Despite the dramatic changes brought about by Covid-19, now is the time to earn a new qualification.
Taryn Strydom of Boston City Campus believes there will not be a return to normal, so upskilling yourself in a post-lockdown world is her best advice. This will provide new and relevant skills to offer an employer or community (should you choose to open a new business).
“Currently, workplaces that are operational have many protocols which must be observed, including encouraging as many people as possible to work from home. Businesses, in order to survive, have had to change their services, products and the way they are offered, in order to continue to survive and hopefully thrive.”
Here are her five reasons why it is an excellent time to start a new qualification:
- There is more time for studies – Strydom said people were saving time by not travelling to and from work, and many previously used the excuse of not having time to study. An advantage of working from home means time added to the days: “Even if you are travelling to work, nights and weekends should find you with additional time, as we are not visiting family and having social arrangements.”
- Studying online creates resilience, perseverance and independence – these traits are highly valued during the fourth industrial revolution. Strydom said in acknowledging the context of the 21st century, online learning by its very nature supports and develops personal independence, and prepares students for the modern workplace (one characterised by remote work-from-home arrangements and a high degree of autonomy): “The student who has had to self-manage their studies is someone who can be trusted to meet deadlines in the remote workplace.”
- Studying helps to develop new skills – part of upskilling is developing ways to think critically, solve problems and take responsibility for progress: “These ‘soft skills’ are valuable currency in the modern workplace.”
- Upskilling creates the ability to adapt to unpredictability – Strydom said with lives being as unpredictable as ever, the only way to combat this was to maintain relevance in a constantly changing workplace. Whether a travel agent sells baked goods or a worker stuck at home fixes laptops and network problems, there are opportunities to be explored: “We need to have the skills with which we can network ourselves and offer services.”
- Fourth industrial revolution skills are still required – in the corporate sense, the landscape has shifted and employers demand employees fill as many roles as they can. Companies always need bookkeepers, but also brand builders and call centre agents. Strydom added companies will look for leaders who can generate ideas and implement them through project management: “Using the time to study now, means you will have skills to use both during and after the lockdown. Taking our qualifications a level higher creates opportunities for upward mobility, potential earning increases and new job opportunities.”
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Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za
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