Victor Oyesina is a Human Resource professional who has a keen interest in HR Analytics, Talent Management, Learning and Development. He believes that people are assets, therefore when their human capital is cultivated and well-harnessed, they would be empowered to create value and consequently deliver a high level of efficiency that can help organizations and nations realise their vision. He holds a certificate of Proficiency from the Human Resource Certification Institute, HRCI, USA and is currently enrolled to be an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, (CIPM). In this interview with JOY NGWOLO, Oyesina advises employees to be proactive and adapt to changes in the corporate world even as the pandemic heightens the possibilities of job insecurity and unemployment.
In what ways do you think the coronavirus pandemic will affect organisations?
Human Resource Professional
First, there will be lay-offs and unpaid leaves because many organisations cannot run at full scale anymore, it means that some workers will just have to be laid off while some will be sent on unpaid leave till the organisation regains its balance. Secondly, many organisations will begin to rethink their business models to see how they can begin to deliver their products and services in a way that they remain profitable. The third is that there will be increased health and safety measures in workplaces because people are the critical assets for any organisation to function and remain profitable. There will also be losses even for big organisations because the pandemic came unexpectedly.
How can employees secure their jobs in times like this?
In times like this, employees must have a strong entrepreneurial drive, there must be a high sense of ownership to the business to move it forward. Secondly, creativity and innovation are becoming indispensable for employees because business owners are looking for the best possible ways forward and so those giving out the strategies and the know-how will definitely secure their jobs. Another way employees can also secure their jobs is to build relevant skills for the business, those who possess the skills to move the company forward are the ones that will definitely be in the train as the business progresses.
What advice do you have for people who have lost their jobs already and for those who will lose their jobs due to this pandemic?
It is quite unfortunate that some people will have to lose their jobs but it is a reality, this is a crisis that nobody planned for. I know that it can be very tough but it is not the end of the world. My advice is that people should begin to build their expertise in skills that are relevant to their industries. The reality is that those who can employ their creativity are those that will be about to bounce back after losing their jobs. People must leverage on their networks, if you have lost your job, you should be able to communicate your value that to people in your networks so that they can help you get another role.
Do you for-see remote working as the norm post-COVID-19?
Absolutely. Remote working has come to stay, it is the new normal. Even outside the HR space, everyone is talking about the future of work, the reality is that the future is before us, we are living in that future, remote working has come to stay, however, because of the infrastructure involved to ensure that remote working is productive, different organisations have different capacities to put those structures in place but the sole aim is to ensure productivity.
What specific skills do employees need to acquire for them to stay relevant in the corporate world?
Covid-19 has come to move us into the digital space so it means that a large chunk of businesses henceforth must begin to pay attention to how they can get things done without having many people present. The internet is the new civilisation, hence, people should learn to develop digital skills and leverage on the internet for their own advantage. People should be able to learn outside the classroom, the ability to learn in itself is a skill.
Researchers have predicted that 20 million jobs in Africa will be threatened if the situation continues, which industries do you think will be worst hit?
In my own opinion, the industries that will be worst hit are the Aviation industry, the entertainment industry and the oil and gas industry.
Which job roles are more likely to be sought after?
Data science, Data Analysis, Social Media Marketing, Ui/Ux design, Programming, Website building and so on.
