Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Education
Coding, the need of the hour and a skill for life
Excerpts from recent stories published in The Times of India and The Hindustan Times
The central government’s New Education Policy (NEP) talks about allowing students to choose coding lessons in school, starting from Class 6. Many experts believe it to be a positive move.
A number of private schools have already introduced coding as a subject for primary classes. The idea is to foster cognitive development.
Apart from that – coding skills could be valuable, later on, for pursuing careers in information technology (IT), data analytics, design, marketing, business, engineering and science, to mention a few.
A recent Indeed.com study says that 2020’s most in-demand skill is coding. This rapid transformation has made digital skills especially relevant, increasing demand for jobs in data, design, and development.
According to Upwork, freelance C++ programmers earn $55 an hour, SQL database developers earn $54 an hour, Python developers earn $53 an hour, and C developers earn $52 an hour.
Experts believe that coding has become so central to businesses across all sectors that the next generation will view it as an essential skill in order to keep up with the new developments. An education in computer science, especially coding, will give students the foundation for success in a wide range of different careers.
Career
5 things Nobel Laureates say you should do to be successful
Excerpts from a story published in businessinsider.com
In an increasingly connected world, it can be difficult to say no to 24/7 accessibility. How can we avoid turning into workaholics but still achieve our goals? Here’s some advice from Nobel Laureates:
1. Be passionate about the road you’re taking
Most of us spend the better part of our day at work. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, one-third of adult life is spent working. Research shows that one of the most important aspects of a healthy work-life balance is to feel needed, appreciated, and to be able to contribute to something of value. Nobel Laureate Daniel McFadden emphasises that it’s not about paying a price for success but to make success possible by choosing what we feel passionate about. You will feel better each and every Monday if you know that there is something waiting on your desk that you will enjoy working on.
2. Accept that you need a break sometimes
“Creativity is one of the great rewards of being an academic, and I think you do that best if you’re not doing it 100% of the time,” says Robert Engle, a financial economist and father of two. “My family expects and deserves equal share.”
Engle acknowledges that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is difficult, especially for people who push hard on their career. “I think you just have to decide this isn’t a compromise that you want to give up.” He’s a good role model in that regard, says his wife Marianne, a psychologist.
3. Demand more flexibility
Joseph Stiglitz knew he wanted to be a professor when he had to write an essay about his dream job in 9th grade. “I don’t know if I knew what it was to be a professor,” the Nobel Laureate of 2001 remembers, “but I knew it was a life of the mind.” Over the years, Stiglitz realized that his profession allowed him to live a more flexible life. “I haven’t had to face some of the tradeoffs so many other people have faced,” says Stiglitz. “Academia gives you the ability to control your time more. I’ve been able to work at home, play with my kids, and write.”
Flexibility in the workplace is something that employees expect today, and employers should provide it. More flexibility leads to reduced stress levels and increased productivity, a win-win for all parties involved.
4. Don’t be afraid of failing
Enough with the pressure. Angus Deaton, an expert on welfare economics, has an important piece of advice to share: Be easier on yourself. “You’re not really going to get anywhere in life if it’s all planned step-by-step from when you start,” says the Nobel Laureate of 2015.
Once the pressure is off, you are more likely to accept turbulent times. “I would tell young people not to worry too much about the meticulously-planned life,” says Deaton.
5. Lower your expectations
For McFadden, winning the Nobel was a gamechanger in many ways. Still, he would have been equally happy if it had never happened. “Don’t worry about whether there’s a Nobel Prize 40 years down the road or not,” he says. “Concentrate on doing a good job right now.”
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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Extremely motivating and inspiring. Thank you.
Dear Dr. Chaturvedi, so glad that you liked the post!