In-demand skills for the jobseekers in the post
pandemic
World: Perspective from a Human Resource Officer
Since the inception of the COVID-19 back in 2019, a new
normal of life has settled in the whole world. This has brought about many
changes in how things were done previously. Among other sectors, the education
sector and job market has been subject to massive restructuring and have faced
drastic changes till now.
The new
normal has initiated a reformation process which demands new and updated skills
for survival in the upcoming uncertain future. Companies have downsized,
experienced people have been laid-off and the worst, many businesses have
disappeared. With such changes all over the world, the recent or to-be
graduates need additional skills to land a job and continue further in their
career. Some important skills that are currently valued in the post pandemic
world more than ever before are stated below:
1.
Adaptability: COVID-19 has put it in front of our very faces that even the most
developed countries, in times of such a disaster may become helpless. The
mother nature can be so unpredictable sometimes that survival becomes an
everyday battle. In times like this, the ability to adapt fast and act
accordingly can be the sole weapon to fight against the new enemy. Let’s just
take wearing facemasks as an example. People who never wore a mask in their
entire life now have to wear them all day long. Failure to do so may result in
infection and at the worst case; death. According to research, infection rate
can be decreased significantly just by appropriately wearing the face mask and
we have seen how the rate of infection rose in areas or among people who did
not wish to comply with this simple rule of general hygiene. Likewise, nobody
knows what the future holds and where we will be even tomorrow let alone the
whole life. With such uncertain condition, we, the jobseekers need to build in
us the ability to adapt with whatever comes in our way of life. With the
massive shrinkage in the job market, the dream (or a rigid tendency to be
exact) of landing a very posh job right after the graduation may need to be
redreamed. The scenario has changed and so subsequent changes are required in
the expectations. Graduates should focus on starting their career with a
mindset of learning rather than earning. It should be kept in mind that the
world still has deficit in the amount of people with proper skills and
knowledge. Therefore, people with the thirst for learning will definitely find
light in their career provided they can build a mindset of being adaptive and
at the same time be inclined to learn continuously.
2.
Emotional Intelligence: As defined by Peter Salovey and John Mayer, emotional intelligence
(EI) is the ability to monitor and evaluate one’s own emotions as well as the
emotions of others around them with a view to differentiating among emotions
and labeling them appropriately. Understanding people is such a skill that
cannot be acquired through reading books but requires years-long practice.
Since everyone had to go through some sort of emotional rollercoaster due to
the emergence of new coronavirus, the post pandemic world needs people who are
emotionally intelligent and can adequately understand the value of being
empathetic towards others. Getting others to do things in appropriate ways has
more to do with word of mouth and motivation than it has to do with monetary
benefits. That is why, having a clear insight on how individuals feel when
something is said to them or how they may react in the future i.e. the future
consequences should be thought long before actually saying the intended words.
A leader, no matter what the situation is, should always practice emotional
intelligence and build a culture in the workplace where emotions are adequately
valued. We are humans, not machines! The jobseekers should keep this in mind
and acquire this skill as much as possible through various extra-curricular
activities since experts say, resumes having ONLY a handsome CGPA do not get
sold in the market anymore.
3.
Digital Skills: It is hard to find resumes where people do not write Microsoft
Office Suite, E-mail, Internet Browsing (a four-year-old nowadays knows this)
and many very basic things as their only IT related skills. With due respect,
these are now considered to be within our generation by birth. These are not
even considered ‘skills’ now but as obvious knowledge. It is high time to
realize the fact that only having basic knowledge about some very basic
software is not enough anymore. So, what are the current trends? To answer that
question let’s talk about the ‘Do more with less’ concept. Obviously,
organizations are now searching for ways to reduce cost and continue business
as before. In the process they are reducing manpower but want to increase the
work-power. That means, the remaining people in the organizations have
increased responsibilities now. One person has to do the work of two or maybe
three persons for survival. To sustain in this race, an individual must possess
diverse skills. Stated below are some of the skillsets that I think are
currently in-demand.
·
Python
·
Data analysis tools
·
Good typing speed
·
Basics of machine learning
·
Adobe software for image and
video editing
and lastly
·
an analytical mind to find ways
of doing things in non-traditional effective ways
There are many other things that I do not know about but will
appreciate it very much if someone wishes to tell me. Now readers may think why
I am writing mostly about things that are concerned with the engineering
sector. Trust me, in the upcoming days these digital skills will be the
prerequisite for getting the interview calls because organizations do not
anymore want people with the bookish knowledge only. They are looking for smart
(intelligent not fashion-freaks) individuals having multi-tasking ability with
multidimensional skills.
4.
Negotiation: From the day we are born till the day we should die, every day we
need to negotiate. In this world where everyone lives for themselves, we must
fight to get what is righteous for us. Similarly, among the pool of thousands
of candidates only those who have good negotiation power ultimately land the
job. For example, a common line that every interviewee says at some point of
the interview is ‘I am a quick learner’. If I am not wrong, this line does not
make a good impression as there is good possibility that every candidate before
the current one has already said this. So, the pitch lines that we have been
using need to be redefined. Moreover, while employed, there often comes times
when we need to get things done by others. Negotiation comes handy in this
situation. Nobody in these days likes an authoritative boss. Everyone likes to
be asked politely; regardless of their position, rather than receiving an order
with the implied condition of ‘No questions asked’. As an organization is not a
one-man-army, effective negotiation skills and an ability to understand the
BATNA (Best alternative to a negotiated agreement) may take us a long way in
the career path.
5.
Critical Thinking: Everything has some room for improvement but for the slightest of
improvement, a lot of efforts are required. Improvement are like the tip of an
iceberg which is visible above water. There is a lot more ice hidden underneath
the surface that goes unnoticed. Likewise, only results are rewarded; efforts
are not. Therefore, no matter whatever someone is doing, one should always
focus on improving the current process flow and bring something new that is
more effective and efficient at the same time. This is only possible with
critical thinking and an analytic mindset. Considering the current situation,
transition from ‘thinking out of the box’ to ‘thinking like there is no box’ is
essential. While nobody wants to step out of the status quo, we need more
people who will dare to make the change happen. The whole world awaits!
Let’s Grow
Together!
Ahmed Ishmum Uddin
Session: 2014-2015
Human
Resource Management
