We need to position graduates for the employment market of the future

At this time of career choice for Leaving Certificate students, there is a lot of anxiety about choosing the right course to position students for the employment market of the future. It is very difficult to predict the direction of the market even for four years out and even more so as we move forward. The Internet of Things and automation will continue to move at a pace that we have not witnessed before and repetitive, robotic repeatable roles will continue to disappear.

This does not mean that people in repetitive or administrative roles will become surplus to requirements, just that they will have to evolve their skills to adapt to the new work environment. It is imperative that people continue to up-skill in terms of technology and education to prepare for this guaranteed job evolution.

Jobs that our children will work at in years to come have not been invented yet

At a recent Irish National Supply Chain Conference, industry leaders from global companies such as Flex, Logitech, Pepsi and Maxim felt that many of the jobs that our children will work at in years to come have not been invented yet.

Article by Ken Murphy (Director, CareerWise Recruitment)

One example of this is within supply chain where the position of a purchasing executive has transitioned to a buyer/planner and now to a supply chain analyst. The view at the conference is that the volume of data analysis required to make accurate forecasting predictions is becoming so complex, that the new breed of supply chain professional will be a data analytics scientist.

In my opinion, this evolution of role focus is relentless and so it is advisable to arm our graduates of the future with the ability to analyse and adapt to changing role requirements if they are to be successful in the future. The choice of course does not define your career direction for life, but really just arms you with the tools to help you cope with the dynamic world we live in.

Joe Robbins

(Director) BBS (Hons), MBPICS – Shannon Office

Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.

He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.

He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.

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