Everyone believes recessions are bad periods for career changes, but that is reverse thinking. While most people batten down the hatches and wait for the good times to return, astute professionals leverage economic downturns as strategic pivot points. Recessions produce special circumstances that make career changes more budget-friendly and more lucrative in the long run.
Education and Training Costs Fall Through the Floor
In recessions, discounts by education providers fill classrooms. Coding bootcamps, otherwise priced at $15,000, have payment plans and promotions down to $8,000. Colleges provide higher levels of financial aid, and online education platforms compete vigorously with bargains. That MBA program you have been looking at is 30-40% cheaper in times of economic downturn through tuition freezes and additional scholarship availability.
Competition for Entry-Level Positions Decreases
When experienced professionals who have been laid off are terminated, they do not typically fight for entry-level positions in new industries. Instead, they target similar positions in their own industry. This leaves slots open for career changers to enter new industries without being forced to compete with overqualified candidates who would normally flood those positions.
Employers Take Bigger Risks on Unconventional Candidates
Dire times call for creative solutions to recruitment. Companies struggling to hire within lower budgets are more open to candidates who do not fit into every model box. A restaurant manager transitioning into project management has a higher likelihood of success when companies cannot afford the salaries of senior-level professionals and need someone who can join immediately.
Read More: 10 White Collar Jobs Most Likely to Be Automated by 2030
Side Hustles Have Less Competition
Financial instability makes most people reduce on business activities, opening up spaces in the market for those willing to take on new activities. A firm that is a graphic designer moving from corporate to freelancing has less competition, as other freelancers opt to take regular jobs for stability.
Read More: 10 Weird Tech Skills That Are Suddenly Incredibly Valuable
Skills Gaps Become More Obvious
Recessions reveal where and which skills are most valuable. Companies eliminate fat positions and focus on the essentials, and it becomes clearer where long-term career opportunities are. When switching from marketing to data analysis, recession employment trends inform you exactly what analysis skills companies require, against what they consider nice-to-have during boom times.
Lower Cost of Living Allows for Transition Phases
The price of housing, entertainment, and discretionary items decreases during recession periods. Lower living expenses under normal conditions make it easier to survive on starting wages while developing experience in your new profession. You could take a $45,000 salary for a change in careers that would have been impossible when you were paying 30% more for rent.
Remote Work Options Expand Geographical Opportunities
Economic downturns accelerate the use of remote work, dislodging geographical constraints on career change. You can make a transition to tech, consulting, or digital marketing careers without relocating to high-labor-cost markets. This reduces the cost of a career change considerably.
Government Programs and Support Increase
Recessions lead to higher unemployment allowances, retraining schemes, and tax credits for education. The majority of career changers qualify for subsidizing transition schemes, from certification schemes to small business loans.
The long-term successful professionals turn economic recessions into positive advantages, not disadvantages. As other people wait for the best conditions, you can go into growth industries at a fraction of the normal cost. When the economy is booming again, you’re already established in your new field instead of playing catch-up.
Read More: 10 Ways to Add ‘Executive Energy’ to Your Daily Routine
