The Coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves through the global economy and drastically changed the working lives of millions of people. It’s estimated that over three million could sadly face unemployment in the UK and the International Monetary Fund predicts that 170 of its 180 members will experience a decline in per capita income this year.
The term ‘furloughed’ was one we’d never heard of until this year. Now, millions of people across the country are finding themselves among the furloughed staff with little concept of what it actually means, let alone which rights they’re entitled to. Likewise, many people have been made redundant as companies attempt to adapt to the new climate and keep their businesses afloat.
Whether you are affected or have concerns you could be in the future, it’s important to remember you are not alone and if you’re struggling with financial anxiety, there are plenty of tips and tricks you can foster to alleviate it. Plus, there’s plenty of ways you can side hustle RN to boost your income if you’re struggling.
Now is also an opportune time to make yourself as employable as possible – either to secure a new job now or in the future, so be sure to use it wisely.
As James Reed, Chairman of REED, explains: “For those who’ve been made redundant, there remains hope. Where some sectors are unfortunately seeing job losses, others are showing strong growth including education, health, care work and logistics. Workers in these sectors are urgently required and highly valued too, both by the industries themselves and British society as a whole.”
Here, he shares the ways you can use this valuable time to make yourself as employable as possible, whether you’re looking to secure a role right now or on the other side of the pandemic.
Assess your transferable skills
Workers looking to secure a job in education, health, care work and logistics right now (or in the future) should first take the time to perfect their CV with their latest achievements and tailor it to recruiters’ requirements. This is particularly important in today’s climate where you may have to adapt yourself and apply transferrable skills to find a job in the short term or long term that suits. Review your professional and personal experiences carefully and identify any that may translate well to other sectors.
Don’t be afraid to branch out
While on the surface you may not think you have the necessary knowledge or experience for some of these roles, if you scratch a little deeper and put your mindset to work, you may be surprised by how many similarities there are. Therefore, people who are job seeking at this time should branch out, look at sectors they have previously discounted and compare the job description with their own professional and personal experience. For example, there are commonalities between a sales executive role and a role in customer services.
Learn new skills online
You could also use this time to boost the number of additional skills on your CV. A key way to do this is by undertaking one of the many low cost or free courses that are available online. For example, learning a new language or upping your tech skills could help set you apart in the current and post coronavirus job market. There are currently over 40,000 courses live on reed.co.uk for any jobseekers looking to improve their skillset.
Volunteer
Alternatively, another way you can make yourself more attractive to a recruiter is by volunteering. Over 750,000 Brits have already subscribed to various schemes since the crisis began and it’s not hard to see why! These opportunities are great for career building and may add a new dimension to your CV. Plus, aside from boosting your career, if you take on a volunteer role, you’ll make a real difference and know you did your part to help vulnerable people through this turbulent time.