COVID-19 restrictions like social distancing and sporadic lockdowns have made planning ahead difficult, but that doesn't mean we should put our aspirations on hold.
Whether you're seeking a new career path or your job is changing, there is always something you can do to move forward and gain perspective. You might just need a little community support.
That's where YES Employment + Entrepreneurship comes in. Providing English-language support services to Quebec job seekers, recent grads and anyone transitioning between careers during these challenging times, YES offers creative tools and resources to offer a fresh outlook and help you come up with a plan.
As a not-for-profit, YES offers career counselling, business coaching, mentorship, networking opportunities and many professional development workshops totally free of charge.
YES knows you need more than just a solid CV to stand out, so their employment counsellors help demystify the job search process by taking a holistic approach to your success and well-being.
They can help you identify your values and skills, map out a realistic plan of action, offer advice, expand your network and answer some of your most burning questions — like what are employers looking for right now? What are the most in-demand skills? And what will this all look like post-COVID?
Narcity spoke with a representative from YES Employment + Entrepreneurship to help you get a head start on answering these questions and create insight into what the job market looks like now and in the future.
Public-Facing Jobs Will Be In High Demand
Andrea Piacquadio | PexelsIt's tough to say for sure which jobs will be in demand — these are unprecedented times and no one can know how the pandemic will turn out. Most industries will face a long recovery and change to one degree or another.
That being said, YES says public-facing jobs will be in high demand once people are vaccinated and feel safe socializing. As soon as the hardest-hit industries like retail, food, hospitality, tourism and manufacturing can fully operate again, they will.
Specialized Industries Will Thrive
Green energy (like solar and wind power), biotechnology, healthcare, tech and IT — including industries like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, e-commerce, finance, software development and network engineering — are expected to flourish.
You might also find your stride in the important and growing community-related professions of organizational psychology, change and systems management, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion.
Power Skills Are Key
Vlada Karpovich | PexelsPower skills are the human aptitudes that machines simply can't create. They include things like adaptability, flexibility, creativity, time management, effective communication, curiosity, openness, resiliency and lifelong learning.
YES advises to not underestimate the power of these skills (get it?) or write them off as buzz words or catchphrases. The key to standing out from the crowd is authenticity, and being able to demonstrate the power skills you claim to have.
One way to do this is for every claim you make about yourself, have three examples of how it's true. If you can't think of anything specific, don't worry; anyone can develop power skills and learn to communicate them to others.
Hybrid WFH Set Ups Are Here To Stay
If you've enjoyed the comfort of working from your couch, dining room table or home office, it’s likely WFH will remain part of organizational culture in some capacity. The pandemic has shown that many people and organizations can survive — and even thrive — when staff are set up appropriately for this.
YES believes it's likely that many employers will use both in-office rotations and working from home since there are drawbacks and benefits to both. Having access to a common space is especially useful in the beginning stages of a new job or career since it helps employees get immersed in their company’s culture and community.
On the other hand, for those who deal with complex assignments daily that require focus and the mental space to deep dive into, WFH is an incredibly practical option.
The TLDR
YES understands the difficult employment landscape and how quickly things are changing. The bright side is, some form of change will always happen, and this is as good a time as any for you to change along with it.
To help you get started and reach your employment goals, YES can connect you to an Employment Counsellor so you can begin making professional connections, expanding your knowledge and reaching your employment goals.
They also have a job board and tons of free workshops online, which you can find right on their website or by calling 514-878-9788.
The pandemic won't last forever (thank goodness!), so take this time to reflect and use the free tools and resources out there to set yourself up for success. Opportunities will come again, and YES knows that your job is to be prepared when they do.
