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Avoid the Sidelines—Invest in Yourself During Pandemic

Jane Chase from IIoP reports on the sharp uptick in packaging professionals who sought online education and certification to improve their prospects while laying low during the pandemic.

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I’ve always been skeptical of the phrase, “Never let a crisis go to waste,” but from where I sit, many in the packaging community took heed of that advice in 2020 as a response the pandemic that affected us all. Let me explain, and hopefully you will follow suit.

While the pandemic changed our lives through lockdowns, then work-from-home, and now slowly adjusting to getting safely back in our offices and plants, there was a clear trend in 2020 showing that packaging professionals took advantage of time at home to invest in themselves. We are seeing ample evidence of this trend on LinkedIn. Whether it was to prepare to be ready to take on a larger role in their current organization or a need to secure a new employment opportunity, they made time to develop new skill sets to prepare for the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

While in-person training opportunities everywhere were put on the back burner for most of 2020, this did not deter packaging professionals from seeking formal packaging training. The Institute of Packaging Professionals’ Fundamentals of Packaging Technology (FPT) online program showed significant growth (course module enrollments increased 96% year over year in 2020). While formal technical training is effective, I would suggest many more opportunities are available to increase your value to your employer and the packaging industry.

Opportunities abound
Universities that have been compelled to offer online learning to their students provide everyone with convenient access to their curriculums. This makes it easier for non-traditional students to take advantage of this course work as well. Have you explored what courses might expand your expertise?

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Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
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