A few years ago, we embarked on an AI-driven fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) with quantum leaps in technology, converging the digital, biological, and physical worlds. This led to many ‘tech disruptions’ with newer technologies quickly replacing the existing ones, impacting every aspect of our lives, especially the education and career scenarios.
Science fiction is fast becoming a reality with technologies like extended reality, generative AI, holographic communication, facial recognition, brain-computer interface, robotic surgery, etc. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), 85 percent of the specializations expected to trend in 2030 do not exist today! Hence, the only constant is change requiring continuous learning and unlearning, re-skilling and upskilling, inventing and re-inventing!
CAREER TRENDS – 2025 to 2035
Continuous digital transformations will occur in all careers, along with hybrid models of real and virtual worlds—just as you are experiencing presently.
Moreover, Artificial Intelligence will drive most jobs, from Agriculture and Environment to Education, Finance, and Medicine, resulting in optimization and greater efficiency. Already, most of them have acquired a digital avatar, e.g., e-learning, digital marketing, e-sports, immersive art, UX/UI-oriented design, e-commerce, e-governance, fin-tech, telemedicine, cloud kitchens, digital media, etc., with hybrid work-from-home options.
There will be a job crisis. Millions of jobs will be lost, but millions more will be created. AI will not replace many of these, but professionals with AI competency will replace those without it.
The development of high social-emotional-creative-spiritual quotients will enable us to ‘outsmart’ smart technologies, requiring a predominance of ‘hi touch before hi-tech.’
There are now numerous opportunities for students to upgrade their knowledge and skills through high-tech online learning platforms like Coursera. Hence, they have multiple, flexible pathways for learning and earning.
With infinite educational and career opportunities, it is imperative to make informed decisions to tap one’s inherent potential to the fullest. There are no ideal careers, only ideal choices!
Most careers can be accessed from any subject combination. Interdisciplinarity is the key to shifting from STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths!)
Microsoft, in its study ‘The Future Computed,’ has underscored this by stating:
“If AI is to reach its potential in serving humans, then every engineer will need to learn more about the liberal arts, and every liberal arts major will need to learn more about engineering….skilling-up for an AI-powered world involves more than science, technology, engineering, and math. As computers behave more like humans, the social sciences and humanities will become even more important. Languages, art, history, economics, ethics, philosophy, psychology, and human development courses can teach critical, philosophical, and ethics-based skills that will be instrumental in developing and managing AI solutions”.
Moreover, choosing subjects based on one’s aptitudes, talents, interests, and aspirations develops one’s intellect, cognitive skills, and creativity. These are essential requirements for any career. The stereotypical linear ‘equations’ or connections, e.g., PCM = Engineering; PCB = Medical field; Commerce = CA and Management, are far from relevant today. So, let’s reset our mindset for a career by design and not by default!
With such fast-paced changes, rather than preparing for any specific career, we must have domain knowledge and expertise in our areas of interest. There is increasing emphasis on competencies over credentials and skills over degrees! The essential cross-functional employability skills are:
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Creativity and Originality
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Digital Literacy
- Initiative and Enterprise
From survival of the fittest, today’s dictum is the ‘thrival’ of the fittest and quickest! Pivot swiftly and change tracks when necessary. Become a lifelong learner with a growth mindset and ‘flexpertise’. Be prepared for at least five career innings and a ‘gig economy’ wherein your sources of income could be multiple and diverse – for example, playing in an orchestra, designing an app and managing an event, or teaching or investment banking. So, you now have opportunities to pursue more than one true calling in life!
The ICS (Institute for Career Studies) mantra is:
‘Know Yourself, Inform Yourself, and Plan for Yourself for a career by choice, not chance!‘
Remain connected with your ‘inner net’ to fine-tune your educational and career choices to your unique frequency by combining what you are great at and what you love doing. This will culminate in a job giving you purpose and meaning in life, fulfillment, and happiness. Recognition and remuneration will follow.
Have you checked out our previous blog yet
The 3 Essential Elements of a Winning Statement of Purpose (SOP)
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