There is never a bad time to re-train! But, in a recession, especially, retraining can help you stand out and give you the edge. Even if times are tough it is always worth making the investment in you and your personal development. Recessionary times might as well be the spur and motivation you need to start considering how to develop yourself.
It might be that either through choice or forced circumstances, you are considering going for a complete change in career direction, and, to help make this change, it is likely that new skills and knowledge will be required. But, even if you want to continue on the same career trajectory, updating or broadening your skills can still be of benefit. New skills or advanced training will prove to your employer that you are a committed, motivated and positive member of staff, keen to progress and to invest in their own self development. It also shows that you can take responsibility for your own career development and want to keep your skills up to date.
Statistics show that over 80 people are chasing every vacancy on the more sought-after areas of work, so anything you can do to stand out from the crowd and give you an edge over other candidates can only be a good thing. All the advice from employers and employer bodies suggest that, in these difficult times more than ever, investing in updating and acquiring skills is no bad thing. It is always better to acquire qualifications that prove you've acquired knowledge or developed skills - think of qualifications as a skills passport.
So, if you are thinking that now might be the time to re-train or to acquire new skills, a recent report from Hays, a recruitment consultancy, identifies some key recession proof industries and might provide some pointers on the skills to acquire. If they are correct, it will be important in today's environment to consider training in IT, credit control and cash flow management, green technologies, project management, health care and teaching. Finance professionals will always be in demand and with many people now considering IT skills as basic as numeracy and English skills, there is no doubt that IT training is now an increasingly important factor in the job market.
It is always worth remembering that developing new skills to ensure you are best positioned in the current job market place and for when economic recovery comes, might not be as expensive you think and there might be even help available with the costs. And with many courses and qualifications available for study at home, you will easily be able to fit your studying around your existing family and work commitments. Distance learning programmes are widely available covering a broad range of skills and qualifications, where you can study from home with the help of tuition packs, computers and tutor support available on the phone or via e-mail. You go at your own pace, but you will need self discipline and motivation to succeed.
A recession really is a great time to re-train. You have no excuses for not taking the first step to investing in you, your career and your future.
