The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world. Many industries have become redundant, several new ones have come up and the way we work has changed forever. But this is not a new phenomenon. 70 years ago it was the world war, today it is COVID, tomorrow it may be AI. It is important to be prepared for such drastic changes in the job market. Here are some key takeaways for us all-
Identify sectors that are not prone to such changes- Industries such as medicine and healthcare, technology and innovation and mental health care are not as susceptible to much upheaval because there will always be a demand for these services- no matter the world scenario. Identify other such sectors and whether your role be applied in these sectors as well.
Transferable skills- Try and match your skills to jobs in stable sectors. Prepare and plan for an industry switch in case of another pandemic like situation. There is no need to make a switch right now, but it is better to be safe.
I’m a specialist!- If you are a specialist in your field, transferring skills can be extremely challenging. You have put in years of hard work and resources into your career and starting over may not be a viable option. In these cases, plan! Identify allied fields as well as research or academia. Your level of expertise and knowledge would be extremely valuable here.
Retrain and Upskill- The best way to prepare for a shift is to upskill. That means to take courses, read and study about new fields. Programming is an example of a skill that can be useful in any field and will give you an added advantage in your own area of expertise. Identifying other such evergreen skills will help you be prepared for the ever changing work environment.
Budget- In today’s uncertain work environment, it is extremely important to have at least two years worth of savings for a rainy day fund. This is even more important if you have a family to support and home loans to pay. Keep track of your finances to ensure financial stability.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world. Many industries have become redundant, several new ones have come up and the way we work has changed forever. But this is not a new phenomenon. 70 years ago it was the world war, today it is COVID, tomorrow it may be AI. It is important to be prepared for such drastic changes in the job market. Here are some key takeaways for us all-
Identify sectors that are not prone to such changes- Industries such as medicine and healthcare, technology and innovation and mental health care are not as susceptible to much upheaval because there will always be a demand for these services- no matter the world scenario. Identify other such sectors and whether your role be applied in these sectors as well.
Transferable skills- Try and match your skills to jobs in stable sectors. Prepare and plan for an industry switch in case of another pandemic like situation. There is no need to make a switch right now, but it is better to be safe.
I’m a specialist!- If you are a specialist in your field, transferring skills can be extremely challenging. You have put in years of hard work and resources into your career and starting over may not be a viable option. In these cases, plan! Identify allied fields as well as research or academia. Your level of expertise and knowledge would be extremely valuable here.
Retrain and Upskill- The best way to prepare for a shift is to upskill. That means to take courses, read and study about new fields. Programming is an example of a skill that can be useful in any field and will give you an added advantage in your own area of expertise. Identifying other such evergreen skills will help you be prepared for the ever changing work environment.
Budget- In today’s uncertain work environment, it is extremely important to have at least two years worth of savings for a rainy day fund. This is even more important if you have a family to support and home loans to pay. Keep track of your finances to ensure financial stability.