Recently we have seen a rise in retrenchment from most industries and this has been attributed to the current recession the country is going through. But I want to posit that though the recession is one of the factors, it’s not the only one neither is it the major one.
I tried thinking back to remember the last time I visited the bank for a transaction. It must have been a few months back, not because I haven’t been making financial transactions but because I can conveniently perform these transactions from my mobile device and this applies to must people. I now ask, why won’t the bank downsize its staff if their services have been replaced by technological gadgets.
With the recent technological revolution, a lot of mainstream jobs are being overtaken and to be frank, the employer saves more money when there are technological alternatives to various jobs rather than keeping staff on a monthly salary. Also, these technological alternatives have proven in most cases, to be a much more efficient means.
As much as we might want to deny the fact, the truth remains that most mainstream occupations are presently going through a period of rapid evolutions and in less than no time, most jobs will phase out, the machines will take over. The question now is, how does one remain relevant in these changing times?
To remain relevant one has to evolve with the times. We need to realize the job market is moving towards skill-based and adapt towards that. You need to ask and find out the latest skills needed to remain relevant in your field and endeavor to master them.
That you have a certificate is not a guarantee of a job neither does it guarantee job security. What most employers are asking is what relevant skill you bring to the table. So you have to go and find out what are the relevant skills in your industry and master them.