.

Asking for feedback is hard. For one thing, you may not want to hear what someone else has to say about you and your work. For another, you might think you are doing a great job — so why even bother?

Whether the feedback is positive or negative, you shouldn’t wait until your annual evaluation to find out.

If you feel frustrated by your job search (e.g., it’s taking too long, you are getting super close but no offers, there are few bites on your resume), you might need to get some mojo back.

Whether you know it or not, YOU are a brand, and your brand is out there. It is found in what you have written and shared about yourself, from your resume, to your LinkedIn profile, to what you post on your social media platforms.

Learning how to build and communicate your brand allows you to drive your career with greater confidence and enjoy greater professional and personal success.

If you are having trouble shaping your brand and getting clear on how others are receiving it, asking people for help is a great way to start.

Developing self-confidence is not an easy task, especially when it comes to our careers.

When we are applauded for the assignment we did well, the client we made happy, or the job we successfully won, it makes us feel really good about ourselves. When others see and note our good work and success, it feels even better. That’s called external validation.

But how do we do this for ourselves? 

An annual conference, a monthly professional association meeting, or that brand-new speaker series you decide to check out…if you have a networking event on your calendar, you might be faced with the challenge of how to make it a success, and leave feeling like it was time well spent.

Looking for a new job? Then you have likely experienced one or two frustrating moments – probably more.

Maybe you are waiting for a company to acknowledge receipt of your resume (is that mystifying portal actually a black hole?). Perhaps you’re holding your breath, hoping for news that you have advanced to the next round of interviews. Job hunting can be especially perplexing as we wait for employers to please, please, PLEASE acknowledge our existence.

As they say, the waiting is the hardest part.

During this time of uncertainty, social distancing has forced all of us to adapt to a new way of living – and working. From mental health professionals offering tele-therapy to students showing up in virtual classrooms, our way of connecting with others has drastically changed.

Have you considered how it will also affect your professional networking? You can still manage and advance your career within this new terrain.  

Are you starting a new job soon, or is finding a new job a 2020 goal? If so, you are probably familiar with the concept of onboarding – or, how your new employer will bring you into the company culture, share policies and procedures, and set you up for success.

It’s certainly nice to be welcomed and taken care of in the first few days of employment. But what I find even more powerful (as a former HR professional) is teaching you (yes, you, the new employee) how to participate in the onboarding process and start taking charge of your career from day one.

Amid the bustle of the holidays, this time of year reminds us that a new year is around the corner -- and that means it’s time to begin setting our career goals for 2024.

However, December is also the ideal time for taking stock of what happened with our careers in 2023, especially when it comes to evaluating our accomplishments and even assessing what we would have liked to have gone differently. Taking this step now will help you set clear goals for 2024.

But how do we tackle this during SUCH a busy time of year?

We’ve all been there: waiting to hear if you got the job (or not). These moments may rank as some of the longest you can remember. Will you be penning your resignation, or did you lose out to another candidate?

You’ve arrived at your interview early, or with a few minutes to spare — great! Congratulations on not being late.

However, you may find yourself in that “hurry up and wait” zone of discomfort: forced to bide your time until the interview begins.

Let’s think about how you can make the most of this transition.