The Covid-19 outbreak may have taken away many things from us, such as travelling, staycations and walking outside without a mask, but it has also allowed us to channel our spirit animal: the sloth.
Even the most skilled procrastinators and loafers reached new heights during the circuit breaker, redefining what it means to be “lazy’.
If you’re like me, you probably while away your days now by binge-watching shows on Netflix and scrolling through your never-ending Instagram feed until your brain turns into a big blob of goo.
Then the next day arrives and you repeat the process.
But is this really the best use of our extended period of time indoors?
With businesses getting snuffed out, unemployment rising, and a recession on the horizon, it’s important to ensure we remain employable post-Covid-19.
That’s why we should use this time to better ourselves instead of slowly wasting away, waiting for this whole crisis to blow over.
If you want to prepare yourself for an incredibly uncertain future, here are 6 things you should do during the Covid-19 pandemic:
1. Think About How You’ll Fit Into A Post-Covid-19 World
The first thing you should do is to consider where you’ll fit in a post-coronavirus workforce.
Even before Covid-19, advancements in technology were disrupting jobs by rendering many employees irrelevant.
A 2017 McKinsey report showed that as many as 375 million workers—or 14 per cent of the global workforce—would have to switch occupations or acquire new skills by 2030 because of automation and artificial intelligence.
I’m not trying to scare you by suggesting that a robot will take over your job.
My point is this: are you confident of keeping your job or landing a new one once this pandemic dies down?
At a time when most sectors have been forced to go digital overnight, will your skillset remain an attractive option for employers in the future?
2. Freshen Up Your Resume
Some of you have resumes that are older than your family members. That’s ok, it happens to the best of us.
Why update your resume when you already have a job, right?
There are several reasons why it’s important to regularly update your resume:
Firstly, writing resumes isn’t an easy task. Sometimes, getting employers to hire you has a lot to do with how you promote yourself. And the more time you spend working on your resume, the better you get at self-promotion.
Secondly, as Charter College says, updating your resume regularly can help you determine areas for “self-improvement”. In doing so, you’ll identify any skills or experiences you may be lacking in that will be crucial to achieving your goals in the future.
Most importantly, updating your resume prepares you for the worst. Many workers across various sectors are losing their jobs due to the impact of Covid-19 on the economy. As scary as it sounds, there may not be such a thing as a “stable job” in a post-Covid-19 world.
So, freshen up that resume and stay prepared for anything that might come your way.
3. Set Out To Achieve Your Goals
Many of us have career aspirations that we shove aside the minute we get a stable job.
You might know, for instance, a Goody Feed writer who always dreamt of being the first person to fly to the moon without a rocket or spacesuit, but gave up on this dream when he got a job as a writer.
With all this extra time indoors, there’s no better time to gather all the information you need on how to achieve your life goals.
Here are some steps you can take to work towards your dream job:
- Define Your Goal – Have a concrete vision of what you want to work towards, whether it’s a promotion at work or a complete career switch.
- Break It Down Into Short-Term Goals – If you’re an accountant who has a dream of being a veterinarian, you can’t exactly apply to be one if the only relevant skill in your resume is “loves animals”, can you? Breaking down your goals into smaller ones makes them seem less daunting and more attainable.
- Take The Necessary Steps – Now it’s time to put your plan into action. In order to make a career switch, for example, you first need to arm yourself with the necessary skills and knowledge relevant to that field. Once you’ve completed a few of your short-term goals, you’ll feel more confident of going all the way.
4. Upskill or Reskill
I don’t want to alarm you, but there are people out there waiting to snatch your job away from you.
These people don’t actually have a personal vendetta against you, of course. They may simply be more qualified for that position you always dreamed of because of their willingness to adapt to the changing demands of the workforce.
See, the skills that you learnt in school were relevant when you first entered the job market, but will they still be relevant in a few years time?
That’s why we need to constantly upskill and reskill.
According to Learning Hub, upskilling is learning additional skills for your current role, while reskilling is acquiring significantly different skills for a completely different role.
Learning new skills is essential during this inclement economic climate because it:
- Prevents you from becoming redundant
- Boosts your employability
- Allows you to discover new passions
But…
5. Understand That Not All Skills Are Equal
While following your dreams is admirable, it’s also important to understand that not all skills may be equally valued post-Covid-19.
For instance, even though it was forced upon us due to the coronavirus outbreak, telecommuting may be here to stay.
With the coronavirus keeping everyone indoors, many consumers have gone digital with their purchases and businesses have been forced to move their operations online.
This swift shift online means that tech-savviness may no longer be an advantage but a requirement for many jobs now.
So, what should you do?
Stay relevant and go digital, of course.
Here are some digital skills that could keep you relevant post-Covid-19:
- Digital Marketing
- Web Development
- UX Design
- Mobile App Development
- Cyber Security
6. Look For The Right Courses
Ok, now you’re somehow more anxious than when the coronavirus first landed on our shores because you’re worried about your future.
You agree that learning new skills is important in this rapidly-evolving world, but you have no idea where to start.
Well, that’s where Smartcademy comes in.
As one of Singapore’s leading training providers, Smartcademy’s highly-qualified instructors will arm you with the necessary skills to upgrade your capabilities.
Aiming to get a promotion? Want a change in your career? Well, Smartcademy is your stepping stone to achieving your career goals.
Since they’re heavily focused on in-demand and industry-relevant skills (basically, skills that you know employers will want), graduates of Smartcademy will future-proof their careers and boost their employability.
And the best thing about it?
- They have courses for people who are completely new to the digital industry.
- Their programmes are taught by industry veterans that bring along with them their years of experience and real-life case studies
- There’s Post Course Alumni Support
Interested?
Smartcademy offers its courses at $2,500.
Eligible Singaporeans and PRs can apply for course fee support for up to 90 per cent of their course fees.
Note: Course fee support only applies to their programs in Digital Marketing, UX Design, Web & Mobile App Development.
All courses will be conducted through live webinars until further notice, which means you’ll be able to acquire invaluable skills in the comfort of your own home instead of binge-watching Breaking Bad for the seventh time.
You can check if you’re eligible here.
I’d apply quickly, though, before all those slots are snapped up.
Stop putting off your dreams; the time to upskill is NOW.
This article is first published on Goody Feed and written in collaboration with Smartcademy.
