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Three Resilient Career Paths You Should Pursue At The End Of The Pandemic

(Today we’re sharing a guest post from our friends over at Career Karma. With the world starting to open up again, you might be thinking about your next career move. Though no one can predict the future, these three jobs may be among the most resilient choices you can make.)

With vaccines being developed and released for the Covid-19 pandemic, it almost seems as if the end may be in sight. Unfortunately, this virus has certainly done a large amount of damage around the world by putting millions of people out of work and disrupting general trends within the workforce. In fact, American unemployment peaked at a distressing 14.7 percent back in April and has only slowly been recovering.

 If you are a part of the millions who were laid off, rest assured knowing that there are still actions you can take. Not every industry has been completely disrupted due to the pandemic, and there are a number of resilient career paths that anyone can choose to follow and succeed in. Pursuing one of these paths may lead to a long-lasting career, but be sure to choose a path that resonates with your skills and interests.

UX Design

For those who don’t consider themselves to be tech-savvy, pursuing UX design is a fantastic choice. Unlike a more extensive tech profession, becoming a UX designer does not require as many technical skills, such as coding. Becoming a member of this field requires an eye for aesthetics and design thinking, which makes it one of the most accessible tech fields to enter.

As the future comes nearer and nearer, web designers are going to be needed at an increasing rate. Without web designers, the Internet would be full of raw websites that aren’t appealing to the eye. After all, the best way to convince someone to interact with your site is for it to catch their eye.

Contrary to popular belief, a career such as this doesn’t require an extra degree from a traditional institution. Opt instead to attend an accelerated web design bootcamp that can teach you how to become a web designer in a matter of months. Choosing this path and networking to find professionals in your area who you can learn from will help you to set up a successful career in the coming years.

Data Science

Data science is a unique field that not many typically consider. The reason it hasn’t been considered as much in the past is due to its high barrier to entry. Previously, a master’s degree was required to enter this field, but the rise in online education has taken this barrier and shattered it.

 Now, anyone with data analysis skills and an eye for sifting through large amounts of data has the potential to enter this field. InfoWorld has projected that the US alone may have as many as 250,000 job openings for data science by 2024. Clearly, this is a field that has only grown in importance as the number of computers, websites, and subsequent data have increased over the years.

 As mentioned, the barrier to entry that was a master’s degree has been partially removed by new forms of education. New data science bootcamps, as covered on Bootcamp Rankings, have the ability to teach students everything they need to know about the field in a matter of months. With an average length of just over a year, these bootcamps are a great choice for working professionals, or those looking to get back in the workforce.

Coding

Coding as a general skill can help you land many jobs and open new doors that were previously closed to you. The skill became prominent over the last decade and has resulted in a number of jobs being created. Languages such as Python, Java, HTML, and C++ rule the industry, and developing skills in any of these can help you stand out in the future.  

As with data science and web design, there are bootcamp you can attend, completely online of course, that will teach you anything and everything about your chosen coding language. This is a great strategy for anyone who just lost their job, or is simply looking to develop an impactful skill in their free time.

Conclusion

A global pandemic isn’t something anybody could have predicted 2020 would have in store, but we all had to roll with the punches regardless. We are fortunate that it seems the pandemic is coming to an end in the near future, but there are still many pieces to put back together. Don’t be afraid to jump into a new career that will last you for years to come.

Embrace Millennials as the Opportunity they are

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A massive shift is taking place in the workplace and marketplace. Millennials—currently representing 36% of the workforce—will be 75% of your employees and customers by 2025. This change is creating a huge gap. Boomers and Gen Xers grew up with structure. Millennials have grown up with flexibility and the freedom to say what they want, when they want, simply by sending a tweet or a snap. They want feedback 24/7. They collaborate and create influence through network and community. They work way differently than previous generations. This difference is causing what you might label a “problem” in the workplace. There is a clear disconnect between expectations and work style.

But what if you challenged yourself to view this generational gap not as a problem to be solved, but as an opportunity to be embraced? Millennials control $660 billion in spending and will soon be leading the workplace, if they’re not already. Be the solution and embrace this generational “shift”–you can “shift” your perspective on this gap and win the millennial race! Millennials hold a tremendous opportunity for your workplace to excel in the future. Here are 3 millennial “problems” that are actually opportunities to be embraced.

  1. They constantly seek feedback 

    Millennials grew up in an era of instant gratification, so they expect feedback all the time. While this classic millennial trait may seem annoying or ridiculous, it offers you an incredible opportunity to actually communicate and connect. The” problem” isn’t just that they want feedback, they are scared to ask for it and don’t know what to do with it or how to react.

    Use this opportunity to be a mentor and guide for your millennials. Be real, be honest, be a teacher.  Show appreciation when they do a good job, and let them know when they make mistakes and how they can improve. Ask them questions on a regular, weekly basis so you can create a two-way relationship. If they see you, their boss, asking questions, being vulnerable and caring, they will mimic your behavior and develop confidence.Use feedback the way it is intended, as a give and take.

  2. They want flexible or their“perfect” schedule 

    It may seem like a pain to offer a flexible schedule to your millennial employees. You may think, “Why can’t they just work 8 hours straight like I did and not complain about it?” Well, technology has changed the world and millennials can get work done remotely as well as in an office. Millennials tend to seek a perfect work/life balance. By allowing a flexible schedule, you provide your millennials the opportunity to fulfill other activities that make them happy and keep them fulfilled and engaged.

    If your millennials are engaged in the other areas of their life, they will be more inspired to do more great work for your company. By caring about their needs, they are happier, therefore so are your customers and you also create more success of your company.

  3.  They have wild ambitions and ideas

    “They all want to create the next Facebook.” The initial reaction to millennials’ wild ambitions may be that they’re entitled and expect success overnight. But what if you could focus their ambitions within your own company? As a manager, you can motivate your millennials to learn and grow within your company. You can provide opportunities for them to excel, create and innovate…a win-win that would benefit your company. Don’t suppress your millennial worker’s ambitions, but guide them so they can flourish and excel both personally and professionally.

Where one sees trash, another sees treasure. The millennial shift is happening…its inevitable. However, it’s up to YOU how you view it…as an opportunity to be embraced!

 

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Need help understanding, engaging, and retaining your millennial workforce?  Dan Negroni, Author, Speaker, Attorney, Kick butt business consultant, coach, and proud Dad of a few Millennials delivers actionable solutions.  Different from all other millennial experts, Dan’s empowering business approach at Launchbox, creates quick value and seamless connections with millennials and management each on their own terms.   Using unique content and delivery methods that audiences respond to immediately he leverages results from the inside out.   Allow millennials to be your secret weapon and maximize your commitment to them to innovate, create a culture of engagement and grow your businesses today.    To start click here to grab your copy of Chasing Relevance: 6 Steps to Understand, Engage and Maximize Next Generation Leaders in the Workplace or call them at 858.314.9687 for a free Coaching Assessment or visit www.launchbox365.com.