Five of the most useful skills to learn post-COVID-19
What does the ‘new normal’ mean for your career?
No matter what industry you work in, your role has probably been affected by coronavirus in some way – whether it’s through working from home, being put on furlough, getting used to new health and safety measures or, unfortunately, having to deal with the prospect of redundancy. But what do these changes mean for the workforce after the worst of the pandemic has passed?
Here are five essential skills employers will be looking for in a post-COVID-19 world:
Adaptability
Change, flexibility, and adaptability are all common themes of working during a pandemic.
With many companies adapting to the ‘new normal’ work from home setup, a flexible and open mindset has helped keep businesses afloat.
As a result, employees have had to adjust their work style, responsibilities, and day-to-day in a way that complements digital comms and fits around changing business needs. And the importance of these skills are only going to accelerate, as the new ways of working are likely to continue even after the pandemic passes.
Post COVID-19, employers will be looking for staff that can adapt in line with an ever-evolving workplace.
This means honing the ability to adjust to new and unexpected deadlines, and continuously grow your skills to meet demand – whatever that may be.
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Digital skills
Digital skills have always been increasingly important, but coronavirus has given them a serious boost to the top.
Professional abilities in everything from coding and web development to digital marketing, big data, and artificial intelligence are paramount right now – no matter where your usual expertise lies.
In fact, without employees who have a tech savvy attitude, a willingness to learn, and a plethora of digital skills – businesses wouldn’t have the tools they needed to survive this difficult time.
That makes candidates who are willing to develop their digital abilities in order to keep business thriving top picks for employers during and post-COVID19. It’s also never too late to get certified, with a number of professional certifications available (whether it’s in Python or Microsoft) that could be exactly what companies need in their new workforce.
And let’s face it – all businesses have some kind of digital element to them – making your opportunities in this area vast and ever-growing.
Emotional intelligence
There’s more than one type of intelligence – and all are important.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is closely linked to communication, and is all about having an awareness of other peoples’ emotions – not to mention the ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding for how they’re feeling.
And in times of uncertainty, this is a skill that should never be overlooked.
Whether it’s to reassure others during stressful times, adapt workloads in response to the struggles of those around you, or generally keep an open chain of communication, trust, and empathy with your team – emotional intelligence is guaranteed to help you get ahead in a post-COVID19 world.
What’s more – with the reliance on digital communication expected to continue even after the pandemic has passed, your ability to demonstrate EQ through less personal means (such as virtual meetings and emails) is crucial too.
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Creativity & innovation
Sure, digital technologies have been extremely prevalent during the pandemic, but that doesn’t make human creativity obsolete.
If there’s one thing that machines can’t do – it’s think outside the box. And that’s exactly what’s needed to keep businesses running during an economic downturn that’s expected to follow the pandemic.
And you don’t even need to be a creative professional to utilise this ability.
Innovative solutions are essential for almost every industry; especially when it comes to responding to change, challenges, and opportunities – which are all things that are likely to hit businesses in the coming months.
Just as companies have adapted during the pandemic, human ingenuity will be continuously sought after by employers – whether it’s to invent products, figure out how to offer services virtually, steer their industry expertise towards the area of demand, or dream up new ways of working.
Leadership
Good leadership skills aren’t just for managers.
In a world where social distancing, working from home, and the gig economy is on the rise- there’ll be more opportunities for people at all levels to take the lead.
With the possibility of fewer face-to-face interactions, workers will likely have more autonomy than ever. This makes the ability to make difficult decisions, exude confidence, and lead projects when required increasingly vital – and something employers will look for in every candidate post-coronavirus.
Because of the increase in digital ways of working, good leadership now requires a whole new host of skills and abilities. Managing workers remotely is a much harder feat, especially during difficult times.
The ability to boost morale, encourage collaboration, and communicate effectively are all key parts of good leadership. But can you do all of these things even when you’re in a whole other building, town, or country?
It’s time to learn.
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