The recent news about TCS staff layoffs sent tremors through the industry. Last month it was AWS and Microsoft who announced layoffs. Some shrug of news like this: Oh, it’s just X% of their magnamous global workforce. But think about the thousands of hardworking professional who toiled throughout their life for academic excellence? So what matters now?
A 90%+ university aggregate score or even a GPA-4 score does not guarantee anyone a secure job in these uncertain times.
Employers now look for candidates with core skills and domain knowledge – and I will refrain from using “AI”. It’s also about softskills, thinking skills, communication skills and problem solving capabilities.
Our education system needs a complete overhaul to include all of the above.
For instance, UAE schools have started teaching AI skills from Kindergarten onwards, and it is compulsory. Our educationists need to have that kind of visionary thinking if they want to ensure more jobs.
The shadow education system of private classes are like factories churning out “toppers” who can secure 90%+ but many are not job ready.
Full page newspaper advertisements with headshots and percentages of toppers are pure marketing and PR for their business. Case in point: “All-India top ranker”.
A few years later, those same toppers are sitting on the bench or asked to leave because their respective companies are “restructuring”.
It’s a sad global trend.
Employers expect new joinees to hit the ground running – there is no time for reskilling and training.
I urge every student to make their own investments in reskilling and learning and there are a ton of online resources available. Tech companies like Microsoft, AWS, IBM, NVIDIA and others offer free courses.
Also go for events and meet people – speak to people in the industry to get a sense of what is going on. And read business magazines and newspapers. Keep your ears to the ground.
Finally, be a student for life.
Be employable through continual reskilling.
