{"id":123,"date":"2022-04-12T00:40:02","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T00:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dvc.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-summer-2022-volume-5-issue-1\/michigan-reconnect-so-youve-joined-the-great-resignation-wave-in-michigan-whats-next\/"},"modified":"2022-06-15T01:23:21","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T01:23:21","slug":"the-new-normal-retraining-and-upskilling-for-a-flexible-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dvc.mycareerfocus.org\/summer-fall-2022-volume-5-issue-1\/the-new-normal-retraining-and-upskilling-for-a-flexible-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Normal – Retraining and Upskilling for a Flexible Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI\u00a0had been working as an aesthetician in 2020, and then it shut down due to the pandemic. I freaked out,\u00a0 wondering, \u2018what was I going to do? What skills did I have?\u2019 It was a very scary time for the personal care industry,\u201d said Solana Rehne.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately for Rehne, this was not the first time she had to make a career change due to forces beyond her control.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Solana<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had already gone through the \u2018great recession,\u2019 and it was actually that experience that led me to pursue a new career as an aesthetician and makeup artist. Prior to that, I had been working in the entertainment industry after earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in communications. But due to the economic downturn, I had retrained to focus on a career in skincare,\u201d said Rehne.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to the pandemic, Rehne had been taking art digital media and computer information systems (CIS) classes at DVC. She then added business management classes to better prepare for her next career move.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to focus on social media for small business where I can apply everything I\u2019ve learned in communications, digital media, video editing and production into a career that will sustain me no matter what happens with the economy,\u201d said Rehne.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rehne feels that after getting through the recession, the foreclosure crisis, and the pandemic, workers need to prepare for a career that is both flexible and resilient.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone needs a backup plan, should the need arise. It is important to be able to have greater control over your income rather than being so reliant on an employer,\u201d said Rehne.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clifton Hardle agrees and has enjoyed adding to his skillset during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to study industrial design. For me, in my mid-30\u2019s, it\u2019s like going back 15 years and learning all over again. It\u2019s fun, and reminds me to keep learning and not get stagnant,\u201d said Hardle, an industrial design student at DVC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hardle was fortunate that he has been able to work throughout the pandemic. But this was only possible because his job was one that could transition to a remote environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBusinesses are realizing you don\u2019t need to be in the office five days a week to be productive. Employers are more flexible and open to letting you figure out what works for you,\u201d said Hardle.<\/span><\/p>\n

When an employee learns new skills, their employer benefits as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt work, I\u2019m pushing my teams to understand their customers and stakeholders and build rough and ready prototypes to get feedback so we can build more impactful solutions,\u201d said Hardle.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are workers looking for?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A 2021 Credit Karma<\/a> survey showed that 50 percent of American workers reevaluated their job or career as a result of the pandemic. Among those workers who were currently employed, 41 percent indicated they were likely to leave their job within the next six months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of these workers said they were looking for a job with higher pay, greater work-life balance, and better benefits. In addition,13 percent said they wanted to pursue higher education degrees or certificates, and 17 percent said they wanted to pursue a new field or area of interest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A January 2022 report from Cengage<\/a> indicates that among those who have resigned in the wake of the pandemic, nearly 78 percent have enrolled in online training courses or certificate programs. And 64 percent indicated they felt this type of training was “essential” for successfully obtaining a new job. The report also found that those who resign are primarily interested in roles that offer the ability to work remotely at least some of the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given these reports, it\u2019s no surprise that there has been an increase in the number of adults returning to school to retrain for a new career, or to upskill for future advancement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Adult<\/p>\n

“From what I’ve seen in my classes, folks are quitting or training for a new career to get better pay or treatment,” said Mario Tejada Jr., computer information systems (CIS) professor and CIS\/business department chair at DVC San Ramon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Harvard Business Review<\/em><\/a> reports that resignation rates have been highest among mid-career workers in technology and healthcare industries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tejada Jr. has seen examples of this throughout the pandemic. “In CIS, I see adults coming back to school to update skills to apply for new jobs or transition to new opportunities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The pandemic was particularly difficult for workers in service industries. Younger workers often were asked to work longer shifts, deal with sudden changes due to temporary business closures, and more. As a result, many young workers resigned or chose to reduce their hours to return to school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“They are trying to build some foundational technology skills that make them more competitive for future job hunting,” said Tejada Jr.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast facts<\/span><\/h2>\n

In 2022, Buffer<\/a> conducted a survey of 2000 remote workers. Their study revealed:<\/span><\/p>\n