CHOCTAW, Miss. — As most Americans are spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can bring a feeling of unease for many who are worried about the status of their jobs when restrictions are eased. However, this additional free time at home offers opportunities for learning new skills that can make a person marketable in new fields and industries.

The Office of Economic Development for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians offers several ideas for those seeking to use their time at home wisely by building new professional capabilities. John Hendrix, MBCI Economic Development Director, states, “Although we are dealing with a difficult time economically, we are also living in an age in which we have endless resources at our fingertips to become proficient in new areas.”

The Office of Economic Development offers the following ideas for mastering new skills:

• Watch a webinar on a subject you are interested in. Webinars are an excellent way to get an introduction to a subject, as they don’t require a demanding time commitment (they are generally around an hour in length). Most webinars are free or very reasonably priced. Reputable resources include Score.org and CareerConfidential.com.

• Sign up for a digital course to become proficient in a subject that can open up new career options. Popular subjects for online courses include photography, project management, foreign languages, and computer science. Visit sites such as Udemy.com, Skillshare.com, and Lynda.com to see the many options available.

• Attend virtual events to learn new skills and network with professionals in your industry. A number of conferences have moved to a digital format for 2020, making them much more accessible from a financial and geographical standpoint. Conferences such as Salesforce Connections, Dell Technologies World Virtual Experience, and IBM Think 2020 are just a few of the available options.

• Achieve an online certification in a marketable field. A certification on your resume indicates mastery of a skill to potential employers. Coursera.org and Edx.org are two dependable entities that offer online certification options such as Google IT Support, IBM Customer Engagement Specialist, Applied Project Management, Retail Management, and Financial Technology.

Lastly, use this time to edit and amend your professional resume. Make sure it is updated with your most recent employment experience, and include any new competencies you have amassed during this time of sheltering in place. Consider working with a marketing professional to ensure that your resume is worded correctly and accurately describes your strengths and abilities.

As one of the United States’ original first nations, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is the only federally recognized American Indian tribe living within the State of Mississippi. With over 11,000 members, Choctaw lands cover over 35,000 acres in 10 counties. Providing permanent, full-time jobs for over 5,000 Tribal-member and non-Indian employees, the Tribe is a major contributor to the state’s economy.

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