July and August is the season of fresh graduates, looking forward to facing a brave new world of economic independence and a fresh set of challenges, away from the comfort of high schools and colleges.
But it is also a nervous time, as new entrants to the job market are faced with the prospect of having to choose professions which will define their future.
It is said that students are getting ready for jobs which don’t even exist yet. According to career counsellors worldwide, data entry, assembling and bookkeeping are jobs which will disappear in the near future as Artificial Intelligence takes over and such jobs become completely automated.
Just as switchboard operators and telegraphists were sidelined as jobs by the turn of the 21st century, computers have ensured that many other jobs that require information retrieval will cease to exist as data becomes more accessible.
What is a fresh entrant to the job market to do then?
It is distressing to know that years of education have come to little and that there is no ready make job waiting for fresh graduates, whether from school or college.
Finding a fresh way of looking at career options is most necessary. Accepting that traditional jobs may be on the way out. It is important for young graduates to look closely at the emerging market to see where their competencies and interests may lie.
Suggestions often given to those who are new to the job market include performing a thorough self-assessment, identifying interests and how they may fit into the professional world, making lists of potential areas of employment and reaching out to potential organisations.
Most important, however, is to be aware of changing trends and patterns, and to see the shape that the market is going to take in the next few decades.
This involves being well read, keeping an active network, both digital and personal, and of course, continuing to upskill.
For new entrants, the guiding principle should be to find the sweet spot between passion and necessity. It would be great if all our passions led us to prosperous jobs, but this is not always the case.
Some of the swiftly emerging professions include those in healthcare and technology. These have vertical potential as there are vast opportunities all along the ladder.
Other areas include biotechnology, social media development and data analysis. Small businesses and self-employment are also becoming very popular, given the opportunity for work-life balance that is a rising concern.
Very few degrees prepare students directly for the jobs which are now in demand. That is of solace to the many who may wonder how to use their Majors. Employers are now less concerned with GPA and Majors, and more with the effective skills that the prospective employee demonstrates. These traits include leadership, team spirit, independent and critical thinking and collaborative skills.
The most important quality, however, is curiosity — the curiosity to know, to discover, to learn and to do. With sufficient curiosity and investment in oneself, a graduate is surely prepared to enter the exciting new world of the workplace.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
