Time to Take Online Education Seriously

Working from home is the perfect time to turn that hobby into a hustle. Not everyone needs to be an entrepreneur but you should focus on self-improvement. With less commute time, you have an opportunity to invest in yourself every single day.

Today, I still listen to one podcast, read one book chapter or take an online class every day. As a leader, it is critical for me to stay ahead of the curve by reading from the best people in my industry. This can include YouTube too if you don't get distracted by cat videos.

In lock down, you need to pick one hobby or skill set you want to improve on. I have friends learning about programming, a new foreign language, and picking up old hobbies like drawing or music. Practicing new hobbies is a great way to tap into the creative part of your mind.

Online Education Programs

There are hundreds of online programs today. If you want to start small, I recommend checking out programs at Udemy for great intro programs. YouTube is fantastic if you want to quickly dive into a topic and learn the basics for free too.

For hard skills, I recommend checking out Codecademy to learn how to code. This will continue to be a valuable skill set as businesses transition fully to the remote work environment. Personally I have gone into the no-code rabbit hole myself to learn how beautifully designed websites are created on Webflow. The entire no-code movement is fascinating to me as new products are being released every month. Last month I built VMG on Webflow to learn more about the product firsthand. Webflow also creates the funniest tutorial videos to make learning enjoyable. They are the best educational videos I've seen.

For soft skills, I recommend focusing on digital sales and marketing courses. In-person conferences will be on hold until 2021 but business wont stop. Everyone needs to learn how to develop new businesses, build more connections, and expand your network. Growth and acquisition is at the heart of every business.

Whatever you decide to work on, I recommend committing to it for at least 30 days. You will need to make learning a habit, whether you use that skill or not. Learning a skill and then applying it in real-life will be great practice to get started. You can practice this routine 3-4 times this summer. Or stick with one skill and become an intermediate by the end of summer.

A New Skill is Necessary to Stay Ahead

We are heading towards a recessionary environment. The economy has over 33 million unemployed from the coronavirus lock down. It will take at least six months before the market begins to turn around. Investors have written off 2020 because a majority of businesses are shut down and will take time to restart.

Low-income earners are also receiving more in unemployment benefits than their normal jobs. The system is backwards since the government is incentivizing more people to stay at home and not work. If you've ever lost momentum doing something, you know how hard it is to get back on the bandwagon.

Many businesses will be forced to shut down or delay reopening, resulting in less jobs available when the lock down is over. If you are unemployed today, then it is important you begin to retrain your skill sets. Maybe even upgrade your knowledge base. The job market will be very competitive when the economy reopens and unemployment will remain high for quite some time.

The New Job Market

The office environment will not be the same in the third quarter. Flexible work spaces like WeWork will become more popular and families will move to the suburbs. Freelancing and other remote jobs will become in greater demand over the next twelve months. Companies like Upwork and Freelancer will see a rise in both supply and demand.

LinkedIn has been doing a fantastic job reporting which employers are hiring today. Employees can search #NowHiring to find thousands of job openings across America.

One common theme among all new jobs is the increasing need to understand technology. Not everyone needs to be a high level programmer but it is preferred you understand new technologies. There are several new technologies rolling out in 2021 like voice apps, 5G telecom, and new software. I believe learning new software is the best place to start. Software makes everyone's life easier is constantly changing.

My recommendation is to focus more intensely technology training. Whether it is design or development, you will become more valuable in the workplace. There is a lot you can offer to current or future employers. Technology will also help you build products online, possibly create a new community or even a new business. The technology skill gap in America will continue growing, as demand increases and supply remains constraint. Your job is to figure out where the job market is going and stay ahead of the curve!