PANDEMIC + RECESSION PROOF YOURSELF
Set yourself up for any and everything
It’s no secret that times are hard, GOOD jobs are hard to come by, and people are constantly searching for new ways to feed their families. I wanted to start the top of the year with 1) a kick in the ass via GET TO WORK (if you haven’t read it already, dive in, you might need it!), 2) a list of actionable pathways you could aim your sights at. It doesn’t matter if you are 16 or 46, time will pass anyway and you still need skills in your toolbelt to continue surviving and thriving out here.
I hear people say this all of the time: “2020 seems like yesterday!”, and while I share this same sentiment, I also understand that 2020 was FIVE YEARS AGO. If you have started a 5 year apprenticeship around this time back then, you’d probably be close to being complete with it by now. To be honest, you could have started a bachelor’s degree in the pandemic and be complete with it by now. So if the time is going to pass anyway, why not make it worth it and gain some skills that will keep you housed, fed, and thriving for life? Exactly. The world is slowly crumbling and our parents and grandparents are on the way out of the door. We need a new generation of blue collar workers, engineers, doctors, and many other things. THIS IS HOW YOU BECOME RECESSION AND PANDEMIC PROOF. Follow the numbers and figure out where there is a need. Craft your plans around these needs, and win for life.
Example: There is a shortage of plumbers according to the Department of Labor. Job growth in this industry is expected to rise with a lot of older plumbers aging out. You know that plumbers are essential workers. You also know they are always in need because people are always using water, taking showers/baths, and flushing toilets. So go be a plumber and take as much work as you can handle. It is really simple. Don’t overthink it.
You can always win with this attack style:
FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT & NEED. NOW. You can’t draw a road map if you don’t know your objective.
CREATE A PLAN. Everyone starts somewhere. It won’t be pretty but it is very necessary. You need skills to pay the bills. And as time goes on, you need more and more specialized skills to keep a place in the rat race.
EXECUTE YOUR PLAN WITH CONSISTENCY.
Before choosing a path, ask yourself these questions:
How will this industry be impacted by advancements in technology?
Is this career/job essential?
Is this skill sought after?
What kind of future do I see for this field in the next 5 years? What about 10 years?
Is this field something I know for sure will still be a thing in 5-10 years?
These are the questions you need to ask yourself. These are the questions that will lead you into a blue collar trade or stem program or something of the equivalent. I didn’t hear of a single doctor, plumber, nurse, or roofer out of business or hurting for money between 2020 and now, unless by choice.
Making the right choices
Listed below are PATHWAYS. They are routes you can take, whether they require college, trade school, or some other non-traditional training, IT CAN BE DONE. If you know of a pathway in life that you don’t see on this list, email it to me and I’ll do a part 2 of the ones I get.
Here are a few career paths or strategies that can help you make yourself more resilient to pandemics, recessions, and government shutdowns:
1. Healthcare and Medical Fields
Why: Healthcare workers are always in demand, especially during pandemics. Even when the sky is falling, hospitals remain a necessary piece of infrastructure.
Examples: Nurses, physicians, paramedics, lab technicians, epidemiologists, public health officials, health policy advisors, and home health aides. This even extends to “out-patient” care such as rehabilitation facilities, doctor’s offices, emergency care clinics, dental offices, and many more. There are too many jobs in the healthcare industry to name in one post but you get the gist of my message.
How to Prepare: Obtain necessary certifications or degrees (MD, RN, EMT, etc). From community college all the way up to medical school, there are many different ways to prepare for a career in healthcare.
2. Information Technology (IT)... (Look into GovTech!!!)
Why: IT professionals can work remotely and support essential digital infrastructure. This industry is forever growing as everyone moves from physical files to digital. Everything is online and needs to be managed and protected by someone.
Examples: Cloud architects, AI/Machine Learning Engineers, software engineers, data analysts, DevOps Engineers, etc. The list is EXTENSIVE. Do a lot of research and then do some more. FOLLOW BEEZ AND WATCH ALL OF HER VIDEOS, SHE GIVES YOU A ROADMAP FROM A TO B TO START A CAREER IN TECH!
How to Prepare: Gain skills in programming, cloud computing, or cybersecurity certifications. Start your information journey here with an introduction to GovTech by Symone Berry. Symone is a good friend of mine and has been in the tech industry since her first internships in high school! She has led many others to successful roles in GovTech as well as the entire tech industry with her proven and tried game plan. And for the most part, you can get all of the information you need on her Youtube page in the links above. DO NOT SLEEP. TECH IS THE FUTURE.
3. Supply Chain and Logistics
Why: Ensuring the movement of goods is critical during crises. Even in the pandemic, stores have to stay stocked and hospitals still need medical supplies.
Examples: Truck drivers, warehouse managers, supply chain analysts, procurement managers, and logistics coordinators.
How to Prepare: Obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or study supply chain management.
4. Education (Remote/Online Learning)
Why: Education remains a necessity, even during lockdowns, with a shift to online learning. Parents are now looking to tutors to bridge the gaps in their children’s education. Bilingual teachers are a plus in this industry with many parents looking for their kids to learn a second language before going off to college.
Examples: Online teachers + tutors, curriculum developers, or education technology specialists.
How to Prepare: Pursue teaching credentials and become a wiz with e-learning tools. Look into the many apps and programs that can land you in the right space.
5. Public Safety and Emergency Services: 1st Responders
Why: Law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency response personnel are critical and necessary to any society
Examples: Police officers, firefighters, EMTs/paramedics, and emergency management directors. This can also include those in the medical field.
How to Prepare: Train at academies or earn degrees in emergency management. Look into your local police and fire department to figure out what training they offer or is required of you to join. For the medical first responders, look into what schooling is necessary to get started in your lane.
6. Trades and Skilled Labor
Why: Trades like electricians and plumbers are essential for maintaining infrastructure. Look into jobs at your local Department of Transportation for road construction. American infrastructure is old and crumbling and people with the skills to rebuild and repair will ALWAYS have a job.
Examples: Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, roofers, and the many different types of construction workers.
How to Prepare: Complete trade school programs or apprenticeships.
7. Food Production and Distribution
Why: Agriculture and food supply are vital industries during crises. Human beings simply cannot survive without food. In my opinion, most Americans cannot survive without a grocery store. Grocery stores are a vital part of the fabric here and the people that keep those shelves stocked are just as important as your plumber or electrician.
Examples: Farmers, food safety inspectors, and grocery supply chain workers. This also includes the people that transport the goods as well as the people that handle the behind-the-scenes logistics of it all.
How to Prepare: Gain experience in farming, food science, or logistics.
8. Utilities and Energy
Why: Workers maintaining energy and water supplies are indispensable. They are a necessary aspect of our society. Plumbers and electricians of all levels come to mind when I think of utilities and energy. They keep the lights on and the toilets flushing, a vital part of society that many don’t think about on a daily basis.
Examples: Electric grid operators, water treatment specialists and operators, building inspectors, and renewable energy technicians.
How to Prepare: Pursue certifications in energy or utilities management.
General Tips for Resilience:
Upskilling: Continuously learn new skills to remain adaptable. You can never know too much. Don’t just stop at one certification or one license, do your research and learn how you can continue growing in whatever space you decide to be in.
Financial Planning: Maintain an emergency fund to buffer against economic downturns. ALWAYS BE SAVING. Be like your grandmother and always be squirrelling away your coins in random places. You can never have enough money in your emergency funds. On top of saving, upskilling is a major part of your financial plan.
Networking: Build connections in essential industries for better job security. GO TO JOB FAIRS AND INDUSTRY EVENTS. I cannot stress this enough. This is how you learn how jobs you had no idea existed in industries you thought you were familiar with. Go out and talk to people! ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. Learn about the heavy hitters in your industry (which companies are at the forefront?) and figure out how they run things and how you can find your way INSIDE.
Entrepreneurship: Explore starting a side business in recession-proof industries. You don’t have to be a Fortune500 CEO. Even if you just pick up something like cleaning houses, washing cars, or opening up an Ebay or Etsy store to sell products you make in your spare time, find that entrepreneurial bone. We all have it. Our ancestors did it, they always had something going on to survive. Get back to your roots.
By focusing on these strategies and career paths, you can better withstand economic uncertainties and public health emergencies. Housing will NOT get any cheaper. Rent is not going down. You MUST prepare for the worst and hope for the best when it comes to your finances. Your finances are determined by two things: a) how much money you bring in, AND even more importantly b) HOW MUCH YOU ARE ABLE TO SAVE. ‘Make more money’ is the solution to this. Upskilling = ALLOWS YOU TO EARN MORE.
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