The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown us out of our comfort zones and for many, has led us to question our future plans. It’s no wonder, then, that during the current pandemic, many people are rethinking their careers. Whilst the current situation brings about many challenges for our professional and personal lives, many people are taking advantage of the moment and are choosing to allocate their time and resources into upskilling and furthering their career.
The retail industry has witnessed a vast change in consumer preferences and shopping patterns since the onset of the pandemic. Ecommerce has unquestionably surged in recent months and the traditional bricks-and-mortar stores have had to quickly adapt to a completely different way of working. Retail workers have been thrust into assuming new roles and responsibilities that they feel neither equipped nor confident in undertaking.
Now is the time for companies and indeed individuals, to focus on adapting to these changes and commit to reskilling and upskilling to deliver the ‘new normal’ experience that customers now expect.
Given the acceleration toward retailing online, it is crucial that those wishing to succeed within this new playground are equipped with both the understanding and the tools to effectively meet online demand and expectations. Companies should seek to develop employees’ digital capabilities and similarly individuals wishing to advance within this area must upskill and perhaps most importantly, pursue a path of continual professional development in order to remain up to speed within this ever-changing retail landscape.
The rise in unemployment as a result of the pandemic means that workers seeking to advance their careers at present may also be faced with increased competition from other candidates when applying for new roles, so being able to demonstrate recent upskilling, reskilling or a path of continual learning is perhaps more important than ever.
Whilst the pandemic may have spurred many on to a path of learning as a means of career progression, retail workers at present are in a vulnerable position and have additional needs for learning and support at this time. Upskilling in areas such as problem solving skills, social and emotional skills, and worker adaptability and resilience could work wonders in ensuring a steadfast and robust team that are better equipped to withstand all the challenges the Covid-19 can and will continue to throw at them. Companies cannot be resilient during this time if their workforces are not.
As the leading provider of retail training and education in Ireland, we have many course options for helping you progress within your career as well as programmes suited to upskilling and reskilling. To assist retailers and retail workers at this time, company workshops are available to book in Building Resilience as well a suite of FREE online COVID-19 courses.
Talk to us today and let us know how we can help you on info@retailirelandskillnet.com
