Skilling For Tomorrow: What The Youth Can Do To Prepare
The past two years have been nothing short of a roller coaster ride. We've had our ups and downs, but it goes without saying, we've learnt several life lessons along the way. Most crucial of which was adapting to the changing world.
Charles Darwin’s 'Survival of the Fittest' has probably never been more relevant.
Given the professional world’s constantly evolving dynamics, the youth — who are at the beginning of their careers — will benefit greatly by adopting an attitude of ‘always learning.’ Inculcating this mindset early on, can ensure they don't miss out on opportunities in this ever-changing world.
In Warren Buffett’s words, "The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself. The more you learn, the more you'll earn."
Here are some changes that the youth need to be cognizant of, to adapt to the professional landscape of the future:
Roles of Tomorrow Different From Those of Today
As the pace of technology advancement continues to accelerate, adoption of cloud computing, big data and AI remain high priority for business leaders. Increasing automation and AI interventions are disrupting traditional roles.
According to the World Economic Forum’s ‘The Future of Jobs Report 2020’, the time spent on current tasks at work by humans and machines will be equal by 2025. 43% of businesses surveyed indicate that they are set to reduce their workforce due to technology integration, 41% plan to expand their use of contractors for task-specialized work, and 34% plan to expand their workforce due to technology integration. AI and machine learning are at the top of many lists of the most important skills in today's job market. Jobs requiring AI or machine learning skills are expected to increase by 71% in the next five years.
Skills Needed to Fit into Modern Job Roles
Skill gap remains high as in-demand skills across jobs, change over the next five years. The top skills and skill groups which employers see as rising in prominence in the lead up to 2025 include groups such as critical thinking and analysis as well as problem-solving, and skills in self-management such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility. On average, companies estimate that around 40% of workers will require reskilling of six months or less. 94% of business leaders report that they expect employees to pick up new skills on the job, a sharp uptake from 65% in 2018.
This requires the workforce to move away from repetitive tasks and focus on value-added roles. In their book Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI, Accenture leaders Paul Daugherty and James Wilson highlight how this leads to new roles emerging, changing the nature of work as humans learn new skills to work with machines. The new AI-powered roles will require more creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and a hunger to learn and reskill continuously.
Focus on Non-Traditional Quotient for Holistic Development
Apart from having a high IQ (intellectual quotient) and high EQ (emotional quotient), having a high CQ (curiosity quotient) is crucial. Being curious is linked to greater learning, engagement, and performance at work. Curiosity about new technologies or novel ways of doing things can help you adapt to new job challenges. Asking questions effectively is a key communication skill and can yield information that enables you to solve challenging problems.
Another non-traditional quotient is AQ (Adversity Quotient) which is vital in helping today's youth have the upper hand in the modern corporate world. Some classic high AQ tendencies comprise optimism, a positive attitude, the ability to innovate and solve problems, agility, and accountability.
Self-Learning Resources are the Greatest Advantage for Today’s Youth
Today, technology has not only transformed our workplaces, but it has also revolutionized how we work. Now everyone has access to vast resources of information with just a simple tap. Thus, to equip oneself with the constantly changing dynamics, resources are plenty.
- Want to learn programming?
You'll find free video resources on YouTube
- Want to develop a new skill?
Simply sign up for an online course from some of the world’s best universities or sign up at nasscom FutureSkills Prime- India’s Technology Skilling hub at https://futureskillsprime.in/
The opportunities are endless. Today's youth can leverage the internet and the vast resources of learning that are available and make it their competitive advantage.
About nasscom FutureSkills Prime
FutureSkills Prime started as a platform with a vision to upskill/reskill every Indian citizen in emerging technologies. A novel skilling program initiative of Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and National Association of Software and Services Companies (nasscom), it incentivizes the cost of the eligible course(s), providing authentic and accredited certifications acceptable in the industry.
Written by Manoj Kalra, Sr. Vice President – DSM