Growth & Development

Lifelong Learning Is A State of Mind Lifelong learning is the pursuit of knowledge for personal of professional reasons which is best defined as ‘ongoing, voluntary and self-motivated’. So, who can we learn from? Literally, from anyone and anything! What we learned in primary school provided the dough for our roti canai. Who does not remember cookie dough or clay models? We get our hands dirty and have fun in the process. We were supervised and safe. We mixed the ingredients, felt them, and made them stick together. The whole process was trial and error. When we found the right consistency, the dough held together is elastic and smooth, ready to be made into our favourite Roti Canai. Our secondary school experience consisted of learning about how to perfect our Roti Canai. Transformation of basic products like eggs and ghee was not just fun, but definitely a challenge to create something that was aesthetically tasty and oh so good. We began to compare our competencies and talents to those around us. Although the final product may be the same, the process of getting there differs greatly. Our moments studying in higher education sees the potential of Roti Canai as a business venture. We look into areas within the business with great interest, i.e. service, finance, strategy, human capital or marketing. Having the knowledge about the specifics of starting a business increased by making connections between finance and marketing to ensure smooth service and maximisation of human capital. And while some of us might stop at the undergrad degree to start our business (if ever), others continue to pursue Masters to further hone the skills necessary to succeed. By the time we reach out to pursue our PhD, we will start to question if Roti Canai is indeed limited to a savoury dish. Does it have to be that way? We theorized what makes Roti Canai so famous. We test its variables such as origin, taste, size, and texture. We seek for other inspirations and other recipes where its original base evolved into Roti Telur or Roti Sardin. It changes in dimension and size and transforms into something more or less intricate depending on our mood. Now, consider thinking about our Roti Canai analogy. We rarely eat roti canai alone. It is the essential food that is meant to be shared. We eat Roti Canai when we don’t have the time to cook, when we feel like giving ourselves a treat, or when we are with friends or family. Lifelong learning to us is both social and personal. While we learn to make ourselves more marketable, we also impact those around us as well. Here are the benefits of lifelong learning as a strategy and philosophy. Making yourself more marketable – Listing new skills and competencies on a CV makes you more marketable. A future employer could find shorter courses or training sessions an advantage for your candidacy. Staying young – Lifelong learning keeps you young. You can touch base with your childhood learning experiences and help direct your children toward ‘better’ choices, or at least try to avoid the mistakes you might have made. Improving skills – When we are in the workplace, we rely on the skills and competencies acquired in both academia and our previous experience. But sometimes, doing a task the same way as we learned it or did it in the past, no longer suffices. Lifelong learning allows us to continue improving by finding new ways to do ‘old’ tasks. Being innovative –  It is easy to get into a rut in a job or career. We can become almost robotic in our motions. When the job is no longer fun, when Sunday night is depressing, it may be time to find new challenges. While we can’t all quit our jobs and seek fun, we can take courses in an area of interest. Testing our brains can make a ‘boring’ week an exciting adventure. Staying humble – As the years pass, we have earned the right to be considered a ‘master’ in our area of expertise…until a younger employee comes along and shows us another way, a different way, a better way. We may insist on doing things our way, the traditional way, the way we have always done it until we accept that this new, ‘other’ way is actually better. We don’t know what we don’t know until someone else points it out. From our customers, colleagues, communities and children. Keep your brain active and you will find the ‘fun’ in your job. After all, unwinding with a plate of Roti Canai with Dhal at the end of a long day is food for thought!

8 Digital Jobs Every Company Should Be Hiring In 2016, the World Economic Forum in a report estimated that technological advancements and demographic changes could lead to a net loss of 5 million jobs by the year 2020. A majority of these jobs are likely to be white-collar, office-administrative jobs. More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic has created a paradigm shift in the job market and the workplace with an emphasis on digital jobs. Here’s a look at some of the digital jobs every company should consider hiring to meet the challenges in the new normal. 1. Digital Marketing Executive Well, we are moving into a Digital Economy, so it’s only logical that the job of Marketing Executive gets a digital upgrade! A Digital Marketing Executive is responsible for planning, developing, implementing and managing the overall digital marketing strategy of a company. In order to remain competitive as a business, it is crucial for companies to embrace aspects of digital marketing such as social media presence or digital ad strategy to create and increase brand awareness. 2. Web Developer In a digital world, website development helps companies to generate more business and literally be seen by consumers. Web Developers are responsible for the coding, design and layout of a website according to a company’s specifications. Once created, a web developer then assists with the maintenance and upkeep of the website. Website development is fast becoming the most convenient way for consumers to learn more about the range of products or services offered by a company. Adapting to advancements in technology will also enable companies to distinguish themselves from their competitors. 3. Creative Graphic Designer A great graphic design has the ability to resonate with consumers. Increasing trends in the commercial world, show that consumers are more willing to look at images that may convince them to purchase a product rather than reading a document about it. From brochures to billboards, creative graphic designers effectively communicate the brand, product and services to the masses in an engaging way. 4. Digital Content Writer Another crucial component of branding is content writing. Written content enables consumers to engage and connect with the brand. Maintaining a particular tone and style through content writing helps companies to increase growth and their success. Digital content writers are valuable assets to a company as they are responsible for writing and publishing content worth reading and elevating a company’s brand presence in the market. 5. Social Media Marketing Executive Social media is rapidly becoming an important aspect of digital marketing. Companies that fail to leverage on their social media presence, will eventually lose out on large marketing opportunities as more consumers rely on social media to learn more about products and services. Behind a company’s social media updates, the messenger representing the views of the company to users are social media marketing executives. Social Media Marketing Executives are responsible for all social media channels, team members, campaigns to engage customers and customer satisfaction, including the creation of content for the purposes of brand awareness and engagement 6. Digital Office Administrator The conventional role of an office administrator has also evolved due to technology. Their work impacts every single employee and literally anyone who walks into a company. While digital office administrators are still responsible for the day-to-day activities of a business including billing, logistics and personnel, their job functions are now complemented by the use of technology and tools to increase efficiency and ensure smooth business operations. 7. Digital Sales Executive Companies that leverage on technology to drive sales have been known to achieve greater revenue and overall success. Digital Sales Executives are responsible for adding that human touch to technology in order to effectively connect, engage and attract prospective customers. This job category also involves digital marketing as it is closely tied to digital sales with social media marketing and online advertising making it more convenient for customers to learn about products or services offered by a company. 8. Data Analyst Technology is rapidly changing the way companies operate in the new normal. Data analysis, knowledge and skills have a significant impact on the success of a business. With data analysts developing a systematic approach to record, analyse, and present their findings, companies are able to make better business decisions based on customer trends to increase profits. Related Topics: Mass Comm Graphic Designing Broadcasting & Film IT Gaming Computer Engineering Software Engineering

Hot Jobs In The New Norm As we continue to adapt to the “new normal” of social distancing and working remotely for an indefinite period of time due to the coronavirus pandemic, the current job market has seen major changes in the types of jobs that are in demand during and even in the post-lockdown world. To help you prepare for your job search, here are some industries currently in demand and jobs to look out for. IT and Cybersecurity Overnight, technology has become more crucial than ever during this pandemic, and this is expected to last for a long time. As more companies rely heavily on technology to continue being in business, it creates a high demand in tech-related jobs such as Software Developer, App Developers and IT Tech Support. In addition, the increase in online transactions means that companies now need to safeguard their company from cybercrimes. Cybersecurity jobs such as Cybersecurity Engineer and Cybersecurity Technical Support has a great potential for growth in the future. Key skills Technical skills – Coding. For example, HTML/Javascript/Cloud Computing and other types of programming language Strong analytical and diagnostic skills Time management Good communication skills Digital Marketing As companies explore new markets and ways of doing business, digital marketing has now taken centrestage to develop, implement and promote marketing campaigns for products and services. As such, Digital Marketing Professionals are in demand as they understand the target market and strategies to gain more customer leverage. Key skills Ability to analyse data and market insights. UX skills, SEO and social media knowledge to develop and implement strategies that enhances customer experience Project management skills Content Creation With an increased demand for online services such as Netflix, Amazon, etc, there is a need for engaging content and design. Creative jobs such as Content Creator/Writer, Digital Editor and Graphic Designer are worth considering if you are keen of presenting ideas in various forms. Key skills Adaptability Strong language and research skills SEO knowledge An eye for detail Time management and organizational skills Logistics Due to the current social distancing and Conditional Movement Control Order, businesses are embracing e-delivery services via Grab and courier services. More restaurant businesses are providing their own delivery services. In this regard, delivery services rely heavily on Logistics Managers/Executives to manage the storage of goods and timely delivery to consumers. Key skills Industry knowledge Team player Good organizational and decision-making skills Adaptability Accountability Good interpersonal skills Related Topics: General Law Business Marketing & Advertising Accounting & Finance Mass Comm Graphic Designing Broadcasting & Film IT Gaming Computer Engineering Software Engineering Hospitality & Tourism Education Psychology

Do What You Love! How To Identify And Pursue Your Passion As Confucius said, “choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It’s great advice, but it’s not always that simple—it can be difficult to figure out what you love and how to turn it into a viable business or job. Here’s a step-by-step plan to identify your passion—and ways to help you turn them into a career. 1. Remember What You Loved As A Child Often, our truest passion emerge during our childhood, only to be limited by real-life pressures.  Think about what you loved long before you had to worry about your career. Writing? Science experiments? Taking care of people? Getting back in touch with those instincts is an important step in identifying your passion. 2. Eliminate Money From The Equation If money were no object, what would you do? Would you travel? Spend all of your time with your children? Would you start a charitable organisation to help abused women? Of course, money can’t be ignored, but don’t let financial pressures dictate your choices. Your career should ultimately lead to financial security, but if financial security is the defining motivator, it’s unlikely you’ll end up doing what you love. 3. Ask Your Friends For Feedback Sometimes you’re just not the best judge of what makes you happy. Ask the people who know you intimately when you seem the happiest and what you do the most enthusiastically. Their answers may surprise you. 4. Browse CourseAdvisor.Asia Find some quiet time and see which courses naturally interest you. What would you study if you could do it all over? What courses do you think you could teach? Which subjects scare you to death, and which ones do you find boring? Revisiting these possibilities will point you in the direction of the right subjects and topics that you love. 5. Identify Your Role Model or Professional Hero Of everyone you know, either personally or in your extended frame of reference (from your dermatologist to Oprah!), whose career would you most want to emulate? Reach out to her to learn more about how she got to where she is, or, if that’s not possible, read everything you can about her career and life. 6. Figure Out What You Enjoy That You Also Do Well After you’ve done these exercises, think about what you’ve learned. Focus on the things that you both enjoy and do well—whether you have a way with animals, make a killer lemon tart or crazy about origami—don’t forget to write them down. Then, narrow down the list to your top three or four interests. Review the list often and use it as a starting point when you’re plotting your career move. Getting Started Once you have a solid idea of what you love doing, it can still be a big leap to turn that passion into a viable career. Here are four easy steps to start making the change: 1. Talk To A Career Counsellor Career counsellors help others figure out what they want for a living, and they’ll have insights and tools to help you zero in on the things you love most and do best, and also be able to offer ideas and guidance on how to find a career that best suits those passions. Take advantage of those resources. 2. Leverage Social Media More than ever, we live in a social media world. Once you’ve identified what it is that you love, get busy on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, connecting with people who share your areas of interest. Read blogs, join forums, and find out what it’s really like to do what you love. 3. Start Saving Money Once you feel strongly that you want to start down this new path, start saving. A lot. The more money you have in the bank, the fewer financial commitments will influence your decisions and the less stressful it will be if and when you do quit your job. 4. Just Do It Ultimately, you won’t really know what you love doing unless you actually bite the bullet. Until you give it a go, it’s really just speculation. So, whether you take a small step like signing up for a class or you dive head-first into entrepreneurship, roll up your sleeves and do it. You’ll never know until you try. Related Topics: General

What Does The Future Hold For Jobs, Skills And Pay? Rapid technological advancements in this era have greatly increased productivity and improved our lives, but along with these positive elements of growth comes a slew of challenges in terms of the job security and income levels. According to McKinsey Global Institute’s latest report, “Jobs lost, jobs gained: Workforce transitions in a time of automation”, between 0% to 30% of the hours worked globally could be automated by 2030, depending on the speed of adoption. Tasks most susceptible to automation include operating machinery and preparing fast food, as well as tasks that involve data processing and collection, which will affect mortgage origination, paralegal, accounting and back-office transaction processing work. This does not mean, however, that jobs could be lost to automation, but rather workers may move on to take new roles and tasks. Will there be enough jobs to go around in the future? This would probably be the top question everyone has on their minds. And although it is a valid concern, history has shown that labour markets are surprising agile when it comes to weathering shifts in employment and sectors, and will naturally adapt to the changing level of demand for workers as a result of disruption. Also, it is expected that 8% to 9% of labour demand in 2030 will be for new occupations that have never existed. We can surmise from this knowledge that as long as there is sustained economic growth, innovation and investment across the globe, the impact of automation can be offset by the number of new jobs created. The bigger issue to solve would be to ensure that workers have the skills and support needed to transition to new roles – a failure to do so may well result in high unemployment rates and low wages. How will the rise of automation affect skills and wages? The shift to automation will inevitably mean that in the future, workers will take on roles and tasks that require the “human element” such as managing people, applying expertise and communicating with others. As such, we can expect that roles in the health and education sector such as nursing and teaching will be very much in demand and consequently, wages for these roles will rise accordingly. There will be little to no need for workers to carry out dangerous or exhausting physical activities in the line of their work, or focus on menial or repetitive work such as collecting and processing data. These are tasks that can be automated and the results produced would be far more accurate and precise than that produced by a human being. There will also be stronger emphasis on social and emotional skills and more advanced cognitive capabilities such as logical reasoning and creativity. And as with the basic economics of labour supply and demand, wages for roles that are no longer in demand will fall, while those that are will rise. How do we manage the upcoming workforce transitions? In a world where artificial intelligence and automation is widespread, it makes sense for workers of the future to acquire new skills that befit the nature and challenges of work in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and beyond. There is also a need to rethink the talents and capabilities you bring to the workplace and how you can remain relevant in the long term. According to the Report by McKinsey, there are four key areas that will need to be addressed: Maintaining robust economic growth to support job creation – putting in place fiscal and monetary policies that ensure sufficient aggregate demand, encouraging business investments and supporting innovation across industries. Scaling and reimagining job retraining and workforce skills development – encouraging lifelong learning and providing training for marketable new skills and mid-career refreshers for workers to upgrade their skills. Improving business and labour-market dynamism, including mobility – this involves heightening the level of fluidity in the labour market and encouraging labour mobility through the use of technology, e.g. employing digital talent platforms to bring together workers and companies seeking their skills, and making new work opportunities accessible to those who are keen to take them up. Providing income and transition support to workers – a successful transition to the new economy means nobody gets left behind. To do this, there must be financial, training and other forms of assistance to help displaced workers find gainful employment. Related Topics: General Law Business Marketing & Advertising Accounting & Finance Mass Comm Graphic Designing Broadcasting & Film IT Gaming Computer Engineering Software Engineering Hospitality & Tourism Education Psychology

7 Learning Trends In The Fourth Industrial Revolution The dawn of Industry 4.0 has fuelled digitisation and technological disruptions across all industries and shifted the focus to technology such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, 3D printing, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. Just as these new-age technologies have catalyzed big changes in business priorities and practices, digitization is leading to fundamental changes in the education sector. To ensure that tomorrow’s graduates are well-equipped to face Industry 4.0, here are 7 trends that are fast becoming the norm in the learning sphere: 1. Classrooms may no longer be necessary The growing availability of eLearning tools will allow students to learn at their own pace, time and place. Classrooms will become less of a necessity and only be used for practical, hands-on learning, with the theoretical part being taught outside the classroom or remotely. 2. Learning will be personalised The technology used for learning purposes will be able to give students a personalised learning experience. It will adapt to students’ capabilities and provide exercises to challenge their capabilities at their own pace. This creates a positive learning experience and that builds their confidence in their academic abilities. Teachers will also be able to better gauge which students require further guidance. 3. Focus on exams will be reduced With technology being used to assess students’ capabilities progressively, the Q&A method synonymous with current examinations may well become obsolete. Also, as students’ level of understanding of the subject matter can be measured during their learning process, their ability to apply the knowledge learnt is best tested when they work on projects in the field. 4. Data interpretation will take centre stage In the future, statistical and data analysis, as well as trend predictions, will be managed completely by computers. Therefore, future learning modules are projected to emphasise data interpretation techniques. Humans will be responsible for applying theoretical knowledge to numbers and deducing logic and trends from data, and these competencies are slated to become a key feature in learning modules. 5. Students to own their learning modules Students today don’t have much of a say when it comes to their school curriculum, and that is about to change. In the future, students will become progressively more involved in selecting and even shaping the content of their subjects and syllabus. Student input needs to be prioritised if educators wish to maintain a syllabus that is current, functional and all-encompassing. 6. Learning will be project-based With the rise of the gig and subscription economy, students must learn how to apply their skills in shorter terms across the board. Through project-based learning, students will pick up organisational, collaboration, communication, and creative and critical thinking skills that can be applied in their careers. 7. Mentoring will become essential for success The future will see students being given more personalized learning, and with this independence comes a need for proper mentorship. Just like today, teachers will be the go-to persons for students, even as learning locations, hours and methods change, and become the compass in the jungle of information that students will be wading through. Related Topics: General Law Business Marketing & Advertising Accounting & Finance Mass Comm Graphic Designing Broadcasting & Film IT Gaming Computer Engineering Software Engineering Hospitality & Tourism Education Psychology