QC
September 11, 2026 | Quebec
Turning a Career Transition Into an Opportunity to Reassess
Losing a job can quickly disrupt your routine, finances, and career plans. Once the immediate steps have been taken, it can also raise an important question: what should come next in your career?
For some people, the priority will be finding another position in the same field. For others, this period may offer an opportunity to reassess their goals, explore new career options, or consider returning to school.
There is no single right way to move forward after a job loss. What matters is making decisions that reflect your circumstances, skills, and goals.
Taking Stock After a Job Loss
Before immediately trying to recreate your previous career path, it can be helpful to assess where you are professionally.
Consider questions such as:
- What did you value about your previous job?
- Which tasks would you like to do more often?
- What skills have you developed through your experience?
- What new skills would you like to acquire?
- What working conditions are important to you?
- What are your short- and long-term career goals?
This process can help you identify what you want to carry forward from your previous experience and what you would like to change.
Identifying Your Transferable Skills
Losing a job does not erase the experience you have gained.
Throughout their careers, people often develop skills that are valuable across many work environments, including communication, organization, customer service, problem-solving, prioritization, software skills, and teamwork.
Identifying these transferable skills can help broaden your options when looking for a new job or considering a career change.
Instead of asking only, "What jobs have I held?", consider another question: "What can I do, and where else could those skills be valuable?"
Considering a Career Change
Sometimes, a job loss can bring an existing desire for change into sharper focus.
If your current field no longer aligns with your goals, you would like to take on different responsibilities, or you want to develop new skills, a career change may be worth considering.
Changing careers does not necessarily mean starting from scratch. Your previous work experience may remain valuable and complement the new skills you develop.
Before choosing a new direction, compare the careers you are considering, the skills they require, and the training that can help prepare you for them.
Returning to School After a Job Loss
For some people, returning to school after losing a job can become part of a broader career transition.
Training can provide an opportunity to develop new skills, update existing knowledge, or prepare for a different type of role.
The decision deserves careful consideration. Before choosing a program, consider:
- your career objective;
- the program content;
- the skills you will develop;
- the length of the program;
- your personal and family responsibilities;
- your financial situation;
- career opportunities in the field you are considering.
Returning to school can then become one part of a larger career plan rather than an end in itself.
Choosing Training That Supports Your Career Goal
Training should be selected with your intended career direction in mind.
At CDI College, programs are available in fields including business, technology, healthcare, dental care, early childhood education, legal studies, and art and design.
Depending on the path you choose, training can help you develop technical and professional skills relevant to a variety of roles.
The key is to establish a clear connection between the career you want, the skills it requires, and the training you choose.
Preparing to Re-Enter the Workforce
A career transition involves more than developing new skills.
You also need to present your experience in a way that makes sense to potential employers. Previous work experience combined with new training can help you build a different professional profile as you re-enter the workforce.
Your preparation may include:
- updating your resumé;
- identifying your transferable skills;
- highlighting newly acquired skills;
- building your professional network;
- preparing for interviews;
- targeting employers and positions that align with your new career goal.
Turning a Transition Into a Career Plan
Job loss creates uncertainty, but it can also lead to a more structured assessment of what you want from the next stage of your career.
Finding another job, changing fields, and returning to school are all possible paths. The right choice depends on your goals, circumstances, and constraints.
Taking the time to assess your experience, skills, and available options can gradually turn a period of transition into a structured plan for what comes next.
FAQ
1. What should I do after losing my job?
Once you have taken care of the immediate practical steps, consider reviewing your career goals, skills, priorities, and opportunities that align with your experience and interests.
2. How can I change careers after losing my job?
A career change often begins with assessing your experience and transferable skills, then exploring occupations, industries, and training options that align with your new goals.
3. Is this a good time to go back to school?
It depends on your individual circumstances. Returning to school may make sense when a program can help you develop the skills required to achieve a clearly defined career goal.
4. Do I have to start from scratch when changing careers?
Not necessarily. Many skills developed in a previous job can transfer to different roles or industries and remain valuable as you build new expertise.
5. How do I choose a new career after losing my job?
Consider your interests, experience, existing skills, preferred type of work, and the requirements of the careers you are exploring. From there, you can determine whether additional training is needed.
Explore Further
👉 Going Back to School as an Adult in Quebec: What You Should Know
👉 When Does It Make Sense to Change Careers in Quebec?
👉 How to Identify and Assess Your Transferable Skills
