Protect Your Career Amidst COVID-19

Challenges can be transformed into opportunities. Changes may result in growth. This could be your chance to upskill your professional growth and enhance your career while the COVID-19 crisis has changed the way we live and work.

Undeniably, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused utmost global evolution in our era, changing the way we live and work, by impacting the economies and industries.

It’s normal to be concerned about job security and you are not the only one doing that. In March, we have seen up to 90% year-on-year increment in average job applications per ad based on our websites all over Asia.

This could be an uncertain time but opportunity for significant changes often comes from immense challenges. Many companies are forced to implement new ways for their operation to adapt quickly and creatively together due to this COVID-19 crisis.

Thinking Long-Term: Retrain, Reskill, and Relearn
Your career skills must be kept sharp and relevant by ongoing learning in order to reserve job security in tomorrow’s workforce.

Digital transformation has to speed up due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you have the career skills to remain relevant in a digitalized economy? Then now is the best time to upgrade yourselves.

The entire time at home now is an ideal opportunity for online learning. This would be the best time to reflect on the skill gaps in your current employment and on how you could close the gap along with the methods to magnify your transferable skills. Target for resourcefulness in your career skills, capitalize in professional growth and cultivate your professional network circle. Always have a mindset for progress: be agile, flexible and embrace transformation.

Be proactive—and remain positive. Even though the global economy has been impacted by the pandemic, there are still job vacancies in various industries.

Transferable skills: the foundation of your professional success
Transferable skills illustrate your versatility and proficiency in the workplace which is advanced through education, employment background and training attended and is highly appreciated by the employers.

Some of the career skills that you want to possess would be adaptability, creativity and teamwork. These skills and qualities are also categorized as transferable skills, which can be used across industries, allowing you to succeed in whichever job you land and therefore, increases job security.

Here are few examples of transferable skills for you reference. Identify the skills that you already possess and the ones you want to pick up.

Organisational and execution skills

The way you achieve your individual goals and objectives set on your job depends greatly on the way you plan, prepare and take action effectively and intelligently.

• Planning. Are you developing a clear, methodical plan that matches the mission and strategy of the company?
• Organising. Do you arrange workforce and resources to support your plan?
• Multi-tasking. Multitasking is the key to success in today’s fast -moving business environment. In order to multitask, you must be able to organize, prioritize and manage your time well.
• Technological competence. Digital savviness is also a significant transferable skill that will assist you to grow professionally, regardless of your job industry. Keeping up-to-date with the present technology skills of your preferred career is highly important to your professional success.

Communication skills

In every enhanced business performance, effective communication plays a key role in ensuring strong internal and external business ties, eased creativity, implementation of plans and cultivated customer relationships.

• Listening. Are you listening to understand or instead, waiting for your turn to speak? Can you understand what has been communicated to you?
• Verbal. The way you verbally express yourself is just as critical as what you say. Verbal communication must always be simple and descriptive, insightful and appropriate, thoughtful and courteous.
• Writing. What you choose to write on the paper- from reports to articles, emails and sales material- gives a permanent impression about who you are. Ensure that it is descriptive, detailed, accurate and takes into account both the sender and recipient’s viewpoint and interest.
• Face-to-face. Not only do people hear what you say during face-to-face communication, they also watch your tone and body language along with your actions and emotions. Effective face-to-face communication is vital when it comes to morale boosting, collecting feedbacks and dealing with sensitive issues.
• Picking the right medium. Another critical communication skill is the ability to select the best medium for your audience and message. The ability to analyse the strengths and limitations of the different mediums and to recognize the most relevant one helps you to reach and influence your audience.

People skills

To be a part of an organization implies the need to collaborate and work with various people and personalities. These transferable skills allow you to connect professionally with others to create constructive ties, build trust, minimize dispute and promote togetherness.

• Co-operation. Can you work well with others that has entirely different goals, key responsibilities, backgrounds and expertise? Are you able to work together and effectively contribute to achieve goals and projects?
• Empathy. We become compassionate and allow room for relationships to grow, as we seek to see it from the viewpoint of other people. It gives us an insight into people’s motives, helping us to anticipate attitudes and reactions.
• Flexibility. Are you ready to change and adapt quickly?
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness.  It is crucial to be culturally conscious and respectful in this globalised world.

Leadership qualities

Leadership skills requires you to inspire people to complete the job given, evaluate a situation and make important decisions. A blend of organizational, communications and people skills results in successful and effective leadership

• Prioritisation and delegation. As a leader, you must be able to determine what to do primarily and delegate the tasks to those who are better qualified to complete them.
• Critical thinking. You need a rational, structured approach for identifying issues and seeking the best solution.
• Mentoring and feedback.  An effective and inspiring leader stand by and encourages members of his or her team, offers them appropriate support and assistance and provides constructive feedback.