Even before the pandemic, the job market has always been competitive, with thousands of hopeful new grads entering the picture every year. But these days are rather tough for both employers and prospective employees. Many have laid off workers due to the pandemic’s economic impact, leaving plenty of families struggling financially.
But after eight months, the job market, particularly for blue-collar jobs, is thankfully on the path to recovery. Delivery and healthcare job availability are projected to rise at the end of the year, surpassing pre-COVID levels.
New-collar jobs, or jobs that blur the line between white-collar and blue-collar jobs, have also emerged during the pandemic, and are expected to have a steady demand since. In fact, the term “new-collar” started in 2016 and was coined by IBM’s then-CEO Ginni Rometty.
Sure enough, these new-collar jobs flourished and saved many businesses from the worst effects of COVID-19. What’s more, they’ll also likely become even more in-demand after the pandemic, as digital technology will further improve by then.
And for you to land a high-paying blue-collar or new-collar job during this period, you may need to finish a short course. Though not required, employers always prefer candidates with a stronger educational background. That said, here the short courses you could benefit from:
1. Inbound Marketing
Inbound marketing is a strategy employed by businesses to increase their web traffic. It is especially crucial these days because the pandemic has made consumers shift to online shopping.
If you’re a business or communications graduate, inbound marketing is most likely up your alley. It involves the use of blogs, podcasts, social media, and other online content to spread a brand’s message and gain customer engagement. The course is also useful in your personal career, should you decide to become a blogger, vlogger, or e-commerce business owner in the future.
2. Health and Safety
Seeing that blue-collar jobs in the healthcare industry recently rose in demand, a certification in health and safety will undoubtedly be helpful. It’s even more advantageous if you’re aiming for a STEM career. But whether or not you are, completing this course assures employers that you’re an asset in a healthcare facility.
3. Social Media Strategy
Many companies aren’t confident with their social media strategies, which is why they demand a social media manager, intern, or whatnot. A short course in social media will educate you on the various complexities of different sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others. You’ll learn effective marketing tactics for every social network, which tends to differ because different social networking sites have different types of users.
4. Computer Coding
Computer geeks have been thriving since the digital age, but during and after the pandemic, they’ll succeed even more. Tech skills in the following became highly desirable during the pandemic:
- Systems engineering
- DevOps
- Scrum
- C++
- ATlassian JIRA
- Quality assistance and control
- Linux
- SQL Server
- Oracle
- Docker Software
On the other hand, these new-collar job skills are expected to have a surge in demand after COVID-19:
- Network Automation Development
- IT Security and Governance Specializations
- Cloud Cost Optimization
You can take courses in any of those in reputable schools offering SSG-supported learning courses or the like. Some schools also offer courses in smart home system programming, vehicle electronic control systems, and surveillance technology, all of which closely related to the in-demand new-collar jobs.
5. Foreign Language
Learning another language has several benefits, especially in your career. It widens your job options, boosts your brain power, enhances your travel experiences, increases your understanding of the world, and allows you to explore different cultures, to name a few.
Of course, you can’t gain fluency in another language from finishing a course alone. You need to practice it by conversing with others who also speak the language. Reading books, and watching movies and TV shows in that language will also increase your fluency and vocabulary.
6. Excel Fundamentals
You don’t need to lie on your CV anymore about being proficient in spreadsheets. Completing a short course in excel fundamentals will get you out of that trap, making you finally understand the intricacies of the program. Plus, you’ll earn a lot of plus points from your employer when you actually know how to operate spreadsheets.
The other top perks you’ll gain from being excel-proficient are the ability to calculate data quick, store and track information, share and collaborate with your team members, and visualize graphic data. If you have a small business, being skilled in Microsoft Excel will reduce your need for expensive software that also calculates and stores data.
We could say that the demand for these jobs is the light at end of the tunnel of COVID-19. Grab every chance to learn these skills, because they will not only benefit you now, but in the years to come when the virus is at last eradicated, and when employers demand more industry-specific skills.
