Mr. Zairus Master,CEO,Shine.com
“With cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning becoming more and more integral to business operations in the IT/ITES sector, the demand for professionals with evolved, tech-led skillsets will only increase further in 2019. Expertise in areas such as data compliance and cybersecurity will also be much sought-after, given how critical data privacy and information security have become in the global business discourse. I also foresee organisations collaborating with reputed online learning platforms such as ShineLearning.com to undertake large-scale upskilling and reskilling of their in-house talent. This skills-centric approach will benefit both the employers and the employees; while recruiters will be able to seamlessly address the growing demand for skills within their organisations, professionals can access significantly better career opportunities by upgrading their existing skillsets. With rapid technological advancement paving the way for a high-growth, high-value jobs ecosystem, we can expect continuous learning, unlearning, and relearning to become the motto of the new-age workforce”.
HR trends for 2019 on behalf of Mr. Zairus Master,CEO,Shine.com
With a host of innovations & technological changes knocking on metaphorical industry doors, recruiters can hope to welcome 2019 with an upturn of new HR Trends that are soon to hit the industry. Let’s dive into the details.
The Rise of AI
It’s official — Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. AI is soon to make its place in the HR industry. A far cry from the traditional method of scanning resumes, arranging interviews, and taking weeks together to finalize a candidate; the use of smart systems drastically cuts the time-to-hire. The use of algorithms and data-driven insights also helps reduce biased hires by solely focusing on candidates’ skills.
Offsite Working Stations
As organizations look for talent beyond their home towns, the need to have remote working options is surfacing. A secure technological solution is imperative. The rise of a culturally diverse workforce has also propelled the need for telecommuting options. Thankfully, the use of Augmented Reality and video-interviewing tools provides seamless solutions to realize remote working options.
Superior Candidate-Experiences
While the number of graduates and qualified individuals is on the rise, it has become equally difficult to find applicants who identify with an organization’s culture and brand values. According to a survey by KPMG, more than one-third of the applicants were ‘put-off’ by the exhausting recruitment process. But not for long! Companies are now opting for a more interactive hiring process with personalized recruitment strategies to ensure that their choice of talent chooses them back, and not their competitor.
Improved Hiring Accuracy
2019 will witness the development of quality-based talent pipelines which will further improve hiring accuracy. The use of AI and predictive analysis can further simplify the hiring process, by picking candidates with skillsets and achievements that match the given requirement.
Atypical Working
Atypical working seems to be a trend that is set to continue in 2019. In 2018, we saw a massive rise of atypical working practices unfettered by court judgments on Uber and Deliveroo. On the employment front, most strikingly, is the number of individuals looking to break free from the regular office ‘9 to 5’ routine and engage in more flexible working patterns that better support their lifestyle. Smaller professional services organisations, such as IT start-ups already embrace this trend, allowing it to have quickly have become the industry norm. However, what we often see is smaller businesses consolidating, opening offices and bringing people together in a shared space.
Redeployment
The integration of people development, productivity increase, and learning is going to rule in 2019 as well, 'closely linked to this is ‘redeployment’, which means continuously developing the skill sets of people, so that they have competencies that not only meet the future needs of one’s own company, but of the market as a whole as well.
Will jobs be replaced by automation? If yes, to what extent?
Yes, automation will definitely take over certain job roles. As per a report titled The Future of Jobs 2018 by the World EconomicForum (WEF), technologies such as AI and machine learning will displace around 75 million jobs by 2022 – and create around 133 million new jobs within the same time frame. More importantly, these newer jobs will pay more and offer better growth than the low-value ones being eliminated. That being said, blue-collar jobs will continue to grow, as technology has not yet evolved to a level where it can replace the last mile connectivity in delivery jobs.
In order to benefit from the lucrative career opportunities that this tech-led shift will inevitably usher in, the Indian workforce will have to significantly expand its existing capabilities and equip itself with new-age skillsets demanded by the jobs of tomorrow. Employers need to undertake large-scale upskilling and reskilling of their existing talent pools in order to meet the current skills demands of the modern business landscape. Professionals, on the other hand, will have to equip themselves with newer, in-demand skills on a regular basis. Constant learning, unlearning, and relearning – that will be the only mantra which can ensure success in the digital-led, tech-driven world of tomorrow.
How was the year 2018 for the IT sector on behalf of Mr. Zairus Master,CEO,Shine.com:
“2018 was a year of many changes for the Indian IT sector. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics have become more embedded within the day- to-day operations of IT/ITES companies. Leading players in the space have also monetised their advanced capabilities by extending technology-led business solutions to their clients, apart from bolstering their internal operations. The growing integration of technology within business processes has driven significant growth for the sector. From a jobs standpoint, however, this growth is yet to fully translate into concomitant gains for Indian IT/ITES professionals.
This disparity is not because of a lack of jobs; as per a recent report, there are around 50,000 unfulfilled vacancies in data science and machine learning profiles within India at present. A large segment of the country’s IT/ITES workforce is simply not equipped with the skillsets needed to avail newer and better professional opportunities. As a result, while the demand for new-age skills has never been higher, most professionals in the domain find their long-term career prospects severely limited by a lack of relevant skills”.
How do you foresee the jobs/ skills / talent priorities for the upcoming year in the IT sector on behalf of Mr. Zairus Master,CEO,Shine.com:
The demand for new-age skillsets in the aforementioned fields will only increase in the near future. This is why, in 2019, we will witness a significant shift towards prioritising expertise over experience. Organisations will hire skilled professionals with competencies in advanced technologies on an unparalleled scale to meet their growing talent demand. With these developments in mind, certifications and accreditations from top online learning platforms such as ShineLearning.com will become pivotal in helping new-age talent to stand apart from their peers. We will also see companies looking to complement their existing talent pools with large-scale reskilling and upskilling initiatives.
What are the challenges for job seekers on behalf of Mr. Zairus Master,CEO,Shine.com:
At present, the biggest challenge facing Indian jobseekers is the disparity between the demand and supply of skills. Most new professionals joining the workforce are armed with generic skills. The industry demand, however, is for specific skillsets and specialisations. Professionals equipped with advanced communication and cross-functional skills are also much sought-after, but such talent too is in short supply. This mismatch is adding to the growing problem that jobseekers are facing. The business landscape in India is evolving at a pace that the academia is not able to match.
As a result, graduates miss out on crucial contemporary skills that are vital to the tech-centric jobs of today. Overcoming this massive skills-gap will be no mean feat, but it is not impossible. Top online learning platforms such as ShineLearning.com are providing professionals with an opportunity to upskill themselves with in-demand skills. By providing seamless access to curated courses, world-class faculty, and high-quality content, such platforms are helping the Indian workforce gain the skills it needs to succeed and thrive in today’s tech-led business landscape.
