As sure as the sun rises every morning and sets every evening, recessions in a global free market economy are simply part of reality.
Financial news website, Kiplinger, reports that America has gone through a recession every three-and-a-quarter years, on average, since 1857.
Career planning can help you maintain job security and peace of mind whenever an inevitable recession strikes.
The flexible degrees and certificate programs at the Tulane School of Professional Advancement (Tulane SoPA) can equip you with the skills and tools you need to ride the waves of a constantly fluctuating economy.
Career Planning Step 1: Develop Recession-Proof Skills
According to Insight Global, 73% of the American workforce says the fear of a possible recession has motivated them to focus on upskilling in order to enhance job security.
Like a knight sharpening their sword before battle, working professionals must develop new skills in order to increase their career options.
If you want to remain secure in your job despite an economic recession, then you must nurture skills that are always sought after. These skills range from mastering the Microsoft Suite to critical thinking and communication.
Cultivating a wide range of applicable skills across many different industries increases your chances of remaining competitive even during a downturn in the job market.
Soft skills
Even if your industry is affected by a recession, employers will still be looking for candidates with strong soft skills that allow you to adapt in your company.
Examples of soft skills that are a must no matter your career path include:
- Good communication skills
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Time management and organizational skills
- Leadership and teamwork capabilities, and
- Critical thinking skills
If you feel you lack these skills, an online career development certificate can help give you more flexibility in your career choices across multiple industries.
Transferable skills
An essential part of career planning for high school students, college students, and working professionals, developing transferable skills gives you the flexibility to change occupations if your current industry is struggling during a recession.
Transferable skills are any abilities or talents that can be transferred from one job to another. Transferable skills can include soft skills, but they can also include hard skills or learned skills that allow you to carry out a specific job function.
A few transferable skills that will make you a good fit for any new job include:
- Computer literacy
- Microsoft Office and Google Suite proficiency
- Website building and development
- Project management.
- Financial analysis or budgeting
- Data analytics and market research
- Presentation skills, including public speaking or writing, and
- Process improvement and streamlining
Since many of these skills are applicable across industries, having them on your resume and in your toolbox can give employers assurance that you will be able to adapt quickly and hit the ground running in a new field.
Tulane SoPA offers career planning support that can help you gain the professional skills necessary to fit many different job descriptions. Work with our expert faculty of career counselors to broaden your career options.
