Like many professionals, HR practitioners have experienced furloughs, layoffs or reduced hours as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there’s a silver lining: Having more time on your hands means you have an opportunity to focus on your professional development, which can be a game changer for your career.

“We live in a skills-based economy,” says Latesha Byrd, a Charlotte, N.C.-based professional career coach and consultant. In other words, many employers base their hiring decisions on a job candidate’s abilities; thus, having a robust set of skills makes you more marketable to employers.

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