The lockdown forced Rosanne Rip-Tijssen (26) to give up her new job as a restaurant manager. Finding other work in the hospitality industry was not an option. But companies in other sectors are eager for people with her experience and competences. She is now a manager in a supermarket.
Last October, Rosanne Rip-Tijssen (26) lost her dream job due to the lockdown. After years of working in a hotel, she had just landed a job as a restaurant manager in a new restaurant. After being open for ten days, the restaurant had to close again and the contracts of Rip-Tijssen and her team were terminated. “That was just as tough. But I get it, everyone was in their hair at that time.”
Ever since she completed her Hotel and Event Management studies, Rip-Tijssen wanted nothing more than to work in the hotel world. ,,When I got home, I naturally wanted a new job, preferably in the catering industry, but that didn’t work out.”
Offer via LinkedIn
It took her two months and many conversations with her environment and the UWV to discover what makes her even more happy and which jobs are appropriate. “I’m a social animal and I really like taking care of people. A test showed that I could become a healthcare worker, but I can’t handle blood well. My courage sank. It was very black and white in my head: either the hospitality industry or healthcare.”
Until she got an offer through LinkedIn. A supermarket was looking for a new service manager and found Rip-Tijssen very suitable. ,,In the end it seemed like a good idea to grow outside the hotel world. Working late at night isn’t always everything. So I was willing to make the switch to another industry. Then I applied and to my great surprise I got it.”
In the end it seemed like something to grow outside the hotel world
It often happens that job seekers end up in an industry they hadn’t even thought of, says Rob Witjes, head of labor market information and advice at UWV. Just making the switch isn’t easy for everyone. The longer you’ve worked in an industry, the harder it is to broaden your horizons. “When people have been doing the same job for a long time at the same company and lose their job, they often just want the same position. While that is not always possible. We saw this, for example, when V&D went bankrupt. A lot of people had been working there for years and thought that the work they could only do was at V&D.”
As a result, these job seekers need a lot of time to find another job. And that is dangerous, says Witjes. “At some point, time will work against you, especially now. If you are out of work for months in a tight labor market, employers will wonder what is going on and you will not be invited for an interview.”
Switching professions
Through the Skills and Professions Dashboard UWV hopes to inspire and encourage job seekers to look further in time. In this digital tool, UWV also made an overview of vulnerable professions in which there is little work, such as prepress preparation, librarian and secretarial assistant. There are five alternatives for each profession that you could switch to because of the overlap in skills. For example, a secretarial employee can think of a position in the customer contact service.
Witjes: ,,People often have a function in their mind and a type of company they want to work for, not the skills they have. Employers also think in terms of job titles. While if you look at where else you can apply your skills, there are many similarities between functions.”
Employers are increasingly thinking in terms of skills. Diploma and work experience play much less of a role for many companies
Degree less important
Rip-Tijssen also discovered that she can use her talents in another position and that switching is a fun challenge. “Being a manager in a supermarket is of course a completely different sport. In a hotel you ensure that someone has the evening of their life, in a supermarket you want someone to be able to do their shopping as pleasantly as possible. But here too I can make a difference for people.”
The hotel world misses Rip-Tijssen less than she thought. “Even though people often rush into the store, you can still make someone’s day with small moments and compliments. I work for that every day.”
Witjes hopes that more job seekers will follow Rip-Tijssen’s example. Do not hesitate any longer, the tight labor market works to your advantage. “Employers are increasingly thinking in terms of skills. Diploma and work experience play much less of a role for many companies. I too would rather see the energy of someone in a conversation and now look beyond a resume or letter.”
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