The concept of job security has become almost mythical. Between March and August 2020, the UK lost almost 750,000 jobs, and more than half the people still employed think they’ll lose their job within the next 12 months. For many, the best way forward is to switch career paths entirely.
“Things change quickly,” says entrepreneur and Agile coach, Ines Garcia, who has worked in almost every industry imaginable, even before the pandemic hit. “We need to come to terms and embrace change, rather than fight against it.” And learning something new can open up fresh possibilities.
Reskilling and starting a new career may seem daunting, but the free resources currently available means it doesn’t have to be risky or expensive. To update her skillset, Garcia uses Salesforce’s free online learning platform Trailhead, which offers courses on everything from Salesforce and business skills to tech and soft skills. Trailhead’s modules condense complicated concepts into playful exercises that win you points and badges, and don’t require a computer science degree to understand. “It's actually fun,” says Garcia. “It keeps you on your toes, it gives you perspective, and enables new highs.”
If you’re worried about taking the plunge and reskilling, just remember, you’re not alone. “I don’t think anyone is going to be able to avoid doing it,” says Chris Mullen, executive director of the Workforce Institute at UKG, explaining that life-long learning is now an essential part of working life. “The pandemic has just exacerbated what was going to happen over the next decade.” In fact, getting into a learning routine now gives you a head start. With daily reminders on Trailhead’s free mobile app Trailhead GO, you can get regular prompts to keep you moving on your learning journey, anytime, anywhere.
Technological advancement is constantly transforming the way we work. According to a 2020 study from the World Economic Forum, 50 per cent of all employees will need new skills in the next five years to keep up with the pace of technology. The number of tech careers is skyrocketing, while retail and service jobs are still struggling to recover. And many jobs are now centred around software that didn’t exist when we picked our first career paths, but which many assume would cost bucket-loads to train in.
Ali Duncan trained as a teacher but left her job 19 years ago to look after her children. Last year, when her eldest left for university, she started thinking about working again. A chronic pain condition meant teaching was no longer an option, so she wasn’t sure if restarting her career would even be possible. To test the waters, she tried out a few modules on Trailhead, focusing on the Salesforce administrator career path. “I didn't believe I would be anywhere near competent enough to use it professionally,” says Duncan. “I always expected the time would come in learning where it would be ‘too hard’ or ‘too complicated’ and I would just give up.” But she didn’t.
In fact, Trailhead’s gamified system had her totally hooked. “It always gave me the feeling of ‘Just one more badge, then I will stop!’ Now, just over a year later, I have 228 badges and two superbadges,” she says. And, more importantly, an administrator job at Cigna.
Trailhead doesn’t just offer Salesforce-related learning: its 1,000+ modules span data analytics to virtual collaboration skills and even emotional intelligence – everything employers are looking for. Whether you’re doing an in-person video session on Trailhead LIVE or working on a bite-sized module, the tone is always light and conversational, making it easy to learn new skills and master complex topics. Once you start learning, you won’t want to stop.
The pandemic may have turned the working world on its head, but that’s not all bad news. “Change is difficult, no matter which way we slice it,” says Mullen. Anyone reskilling now, though, may actually have an advantage.
Thinking of reskilling? Salesforce’s free online learning platform Trailhead has a plethora of free learning pathways that will help you get started. For more information, visit Trailhead.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
