Whether you are a fresher or an experienced professional, the need for learning additional skills and becoming digitally-oriented, regardless of the type of industry you work in is crucial, says Sachin Gupta

This global pandemic is definitely going to leave a long lasting impact on our lives, it has forced us to innovate and change the way we work and live. but it’s the immediate impact that’s more devastating and crippling. It has forced us to innovate and change the way we work and live.

Upskilling, the process of learning new skills that is being used extensively in the industry, is the only way to stay ahead in the game in a post-pandemic world.

Upskilling has been a pressing need for recruiters and organisations, long before the COVID-19 crisis came into existence. To overcome this virus spread uncertainty, companies are moving towards a more data-driven approach, paired with digitally-agile operations and automation. Upskilling, the process of learning new skills that is being used extensively in the industry, is the only way to stay ahead in the game in a post-pandemic world.

According to the McKinsey Global Survey 2020, 87 per cent of the executives said that they were experiencing skill gaps in the workforce. Whether you are a fresher or an experienced professional, the need for learning additional skills and becoming digitally-oriented, regardless of the type of industry you work in, is crucial.

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate of India stands at 7.7 per cent, as recorded in early August 2020 which has also exacerbated the global unemployment rate.

According to Campaign India, India ranks third in the list of top ten most targeted countries by cyber attackers. Organisations, therefore, require cyber security professionals who are experts in defensive or offensive mechanisms to make their systems hack-proof.

As per estimates, the cybersecurity employee base is expected to grow from the current 1.3 lakh to up to 3 lakh. Cyber security has become a major concern for organisations.

Here are some specification how upskilling is must in post-COVID-19 world.

Upskilling is the need of the Hour: Upskilling, the process of learning new skills that is being used extensively in the industry, is the only way to stay ahead in the game in a post-pandemic world. Now, the Coronavirus pandemic has made upskilling vital. Whether you are a fresher or an experienced professional, the need for learning additional skills and becoming digitally-oriented, regardless of the type of industry you work in, is crucial.

Early-skilling on multi-skill sets: The COVID-19 crisis provides several opportunities that young graduates and students can take advantage of, provided concerted efforts are made by authorities and educational institutions in identifying the gaps. The Government has also been proactively advocating the skilling initiatives in order to benefit from this window of opportunity and unlock the country’s true potential.

Additionally, policymakers have recommended the inclusion of ‘vocational education’ into the curriculum across all states education boards and educational entities, in a bid to equip students with skills from the school-stage itself.  On the work front, employers are likely to hire candidates who are highly motivated and possess multiple skill sets, as the nature of work is destined to change completely.

Become self-reliant through upskilling: The emerging trends in technology will require professionals at all levels and across industries to develop entrepreneurial skills in order to overcome redundancy and become more competitive and self-reliant. Upskilling will help individuals develop proficiency in technologies that are highly in demand at present, and will remain so in the future as well. It prepares them to be resilient and to withstand new challenges of this competitive world.

The writer is Chancellor, Sanskriti University