Now is the time to add to your skill set

What else can you do?

Lockdown part deux has really made me think about things and what I should be doing going forwards. It feels different this time round, more challenging and more unsettling. 

Over the past few months I’ve seen numerous friends and colleagues lose their jobs.  Jobs are never 100% safe, I know that (well, unless you work for Amazon right now!), but these are increasingly and unsettling times. As a PA, I’m feeling particularly vulnerable. I’m a ‘luxury item’. The admin and support sector has been absolutely smashed to pieces over the last few years and it’s only going to diminish further so I need to protect myself as much as possible.

What I’m trying to say is now is not the time to be complacent about your job. What else should you be doing to make it as difficult as possible for you to be put at risk.  The overall decision may be out of your control but there are things you can do to minimise the damage. 

Being prepared in advance can make things a whole lot easier.  When I was made redundant a number of years ago, it completely side swiped me as it had come out of nowhere.  Or had it?  I was 26 years old at the time so I was invincible of course, nothing bad was going to happen to me.  But the facts were in front of my face and I chose to ignore them.  I worked for a company who was part of the Granada group - remember them?  Only if you're old like me!  Well, back in the day, they were huge, there was Granada TV of course but they also owned numerous smaller companies in other sectors such as the one I worked for.  Maybe if I'd been on the ball more, I would have seen in the news that there were mergers taking place here, there and everywhere, some of their companies were being closed down.  As a result of my ignorance, I wasn't prepared when the inevitable happened.  

Before you start backing away slowly thinking “blimey, she’s on a downer”!  I’m not, I’m simply trying to be pragmatic in a very difficult situation and I know that many of you will be in the same position right now.

What should you be thinking about?

• Think about your current role and the skills you have.
• Is it a niche role?  
• Do you have transferable skills?

• What are your strengths?
• What do people say you are good at?

• What are your weaknesses?
• What areas do people say you need to improve in?

• Are there any other projects you can get involved in that will expand your current skills?

• What else can you do to upskill?
• There's plenty of free online learning sessions available right now and networking events so why not give them a go.

• Keep up-to-date with your company's communications.
• Read your company's comms, newsletters, intranet etc.
• If you work for a particularly large well-known company, watch the news and read newspapers.

• No matter how safe you currently feel in your job right now, it's always a good idea to check the job market.
• Is your role one that is still in demand or diminishing?
• What are the most popular types of roles being advertised right now?
• What sector are they in?

• Speak to your employer.
• They might not be able to fully allay your concerns but they may be able to offer further advice on areas where you can strengthen your skills.

This is never an easy subject to discuss and deal with but try to remain positive and pro-active and speak to someone else if you feel your worries are too much to handle on your own.

#2020