We are all facing the 4th industrial revolution and this will cause much anxiety to workers and job-seekers who feel that getting a dream job will be out of their reach. They may feel that their prized jobs may be taken over by robotics and automation. This will send many of them into a sense of helplessness and even self-denial.
Are we now in the midst where robots start to seize the new workplace and be more desirable as employment prospects as compared to their human counter-parts?
Are we facing a cold and desensitised workplace that may no longer dwell on innovation and creativity?
Here are some tips to face this new workplace.
Research
You must take a deep interest in the development of your industry. You can start by reading the latest news online or attend conferences by industry-experts.
Certification
You have to find out if you have obtained the required industry-recognised certification to continue working. If you are unsure, you should seek the advice your relevant trade association or mentors.
Understand your job scope
This is the best opportunity to re-look and analyse your job scope. With this in your mind, do reflect if your knowledge of all the intricate processes have been thoroughly updated. Are you fully-competent about the entire running of your specific industry?
Automation
After a thorough analysis of your particular industry, be open-minded enough to decide which part of your job scope can be totally automated. That’s right. You heard me right.
It is better for you to face the inevitable and try to study which area of your current job will be removed from your daily work processes. Preparation is key to prevent over-reaction.
Quantification
You should also try to quantify the newly-revised time that is allocated to you to finish your original work. Then you have to see how you can expand your responsibilities or have shorter working hours.
Job Redesign
This can be your best opportunity to look at a job redesign and perhaps see how your job is relevant in the whole organisational process. In this way, you may find that there may be a need to change the main location of your work to further harmonise with the entire work process. This will cause you to use less effort and be more productive within working hours.
Skills Upgrade
After your expected job redesign, you have to be proactive in researching about the new skills that will be needed for you to adapt to the new workplace. You have to be constructive and future-oriented in locating the proper new skills and how your company is able to pay for your full training fees. Of course, in return you may have to sign a bond to stay with your company for a given period of time.
Remuneration
You have to find a good time to discuss with your HR about how you hope to be remunerated. This is very crucial because the HR may be using outdated KPI to judge your productivity. In the past, this will result in you having salary that is way too little.
Open-minded
Let’s face it. You are now in the age of disruption where change is the norm, not the exception. Thus, you must be willing to be adaptable and open-minded not to be too stubborn in using old thinking to complete the job. It is no longer business as usual.
Different generational forces
You are now part of a workplace that has different generational forces with unique biasness and experiences. Keep the dialogue going to be knowledgeable about the specific terms of your employment contract.