For the past few months, COVID-19 has been delivering blow-by-blow and an onslaught of new victims daily. The number of people getting infected daily has reached alarming levels for consecutive months that the daily numbers barely get a reaction from people anymore. In India, the number of deaths has been so high that crematoriums cannot accommodate the dead. A portion of the victims gets cremated on basketball courts and other open-air areas.
The harsh truth is that the virus is not going anywhere soon. Scientists and epidemiologists predict that the COVID-19 virus will, like the ordinary flu, be here to stay. While there is a rapid rollout of vaccines in some countries, developing nations barely have a chance to get a piece of the pie. The new normal thing to do before meeting people is first making sure that they have been inoculated.
The term “new normal” gets tossed around every once amidst the lockdowns and restrictions. There is absolutely nothing normal in the “new normal.” The term is all about the state of the world and its affairs after the pandemic has finally calmed down. Unfortunately, everyone will most likely be required to wear masks when going outside. Even lockdowns, when a localized event breaks out, will still be part of the mix. Caution will still be the norm when meeting family or friends.
Unfortunately, unemployment is still a huge problem despite the alleged economic recovery foreseen in the first half of 2021. We are almost at the midway point of the year, but the rate of unemployment is still dismal. While the numbers budged a bit towards improvement, 430,000 people are still looking for work as of the moment. Some skills in different industries have been phased out because of the pandemic.
What new skills should people learn in light of the new normal?
Healthcare
Because of the massive lack of healthcare workers, multiple nations have experienced a collapse of their healthcare systems in the most critical times of the pandemic. Nations badly needed nurses, therapists, and doctors. Some countries even mandated emergency medical practice authorization for graduating medical students to stop the already bleeding healthcare system. Healthcare will definitely still be needed by society in the new normal. While this may be no small feat to achieve, healthcare professionals will always have a place in society, even beyond the new normal.
Web Development
The back-end and front-end developers will have an enormous role to play during and beyond the new normal. Most companies are in a mad rush to transform the entire backbone of their business into a digital one. Because of the lockdowns, most people are not too keen about going back outside. Most want to deal with and do their business through digital means. Even having little knowledge as a web development professional is a great deal for startups.
Management
Honing in your management skills is a crucial skill people should learn for the new normal. The entire management dynamic is changing because of the pandemic. Companies are learning to trust their employees to be able to work from home. Even managers are learning to organize and assist their employees from the comforts of their own homes. Remote management cannot magically be acquired. Learning skills fit for being management is a skill that must be learned in this ever-changing world. Leadership needs a firmer grasp on everything amidst the pandemic.
Communication
Similar to management skills, communication skills need a do-over because of the pandemic. Because of all the remote work being flung around, communication can become difficult when done through a computer screen. A lot of your messages cannot come across similarly to how it is when done personally. Working on your communication skills is even more crucial than ever before. We also have less practice to communicate with now that we can’t just meet everyone anytime.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking skills need a little updating. One of the most sought-after skills pre-pandemic and, most probably, post-pandemic is critical thinking. The ability to think beyond, analyze, and evaluate before making a decision is a difficult skill that not many acquire. Active critical thinking in everything you do is definitely a hot skill that will still be in demand in the new normal.
The world we are living in will inevitably be different post-pandemic. The new normal is actively driving people to adapt to changes not all might appreciate. To get ahead of the curve, you need to adapt faster than others. Getting ahead by familiarizing yourself with a new skill or relatable expertise is key to success in the new normal.
