Navigating Job Loss During COVID-19: How Can Competency Mapping Help Us Feel More Secure?

Dear all, this is a very challenging situation for every one of us. Many among us have lost our jobs due to this Covid-19 pandemic. Losing our jobs has also made us anxious about our future needs and survival. In this situation, how can we feel competent within ourselves and find the motivation to survive in this new normal?

Seeking Consultancy for Competency Mapping

Can anyone help me by recommending a consultancy that practices Competency Mapping? I would like to evaluate myself to determine if I am competent enough for the work I do.

Thank you.

Dear Pooja, yes, in the current pandemic, a lot of people have lost their jobs; however, the competence of a person remains unchanged. It does not decline with the loss of a job.

Secondly, I recommend you identify your competence on your own. What kind of job did you do? In what activities did you excel? If you know the answer to this, then you do not require any external certification.

Yes, personal competency mapping is important; nevertheless, expecting that a certificate issued by an agency that does competency mapping is a guarantee could be a myth. There is no guarantee that you will get a certificate.

Against this backdrop, I recommend you make a career plan for yourself. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Determine in which field you can have opportunities in the future. This will set the direction for personal development.

If you are out of a job, then I recommend you read books related to your field. Brush up on your knowledge. Relate the theory with past experiences and find out what could have been done better.

All the best!
Dinesh Divekar

Current Job Market Challenges

I may add, it's a period of widespread job loss across many sectors being reported every day. No one knows what the future will tell us and when. Is it possible for anybody to predict the time frame and in what measure? As suggested by Mr. Dinesh, it's your turn once again to assess yourself, a self-assessment of whether you can meet the present requirements.

The Shift to Work From Home

Many MNCs have asked their employees who can be facilitated to continue WFH, a trend poised to stay longer than expected. Some have tentatively indicated how long this can work but are leaving the far end still open. Talents are pushed into the crossroads. Whereas many have either already vacated their office spaces, those who are well-placed and adjusted themselves to the WFH environment or moved to smaller accommodations aimed at saving costs. Real estate tycoons have geared up, selling their assets.

Future Predictions and Opportunities

On the other hand, WHO revised their prediction that the situation would ease sooner than expected as the vaccinations now in advanced testing stages are likely to hit markets either later this year or early next year. So, one can reasonably expect the new year 2021 to regain normalcy anytime next year. Going by this promise/trend, in the interim, you have to think over and concentrate on opportunities that can be gainfully utilized, at least for the next 6 months or so, and how you can manage your finances.

I am not in a position to elaborate on your capabilities or what opportunities are forthcoming. You'll know from your introspection. Keep track of trends that can serve in the short term with an eye on long-term career opportunities. A competent person, as you are, never goes wanting in any sphere. All the best.

Hello Pooja, Recently, I was reading an article on the 'gig economy,' which I believe closely matches the current job market in the country. With more people rendered jobless while businesses resume operations to achieve normalcy, conditions akin to the 'gig economy' are prevalent in India. Especially in situations where some businesses have lost key personnel during the lockdown due to reasons like non-payment of idle time salaries, repositioning or refilling vacancies upon resumption has become a significant challenge. The gig economy, more or less, offers a short-term solution to some of these problems. Here, I share excerpts from the article for your information:

Leadership and executive pay

Employers across all sectors are already making difficult decisions regarding the future of their workforces and salaries, and tech sector organizations are no exception. While the impact is felt across the wider workforce, attention is focused on executive pay and how individuals leading organizations are financially impacted by the crisis.

Impact on the gig economy

The status of employees, workers, and independent contractors in the gig economy remains an ongoing issue across many jurisdictions, as courts and tribunals continue to grapple with the application of their existing legal frameworks. The crisis has intensified the call for gig economy workers to be provided with the same or equivalent safeguards and protections afforded to employees and other workers, including those relating to health and safety, as well as basic employment rights such as sick leave. Throughout 2020 and beyond, we expect further developments, consultations, and potential legislative reform, potentially posing some of the most significant changes to employment laws for some jurisdictions in recent times.

Impact for the tech sector

For many businesses, the pandemic has accelerated the adjustment to new ways of working and forced many companies to stress-test their agile and remote working arrangements. Broadly, the tech sector has responded well to these changes, but those that were previously skeptical of such ways of working may have a harder time explaining why employees have to be present in the workplace when they can work remotely or flexibly.

New opportunities have also arisen for food delivery platforms, e-commerce sites, and those developing apps and new tech to assist jurisdictions with managing the pandemic. Crises also provide employers with an opportunity in terms of workplace culture, and how employers have reacted to the evolving pandemic and supported their workforces will impact their workplace culture in the long term.

In this new and complex world of work, maintaining effective communication, driving resilience and adaptability, as well as sustaining employee engagement and trust, has become the ultimate test and differentiator of today's leadership.

- Laure de Panafieu, Asia Head of Employment and Incentives, Partner, Singapore

xxx