As documented by Joanna Pritchard
In 2020, I was laid off from my IT job in the hospitality industry when COVID hit. Instead of treading water, I used unemployment as an opportunity to learn and transform my career. I chose Simplilearn’s online courses in ITIL® 4 Foundation, Agile Scrum Master, and PRINCE2® Foundation, which opened up new employment possibilities. For example, from the first moment I added a new certification to my resume, I began getting replies to my applications, which soon led to a new job. Today I work as a technical account manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) with HRS (Hospitality & Retail Systems) in Düsseldorf, Germany.
My new employer was impressed that I was enrolled in the PRINCE2® Foundation course, and they gave me time to complete it during my orientation period. The entire experience of being laid off and focusing on learning ended up being a career restart for me.
Making a Career Move
Before the layoff, I had contemplated making a career change after 15 years in the hospitality industry. I earned an MBA in hospitality administration from Cornell University and a Master of Arts from Silesian University. While I genuinely enjoyed working with the IT team at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, I thought of expanding my practical knowledge with theory. My first goal was to gain an ITIL certification. When I was laid off after COVID hit in 2020, I had the time and extra motivation to upskill my portfolio.
I found many platforms offering courses, but I chose Simplilearn because it had exam practice tests, and I found the sample lessons to be of good quality. Moreover, when I asked questions about the courses and the price, I found Simplilearn competitive.