Upskill in Lockdown

With the recent announcement that the UK Lockdown is running for at least another three weeks, it is likely that disruption to student recruitment will continue for a while longer. That said, the proposed stages for coming out of Lockdown which were briefed in the media on Sunday, suggests a phased approach which could see things starting to get back to normal. I’m sure that like me you very much hope that is the case.

The question then is what to do in the meantime? Once you are done with online tests or assessments, what next?

Picture this – it is summer 2021. You’re at an interview for a graduate role, and you’re asked very candidly, what did you do to improve yourself during the COVID-19 outbreak?

This is an important question. One that can demonstrate how you adapt to adversity. One that displays how you take responsibility for your personal development. One that you really don’t want to answer by saying you played games on Twitch for weeks on end!

If you’re currently employed as a key worker, in retail or elsewhere, thank you. Keep safe and your work is appreciated.

Perhaps you have signed up to volunteer, either to support the NHS or local community groups to help protect others during these difficult times. Again, thank you for what you are doing.

If you are at home and looking for things to do, now is the ideal time to be developing new or enhancing existing skills.

Head over to the Open University website, where there are over 900 free online courses to access, which includes some language courses in French and German https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

When this summer is out, do you want to have a hole in your CV, or a bunch of shiny new skills and certifications to flaunt in future applications?

The choice is yours.