Is it just commerce or e-commerce?

An Economic Times article, emphasis that IIM graduates rush to join e-commerce companies today. The Indian e-commerce to be worth $20 billion by 2015, recording a 70% growth compared to the previous year.

Anything online years back could only be quoted madness or blasphemy. But the reverse looks to be happening these days.

In the digitally transforming world, nobody wants to pursue an ordinary commerce course rather develop skills that complement the ever evolving world. The hyper speed growth of the online portals today has shifted the mindset of a student, at least for the way they view education and knowledge. The spiraling high rate of online sales has forced the audiences to grab some knowledge of this medium and study it as a part of their conventional course to increased applicability, grow India’s e-commerce market at breakneck speed. This makes India one of the fastest-growing ecommerce markets in Asia-Pacific region.

The B.com degree, until about a decade ago, enjoyed the exclusivity of being the only degree that could be a student’s stepping stone to the world of commerce and business. However, now it’s been replaced by specialized courses which have their defined focus areas for concentrated experience and skill building.

While the commercial world is expanding, it is prudent for colleges to conduct courses that can train students in specific areas instead of conventional and clichéd subjects with zero relevance.

As time passes, India is bound to become one of the largest players in the e-commerce market, even stronger than its present status.

The courses must be put together in a way to facilitate it with job skills, keeping them out of the just “generic” courses matching the human and industry demands.

The evolution from commerce to e-commerce has been gradual yet disruptive. It’s changed the education system on the whole with better pay appetite, new hiring and better profiles offered.

The generic nature of regular B.com made it popular in the first place but the degree now risks being labeled as obsolete due to the availability of specialized courses offered by various colleges and universities.

The introduction of new niche specializations has changed the market scenario for students and aspiring professionals.

A course with its must focus on giving industry exposure should be the norm today. Universities need to have a strong interface with industry to understand and design the curriculum, impart employment-oriented soft skills and ensure proactive placement coordination. The courses must lend ease to the college’s burden of having to modify their syllabus to tackle the industry-academia skills gap.

The top B-schools can do a lot to increase the employability of their graduates than just offer ornamental degrees away.

Why skills win over knowledge?

Are universities and colleges teaching skills needed in technology based economy?

Maybe yes, they teach critical thinking, problem solving, research skills, and encourage original thinking, just the skills needed in today’s work force. But have we ever evaluated if that’s suffice to meet the ever-growing need of skilled professionals in the country?

Our job today is the pure exploration of new knowledge and ideas and pass on the acquired knowledge to the new generation. If any of it rubs off in the commercial world, we are good.

The introduction of specialized courses has sparked a debate as to whether it is more important to make students job-ready or give them a strong academic foundation. Skills have a powerful role play in our professional lives which fills the gap even for knowledge sometimes. Skills win over knowledge to catch up with the professional transitions:

• Skills puts a priority list in place:

The purpose of the skills-led approach is to prioritize and develop transferable skills like knowledge sharing, collaboration and empathy. The content studied is not as important as transferring their skills to any content or text, whether books, articles or multi-modal media.

• Skills people posses enhances their sense of self-worth, security and belonging:
• For many people, the acts of learning and mastering new skills are important in themselves. Possession of skills can be integral to a person’s sense of belonging and self-worth: many people define themselves by what they can “do”, not only in employment but elsewhere in life.

• Skills relate directly to employment decisions & career choices:

Those with relatively few educational qualifications & more learned skills are likely to be better employed and, on average, have good incomes when in work. This affects people’s economic standard of living as well as their security and ability to make choices about their lives. Skills are important for gaining access to services and for understanding and exercising civil and political rights.

• Employers are often looking for skills that go beyond qualifications and experience:

While your education and experience may make you eligible to apply for a job, to be successful in the role you will need to exhibit a mix of skills: ‘employability skills’.  This means that the specialist, technical skills associated with different roles may be less important than the ‘soft skills’ that can be transferred between different jobs and different employment sectors.

For employers, getting the right people means identifying people with the right skills and qualities to fulfill the role and contribute to the organization’s success.  Candidates may have the qualifications and ‘hard skills’ needed to be able to manage the job role but, without a well-honed set of ‘soft skills’, employers are less inclined to hire.

For leaders who are prepared to fill their digital skills gaps and ease the pressure on their companies by ensuring all professionals have a working knowledge of digital, this will be a period of opportunity and growth.

Attributes of New Age Professionals

The Professional Revolution is underway. The professionals leading the revolution have a new vision of work and the way they do focus shifts. Every professional wants to get results, but true fulfillment comes from much more than simply doing a good job. It is about continued learning and evolvement. The ‘new’ professional values work-life balance and job satisfaction as much as career advancement and a hefty paycheck. They are professionally modeling new work and new learning on the job. They not just perfect their existing skills but make good of the technological advancements in the world.

This is all of critical importance as this group is the vanguard of value creation in the new global knowledge economy and therefore has significant implications not just from a business/employer perspective, but also from the broader perspective of public, economic and social policy.

What changes do we see in professionals today?

As the global economy begins to emerge from the Great Recession, it’s becoming even harder to upkeep with the changing technological landscape.

• Professionals are adapting to new realities:

Professionals with unique perspectives and work habits embrace new ways of seeing and doing things that redefine a productive path forward.  They are open to adaptions and they believe in the ‘survival of the fittest’.

• Professionals have the knowledge, passion & innovative mindset to build, grow & revolutionize business:

Professionals today are geared up for new knowledge centers and consistent up gradation. However, new solutions are needed to motivate, align and inspire today’s global professional to ensure continued productivity, growth and a better future for all. Today’s professionals have the skills and innovation mindset that will lead us toward renewed hope and optimism.

• Professionals believe in value creation over money creation:

The Professionals today repose faith in “No Six-Figure Pay, But Making a Difference.” They are largely put at places that involve high risk factor like start-ups & entrepreneurial ventures. They are paid less than half of what they could be making in more traditional settings and companies. These young professionals are choosing to move to cities that may be unknown and companies just getting started. And they are thriving. They place trust in making a career that indicates their value.

• Professionals desire to bring their authentic selves into their work:

They also want to work for a company that mirrors their values and are motivated by the ability to make a difference. To be purpose driven, socially and globally connected, and filled with the excitement of acquired knowledge.

• A new focus on collaboration, community & a sense of purpose:

The professionals today have a new vision of work, socialization and the quest for purpose. They believe in the knowledge that defines them and gives them career freedom. They are ready to dedicate their lives to fomenting radical change. They are prepared to break the law. They, more than others, recognize the fragility of the structures of authority. They are embraced by a vision that makes compromise impossible. Revolution is their full-time occupation. And no revolution is possible without them. Fundamental shifts are transforming the global workforce that requires new solutions to motivate, align and inspire today’s professional to ensure growth and a better future for all.

Essential skills for all Jobs: Bridging the digital divide for better employability

There is an acute real education crisis meaning the college degrees serve as unnecessary pieces of paper.At a juncture when the percentage of employers facing difficulty in finding skilled workforce is 48  percent in India, one wonders what it that we are turning out from our universities and colleges. These are pointers to the nature and efficiency of our education system. Against this, the job market is increasingly being redefined by specific skills. The entire skills set required to work in a company that competes at the global level has undergone change, and education, particularly Higher Education, cannot afford to overlook the new realities of the 2nd decade of the 21st century.

Digital resources are scant and would need immediate action to bring about complete transformation in the digital culture of companies.So you want a job in social media which has the maximum number of job opportunities, there are a number of areas of knowledge, skills and attributes that you need to possess. A few skills that might work well upon all stem jobs are as under:

1. An urge to learn with the digital changes:

Keeping on top of the latest changes and trends in the social media world can be a massive task, but the fact is that you need to know what is happening and why. This is not a fixed pay job to be done; you need to be switched on! Read blogs, follow the right people on social media platforms and interact online and offline. Keeping up to date on social media and digital shifts in the industry will make the change resistant tendencies to move towards better growth.

2. Content writing ability:

What is social media based around? Communication. Social media allows businesses to communicate with customers, prospects and wider ranging stakeholders. If you can’t write you can’t communicate. You need to be able to write in different styles, tones and of course in an appropriate manner for the different social media outlets. Your writing has to be highly adaptable so pick examples from across industries and sectors.

3. SEO knowledge:

Search Engine Optimization is a huge area that is an expertise in itself. You need to have a strong understanding of how social media affects search engine rankings. And of course, you need to know how to work some SEO magic into your writing. Keyword research, use, linking so on and so forth. Bear it in mind and start working SEO reading in to your learning.

4. Technical skills:

Anyone need not be a technical geek but the basic nitty-gritty is a must. Many can’t encode, or struggles to change image sizes. However, it’s good to use a number of blog CMS, Facebook pages and basic optimization to a web page. The very basic points are good for a user to know and interacting with the social media platforms. Also, how to work with the technical geniuses to make sure what you are creating is working from a user experience point of view.

5. Marketing acumen:

SM is just another channel of digital marketing. Focusing on only SM could lead to missed opportunities or a reduced overall skill-set. Ignoring the fundamentals would be a bad move. Digital marketing combined with traditional marketing is the key. Consumer perspective into consideration should be a real focus for you.

6. Analytical skills:

Social media use will throughout a number of facts, figures and indeed stats. You need to be able to identify the ones that offer true value and allow you to build a picture of the success of your work. When you have worked out the best metrics for your activity, you need to be able to pull them all together, analyze the heck out of them and then work them in to a presentable output. Learn how your results can be used to mould future activity.

7. Entrepreneurial potential :

The perceived value of social media is higher than ever, this is due to strong case-studies that show real success. Despite this, people in many businesses still struggle to see the value or quiver at the thought of opening up their brand to the social media masses. Illustrate why the social media space is right for them and ultimately change their mindset. With the right preparation, knowledge and drive, it can be a whole lot easier

This is some food for thought for anyone that is looking to work in a role that involves social media. Most companies naturally recruit professionals to fill positions that rely heavily on hop scorching through the digital social realm.

Why choose Social Media Sciences over the extravagant courses offered today?

Postgraduate study is not necessarily built on the skills acquired at undergraduate degree level but on competencies, interest areas and existing market opportunities. The pursuit of any form of study to enhance future career prospects is a gamble, but by engaging with the available opportunities, it can also be a worthy investment. As the possibility of unemployment looms for many, more than 500,000 each year choose to pursue further study in the form of a postgraduate program such as a master’s. The motivation behind this decision is often related to belief that a higher-level qualification will result in a better job. But does the CV addition of a CA, CS or MBA or any related or unrelated professional course actually improve employment prospects?

As per a news article in Deccan Herald published on the 25th Dec’14, The State government will soon conduct a survey to ascertain the reasons for the dwindling number of applicants for MBA courses in the recent years. A strange situation, however, prevails throughout the country with a number of MBA colleges being shut in the last five years, according to All India Council for Technical Education. Getting a job you want is about more than just a qualification nowadays. Continuing education is clearly important, but the value of a master’s degree depends on what you do with it. Often, though, postgraduate study can be about changing direction rather than specializing, and social media sciences can enhance career options. A master’s program can also be a significant way of networking to secure later employment opportunities. But the question is that all we want? Dedicating a year to a subject is advantageous, but it takes more than that alone to improve employability. Use this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the space, market and opportunities in the social media avenues to transfer into a complete professional. Just another course is not a guarantee for a successful career; it’s only an evidence to have reached another level of education. It’s undoubtedly considered be hale just a most sought-after graduate degree but the same expensive generalized program can make it difficult to stand out in a huge crowd of pass outs. A degree is not valuable without relevant job skills; it must enhance chances for better job opportunities.MBA is quite general in nature as far as the course curriculum is concerned. Hence, if you are willing to delve into a specific area, MBA isn’t a good option. Any knowledge seeker must never stop learning as we know it’s a growing process. These courses have a humongous cost to be paid; therefore its inability to get a good job is as good as deterrence.

Social media jobs are growing with time & can provide an edge in career pursuits. It’s evolved into an often-essential practice for companies across industries. It’s become quite critical to embrace the power of social media networks and build a digitally enlightened society. There’s a spiraling rise in social media jobs more so because they form an essential part of any company but there’s an ever growing dearth of people who are professionally trained in the relevant skill sets and deliver results as per the changing scenario. The growth of social media will fuel the creation of new jobs across various employment categories. Working in social media can be an exciting and challenging career for anyone and everyone, ambitious of a potentially growth oriented career shift. However, it’s essential to acquire the skills and knowledge that employers are seeking. By developing the social media expertise, top companies are looking for professionals that can boost their credentials and provide an edge the working members to advance in their current positions or switch to a new career path. mid-career professionals seeking to re-enter the workforce may find it advantageous to gain these increasingly sought-after social media skills.

Social media seems to be the current buzz term that dominates job and career strategies. Slowing economic growth seems to have taken its toll on another profession—chartered accountancy. Fewer companies are recruiting chartered accountants, or CA, whose job spans auditing and accounting, tax advice and financial planning and has traditionally been a rewarding career. The job scenario for fresh CA’s, CS’s and MBA’s has been clouded by the economic slowdown. There is a direct correlation of placements with the country’s economy. On the contrary many social Media opportunities abound to increase competitive advantage, converting into skilled market leader and also generating numerous employment opportunities in this digital era of working professionals.

a humongous cost to be paid; therefore its inability to get a good job is as good as deterrence.

Why digital skills are a must for the next job you seek regardless of your profession?

Can you understand and drive digital strategies? If not it’s time to learn how, because in our increasingly digital lives almost every job now has a digital element to it. That’s why digital skills have become a necessity for anyone looking for their next job. We all live in a digital world and whether we like it or not, most of us now work in digital jobs. The digital revolution has touched the lives of virtually every consumer and business around the globe. As a result digital strategy – and along with it digital literacy – is growing in importance.From CEOs assessing the threat of cyber crime to marketers looking for the latest trending platforms, digital skills are now needed at all levels in most job functions.For example, rather than customer service representatives in call centers, today we see more live chat attendants who will interact with customers online and on social media. And rather than traditional sales forecasts, today people are using big data to make more precise predictions.Even today’s senior manager needs digital expertise to be able to locate knowledge, assess how valid it is, and then work with others to determine what to do with it. For job seekers to take advantage of this new jobs growth, it is important to continuously update your digital skills. Regardless of the profession or industry you work in, organizations want to recruit, retain and develop digital skills across their entire business.In recognition of this new digital age, education systems need to adapt. All jobs now have a digital element. Given the fast pace of technological advancement, employers look for candidates who are open to change and can adapt to a constantly evolving digital environment – whether that’s in their marketing, accountancy or logistics department. Digital changes are impacting all aspects of business and candidates today need to show they are digitally proficient, up-to-date with the latest technological advances related to their job function and industry, and possess the ability to lean into the changes of a digital world.

     

In the war for digital talent, the statistic stands out with an alarming 90% of companies lacking digital skills. That statistic alone should spur even the most apathetic of organizations into action. However, many are not heeding the warning signs. This is a surprising and worrying trend, particularly given that skills are so key to success in the new digital economy. Innovation is also a concern. Many organizations continue to lean on traditional methods to build skills, such as recruitment drives and training. This conservatism is surprising given the success stories that exist. Wal-Mart and Nike are some of the examples. Innovation does not need to stop with acquisition and incubation. The initiative was to scale up Internet marketing initiatives, and enable cross-pollination of skills. Even the skill-sets and DNA of today’s talent are changing. Today, and increasingly so in the future, technical talent will need to speak the language of the business while business professionals must have a complete understanding of IT, way beyond a vague grasp of the right acronyms. The quest for such “hybrid professionals” is already underway. Building these new talent pools requires a new approach. It’s a different battle-ground and a fierce one, not least because of the chronic shortage of digital talent.

Digital Skills To Create a Digital India

The colleges’ today guarantee to prepare you to enter “the real world.” But chances are the degree, as hard-earned and valuable as it is, doesn’t equip you with every digital skill you need. They’re guaranteed to increase your overall digital know-how, and you can learn them all on your own.

Digital skills could be basically the knowledge, skills, and behaviors used in a broad range of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs, all of which are seen as network. It’s expected that technology will become even more intuitive and ingrained in our daily life, and this leads to one important conclusion: the better equipped we are to handle this technological shift, the better our adjustment to it. Some digital skills are no-brainers.

As per an article in The Economics Times published on the 3rd of Dec’14, U.S Intel has said that it will work with the government through its `Digital Skills for India’ program to benefit five million citizens by the end of 2015 with skills to compete in the global digital economy. Intel has collaborated with BBNL (Bharat broadband Network Ltd) to realize the goal of Digital India and make the use of digital skills epidemic and expand its reach to the grass root level i.e 1000 panchayats. As a part of this pioneering effort, Intel India has also launched the Digital Skills Training Application that features modules on digital literacy, financial inclusion, healthcare and cleanliness in five Indian languages.

There is a felt growing shortage of digital skills in people which handicap their talent to be spread out and reach a considerable section of the community. There’s a contact struggle to fill digital roles for the future too.

There’s a dire need to close the skills gap in the Millennial Workforce. The education today fails to meet the business needs.

Technology has become so integrated in everyday life that we can hardly remember what the world looked like before our multi-device, constant-connectivity fantasy future became today’s reality.
Digital skills are the part and parcel of the today’s higher education and professional life. Neither can it be ignored, nor is its value undermined.

While digital natives, people who were born in the digital age, will have no trouble obtaining digital literacy, for the rest of us, the digital immigrants, a more conscious effort is needed to become competent digital citizens, capable of coping with and making the most out of our daily practices.

 A report in The Telegraph reports suggests that a failure to understand the opportunities within the digital workplace by parents, pupils and teachers, has, in part, led to this digital skills shortage in a country like Britain.

‘Digital Skills for Tomorrow’s World’ must be the only motive while structuring any educational curriculum. Whether you want to start a business, get a head start before the changes to the new curriculum set in or simply see what all the fuss is about.

 

Young people need to hone their digital skills for future proof careers. It’s just as important as food for life. Survival in today’s digital industry is nearly an unavoidable situation. Digital is increasingly becoming the bread and butter of everything we do; it’s how we communicate, how we consume our news, how we shop and how we entertain ourselves.

But it’s not just the scale and pace of the digital revolution that makes it exciting; it’s also the fact that it’s being democratized. No longer reserved for IT departments and tech companies, digital is becoming a critical part of every industry and is opening up opportunities across sectors.

What’s clear is that technology now refers to a new world of exciting opportunities, especially for young people, who have a key role to play in the evolution of our digital economy. As the first generation to have grown up with the internet, they possess the native digital talent that others simply don’t. This is an asset, and young people should be doing everything they can to develop and showcase these skills to employers and businesses.