With the extensive disruption, 25% more workers may need to switch occupations before Covid. Some jobs may have already been obsolete. The new norms of remote or flexible work arrangements made traditional models commercially unviable. McKinsey reported executives to expect to reduce office rental and business travel by 30% and 20% respectively.
Yet every crisis can be an opportunity. Although the pandemic crippled traditional industries like travel, hospitality, and F&B, it also gave the tech industry its rise to prominence.
Is your job at risk of being obsolete? Looking at how to stay competitive in the job-hunting landscape in Singapore? Here’s how to secure a job in a post-Covid-19 world. Read on to find out what skills and approaches are relevant and in-demand.
Table of Contents
7 Tips to Secure Jobs in a Post Covid-19 World
1. Become Effective in Virtual Networking
Now that remote work has become a staple in professional life, networking events of all sizes have shifted to online formats. Expect to conduct much of your career development virtually for the foreseeable future.
To make the most of virtual networking, consider these points:
- Aim for focused sessions of about 90 minutes with a small group of participants.
- Work on your body language and learn how to convey sincerity through a single camera lens.
- Ensure your virtual background is professional and your technology is reliable.
Remember, the key to successful virtual networking is quality interactions, not just quantity.
2. Build Authentic Relationships
Networking is about building relationships, not just collecting contacts. Start by asking what you can do for others rather than immediately seeking job opportunities. Make a list of ways you can help people in your network, whether it’s recommending a connection for their project or sharing an exclusive resource.
Growing your network authentically requires patience. The connections you initiate can create new opportunities over time, so invest in nurturing these relationships without rushing for immediate results.
3. Actively Engage In Online Conversation
Zoom fatigue is real. People tire out more easily from video meetings than physical meetings. How you interact with them over the screen can mean a world’s difference. Here are some tips on how to engage with others virtually.
- Position The Camera
Like with physical interactions, people would prefer to interact with you face to face. The other party should not be looking up your nose or speaking to your side profile. Place your camera well to ensure others would look directly at you during the conversation. - Maintain Eye Contact
People can tell when you are distracted. Your wandering eyes would have already betrayed you. When on video, you are likely to spend the most time gazing at your face and looking at pop-up notifications. Avoid this by hiding yourself from view and closing other background apps. - Engage with Your Body
While you may be holding this conversation in the comforts of your own home, your appearance still matters. Sitting upright and dressing appropriately signals respect given to others for their time. Also, show that you are following the conversation by nodding or responding every few minutes.
4. Be Culturally Sensitive
Cultural sensitivity and awareness greatly value-add to your conversations. There have been huge efforts in advocating for inclusivity in the workplace in recent years. Forbes found that companies with diverse ethnic and cultural representation outperformed their competitors by 36% in profitability. As such, more inclusive events have been organized corporately.
As with most virtual networking, you may receive an introduction brief on the people involved before the session. Be intentional in finding out about their background, including ethnicity and culture. Note potential contentious topics to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
Also Read: 5 Effective Tips for Managing Employee Conflicts in the Workplace
5. Acquire Cross-Industry Skills
45,600 expected layoffs could spell trouble for the retail, food and beverage, and recreation sectors. No one can afford to be complacent; given today’s circumstances. Even established businesses have to pivot to stay afloat. As an individual, acquiring complementary skills that allow you to move up the ladder or to a growing industry is crucial.
6. Get Transferable Skills
What are these in-demand skills then? Glad you asked. They are relevant skills that allow you to take on new or redesigned job roles within the same or adjacent industry. For example, a hawker chef can be trained to be proficient in using digital technology like delivery and payment platforms. Enabling him to secure orders and expand his reach.
Aim to learn skills that are transferable across industries. You’ll benefit from the increased flexibility and wider range of jobs to choose from. Digital marketing is a good example of a useful skill across all industries. MySkillsFuture offers a wide array of heavily subsidized courses that are taught by accredited instructors.
7. Upskill to Tech-Related Roles
Covid has accelerated digital transformation processes across various industries. Regardless of job seniority, over 75% of job requests received calls for adequate digital competencies. More importantly, roles requiring digital skills pay 29% over those roles that do not.
For example, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain have gained greater prominence over the past 2 years. As experts in these domains are in high demand, companies are generous in their remuneration package for them.
A Google Blockchain Engineer can make as much as $175,000. Amazon is currently looking for a Digital Currency Product Lead, amongst a host of other blockchain-required roles. Other tech giants like Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft are also offering similar packages.
In Singapore, Zoom, Twitter, PayPal, Tencent, and Alibaba have increased their stake here with a record $17.2 billion invested last year, producing more than 19,000 jobs. ByteDance is actively recruiting with more than 340 jobs posted for engineers and senior management positions. While Zoom is hiring hundreds of engineers for their upcoming R&D facility.
Position yourself by attending Blockchain Business Models and Machine Learning courses online, taught by top US universities – Duke University and Stanford University. Thanks to its 100% online format, you can plan your lessons around your current schedule and learn at your convenience.
Also Read: What is Upskilling? The Key to Job Security in Singapore
Conclusion
It is now a necessity to be adept in skills that are transferable and future-proof. Possessing such skills will make you stand out from the crowd. It will put you in good stead to move forward with the future. Start exploring those platforms now, as you gain relevant skills that help you to stand out among other applicants.
If you require professional guidance to navigate the next step in your career, consider connecting with a recruitment company in Singapore or HR services. At Trust Recruit, our consultants are ready to provide personalized advice to help you secure your next opportunity in this evolving job market.