Given the layoffs in IT industry, it’s important to keep in mind and understand skills that are becoming outdated and being replaced by new skills which are highly in-demand.
Jobs in fields such as manual testing, tech support, system administration have become outdated and are being effected by the developments in the field of A.I, machine learning, automation and robotics process automation based systems.
Moreover, with newer developments in artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation and cloud computing, which help complete the job with less manpower, software companies are now having to reconsider their strategies.
Furthermore many software developers are at the verge of losing their jobs as they fail to upgrade their knowledge to newer technologies. With AI based platforms that automatically make your website come into existence, web designers are going to get hit hard. Many other programmers might feel the heat too from these automated development platforms.
However, there is surge in demand for latest and innovative technologies like data science, artificial intelligence, hardware product programming, machine learning and digital marketing. These are the fields where demand is higher than supply and hence people with these skills can get a premium on their salaries.
In fact, some of the sources that provide good skill based courses along with their fees are as follows : –
▪ Training + Certification (Around 35000 to 45000)
▪ Training at free or nominal pricing, Certificate at around $350 from renowned university
▪ Universities and offline training institute are also offering these courses
At this point, you must be thinking about the R.O.I of these courses.
Job cuts in Indian I.T. companies will be 1.75 -2 lakh per year in next 3 years, due to under- preparedness in adapting newer technologies hence it is better to invest money right now and be prepared for the future jobs, rather than thinking of R.O.I of the certification program. Although, as mentioned, due to lack of skilled individuals, people equipped with these skills can charge a premium in terms of salary.
Furthermore, in my opinion, one must have the 3 Cs to sustain in the uncertain Job Scenarios :-
▪ Complex Problem Solving Skills which involves computational thinking and solving real time problem
▪ Creativity & Innovation
▪ Critical thinking
If you are in the I.T. industry, get started in new domains which can lead to employability. Furthermore, just knowing the basics isn’t going to cut it. People need to establish themselves as authority in their chosen field and have expertise in it.
Furthermore, the Trump administration has been cited as one of the major reasons behind the layoffs. It won’t be right to blame Trump, for he has fulfilled the election promise of giving jobs to local people including IT professionals by tightening H1-B visa norms, which were being misused by companies by paying less to foreign professionals working in US. It is for companies to tackle the situation, and such situation they have undergone in previous years. It is not new for them. They know to tide over it or at least this time, need to learn how to tackle such situations.