3 careers to consider if you want to permanently WFHAfter the experiences of last year, many people returning to the office are reconsidering their priorities and vision for their future. Among these are those who have realised that their skills are not sufficiently future-proof to withstand disruptions of the magnitude we faced in 2020, and others who realised that they are better suited to working independently from home. Photo by bongkarn thanyakij from Pexels “As the world of work has changed, so too are in-demand skills evolving in response to this fluctuating environment,” says Elbie Liebenberg, MD at Oxbridge Academy, a leading private college that serves more than 20,000 South African distance learning students every year. Liebenberg says South Africans are waking up to the reality that they need to be constantly updating their skills to stay relevant and competitive in an ever-changing job market, and to the fact that there may well be future developments that could see the need to return to a work-from-home scenario. “What last year has showed us, is that the world as we know it can change in an instant, and that we need to ensure we are as well-positioned and empowered as possible to respond effectively in case of an emergency. So many South Africans are considering ways in which they can leverage their existing skills by adding complementary skills, and what path they can pursue that will allow them to possibly work for themselves rather than be dependent on permanent employment. Many are also thinking of what new course of action they can take to ensure they are able to continue working from home, whether by choice or by reasons outside of their control,” she says. Liebenberg says those who now find themselves re-assessing their position, have a number of exciting fields that they can consider, which would allow them to gain skills that are in high demand skills, while also being able to work from home. These include:
“The aforementioned are just three of the fields which ambitious people considering their next path can look at. In fact, there are many more fields that will enable you to keep your skills relevant and updated, while being able to work from home,” says Liebenberg. “Importantly, upskilling or changing course doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to study towards a degree. Taking responsibility for your own personal and professional development, by gaining the skills you need to get the work done, combined with a solution-focused approach and a strong work ethic, is a great foundation on which to start building your dream career for the future.” |