Credit Management July and August 2020

CAREERS ADVICE
STAYING AHEAD
Why open-mindedness is a credit
professional’s biggest asset.
AUTHOR – Karen Young
AS lockdown restrictions
begin to slowly relax, our
world of work shows signs
of gradually returning
to some semblance of
normality. While many
of us will welcome a return to established
ways of working, we still have a significant
period of change and adjustment ahead,
which might have even the most confident
in their jobs questioning what this means
for their career.
As we navigate these uncharted waters,
new opportunities will be cropping up
in fresh areas of demand. Here’s why
keeping an open mind will therefore be a
professional’s biggest asset to handle our
everchanging world of work.
NEW DEMAND BRINGS NEW
OPPORTUNITIES
To keep their organisations afloat during
what has been a period of complete
turmoil, leaders have recognised that
they need a robust workforce in place who
are equipped with the right skills. New
demand brings with it new opportunities,
so it’s in professionals’ interest to maintain
an awareness of this. In terms of specialist
skills in demand, according to recent
research in the Hays Market Insights
report, those that top the list are:
• Managerial & leadership skills
• Operations skills
• Project & change management skills
As always employers are looking for the
whole package when it comes to a strong
candidate, so soft skills or competencies
like communications, problem-solving
and flexibility are also in demand.
If any of these resonate with your own
skills profile, then it’s likely that your CV
will stand out to those hiring – so staying
open-minded about where your skillset
could take you will help you capitalise on
any new opportunities.
INDEPENDENT LEARNING IS
WORTH MORE THAN YOU THINK
If you don’t feel your skills profile matches
up to some of the skills in demand right
now, that doesn’t mean you have to
rework your entire skillset or that you
won’t be able to progress and pursue new
opportunities. Since entering lockdown,
many of us have upskilled personally or
professionally, some by necessity in the
job, and some because they have found
some extra time in their hands, which
has the potential to illuminate new
opportunities which weren’t available
previously.
Make sure that any new skills you
acquire are highlighted on your CV and
on your LinkedIn. While certain skills
like learning a language, taking a coding
course or refining your Microsoft Excel
skills may directly enhance your career,
it’s demonstrating your initiative and
commitment to independent learning and
independent thinking which will make
you stand out in your current job or to a
potential new employer.
YOUR CAREER PROSPECTS
ARE A PRIORITY
One of the biggest impacts the coronavirus
has had on professionals across the board
is on career prospects. Roughly half (49
percent) of professionals working in credit
describe their career prospects as average
or poor, indicating that professionals
now feel less confident in their ability
to progress their career since the onset
of the pandemic. If you’ve experienced
these feelings recently, you’re not alone.
Professionals working across all areas
of finance tend to be dedicated and
driven, so it’s frustrating not to be
guaranteed clear progression in
your role. My advice is to harness your
hunger for a new challenge by seeing how
you might be able to step up. Approach
your manager with your intentions to
progress and listen to what they have to
say about your development. Be prepared
for constructive feedback about what
you need to do to get to the next level. If
the progression pathway at your current
organisation doesn’t align with your goals,
make it clear to your trusted recruiter that
this is a high priority for you when the
time comes to move roles.
By maintaining an open-minded
mindset and a high level of awareness,
you’ll be well equipped to handle the
change which comes with crisis recovery.
Whether it’s capitalising on in-demand
skills in your own skillset, making use of
new expertise you’ve acquired since the
onset of the pandemic or negotiating your
career prospects, keeping an open mind
will put you in the best position as we
continue to navigate this new era of work
and continuous change.
Karen Young is Director at
Hays Credit Management.
Advancing the credit profession / www.cicm.com / July & August 2020 / PAGE 39