Reskill, but not recklessly

This article is co-authored by Elin Wong and Kelsie Tan.

Staying employable is key to surviving volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). The better we are at staying relevant through our skills, knowledge, and abilities, the greater the assurance of employability. 

Hence, it is unsurprising that the COVID buzzwords of 2020 include "unprecedented", "pivot", "upskilling", and "reskilling". According to the World Economic Forum, "Coursera saw a fourfold increase in the numbers of people seeking out opportunities themselves" between April and June 2020. A mad scramble for professional self-improvement has evidently ensued with the pandemic.

Don't get us wrong. The drive to stay skills-competitive is laudable, but it is just as essential to practice reskilling in a thoughtful manner. There are opportunity costs to consider. Acquiring a skill requires investment of time and money, so hopping on the bandwagon recklessly is unlikely to bring us to the right destination.

"Reskilling"

First, to define the term. While "upskill" refers to a skill improvement for workers in an existing job, "reskill" refers to learning an entirely new skill for a different job (Talent Guard, 2021). Both require a growth mindset (as defined by Carol Dweck) to find good success; as they encompass the survivor's mentality and a champion's attitude.

What may potentially get in the way of a successful reskilling effort is allowing fear, anxiety, and inadequacy to consume us. It is important to recognise that many of us aren't in our best states of mind right now. CNA recently reported that calls to mental health hotlines have gone up in Singapore (2021). Despite this, an overwhelming majority of the nation’s workforce aged between 24 to 65 years old are rushing to reskill themselves -- unsurprising, given the culmination of the global pandemic outbreak and the acceleration of digitalisation (The Straits Times, Oct. 2020).

It would thus be worthwhile to contemplate reskilling more deeply, especially if its predicted outcome may be counterproductive. The last thing we want is to find ourselves in an unfavourable situation after the pandemic rolls over. Consider, for example, if picking up a specific new skill:

1. Takes you towards or further away from your career of interest? 
2. Brings value to your employer?
3. Stems from a hasty decision?
4. Requires you to incur trade-offs (e.g. loss of essential income)?

Going deeper

Still unsure? Here is an expanded version of the questions above. We hope it helps you make the best of your situation.

1. Will this skill move me closer towards or further away from my career goals? Do I have an inherent interest in the skill?

According to a recent Forbes article, one of the top skills job-seekers must learn to thrive in 2021, is cybersecurity. Now, we believe that you do not have to become a certified ethical hacker or computer forensics expert, if you lack inherent interest in cybersecurity to begin with. Skills work best when picked up by the right person. 

You would, however, greatly benefit from a cybersecurity overview, and fundamentals on how its major trends will be impacting various sectors of the future economy. Getting skilled now will help you stay ahead of the curve a little longer. It will give you an edge and help you compete with others who have similar career interests.

2. Will this skill bring value to my employer?

Before taking the plunge into reskilling, you might want to have a grasp of what is valued by your prospective employer. What that is varies widely according to your industry, function, and seniority. If you need guidance, consider requesting to be coached by your supervisor, or asking for mentorship from someone who has more experience and knowledge than yourself. 

If you are working in Singapore, do explore the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) Skills Framework. This extensive resource can help you better understand employment prospects across various sectors, as well as the emerging jobs and skills in demand. You can use this to assess your career aspirations, and to make an informed decision on whether to settle in or switch careers.

Bonus: Use the SkillsFuture Singapore Skills Framework as a guide to search for reskilling programmes based on your career needs.

3. Am I making a hasty decision to reskill?

Are you reacting to online Call-to-Actions with enough thought? Have you gathered enough motivation to see through your reskilling effort? Reskilling is not typically an end in itself, and it is critical to be sure of what motivates you to reskill. Going head on, one might risk regretting the decision halfway, adding unnecessary strain on already limited time, energy, and finances. Check that you are in the right frame of mind before embarking on your new path.

A word of caution to the "reckless reskiller". Making hurried career switches across one's employment history usually does not bode well. With the exception of certain industries and the hiring of contract workers or freelancers, most companies today continue to assess candidates based on employment longevity (see The Predictive Index). One must be prepared to explain their career switches to prospective employers while demonstrating their sense of judgment, decision making ability, and responsibility over such choices.

Moral of the story? Save the trouble and be sure to practice reskilling thoughtfully.

4. Am I prepared to shoulder the trade-offs of reskilling?

Some trade-offs include: loss of family time, loss of essential income/savings, and a potential reduction of short to mid-term employability. The extent of these trade-offs depends on your phase of life and your commitment level to the reskilling effort. For example, completing a self-funded, long term, full-time reskilling programme may not be the best decision to make if you are the sole breadwinner of a young family at that point in time. On the other hand, if you are a recent university graduate still steep in student loans, you must decide if taking the plunge to reskill is worthwhile.  

For some, reskilling means literally starting from scratch. Their new career choice is significantly different from their original career path (e.g. Accountant turned UX Designer). It is not unheard of to have career switchers start with pro bono work, internships, or freelancing to gain better chances at landing full-time jobs, especially in more competitive scenes. It is also not unheard of for some who secure full-time jobs from the get-go, although this likely includes accepting a pay cut from their previous profession. This can be a particularly stressful time for mid-career switchers unprepared to shoulder the trade-offs of reskilling.

Final thoughts

We hope this article has helped you consider reskilling thoughtfully. Staying relevant does not have to mean an endless paper chase, mastery over all trending skills, or switching to a career that you have zero interest in. Knowing the “why, when, where, what, and how” of reskilling is both an art and a science; so is figuring out “who” you are in the world of work. Reaching out to the individuals you respect for advice and support, can go a long way in helping you form a sound decision.

We wish you all the best in your career journey. Do leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on this article!

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Note on the authors:

Elin Wong is a Singapore-based recruiter specialising in biotechnology hiring with a keen interest in learning and development, talent management, and talent development topics. In her free time, she enjoys mentoring and coaching to share her knowledge with others. 

Kelsie Tan is a student of the Humanities interested in the future of work. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and writing.