A RECENT report published by the World Economic Forum, titled The Future of Jobs, identified eight job categories that are expected to see growth and also indicated the loss of white-collar and administrative positions from the job market.
The job categories with a positive outlook include data analysts, computer and mathematical jobs, architects and engineering jobs, specialised sales, senior managers, product designers, human resources and organisational development specialists, and regulatory and government relations experts (see infographics).
This list is helpful because many students go through school not knowing what they want out of the experience, and are clueless as to where they are heading to in terms of which fields of study to pursue and what careers to plan for.
Prospective tertiary students may be undecided about whether to pursue an arts or science degree, the traditional divide.
For some, the choices may be clear-cut, such as science for those who wish to become engineers and astrophysicists and arts for those who wish to become teachers and broadcasters.
Students who already know what they want to be doing will have no problem with making choices.
There are also students who choose a particular course because of parental or peer pressure. In the case of the latter, the course is chosen because of its popularity among friends.
When deciding which degree programme is the best fit, students should consider what were their favourite subjects in high school, what are their current interests and what are the prospects for including those as a career.
With the Internet at our fingertips, the world wide web can be explored for career options and what are the expectations for each particular job, in terms of university course requirements as well as those of prospective employers.
DOING WHAT YOU ENJOY
Taylor’s University vice-president (business development) Ee Hooi Cheng said that making an informed decision about which area you would want to be in for the rest of your life can be daunting.
“Today’s youth are technologically-driven and with the Internet, easy access to information can also lead to over-information,” she said, adding that some may tend to follow their peers as well.
What about professions such as architecture, accountancy, computer graphics, geography and psychology, which embrace both the sciences and arts?
It is therefore not surprising that some students find it hard to decide, or even end up confused.
The question is not whether sciences or the arts is harder to learn, as that comes down to each individual’s aptitude towards one or the other.
Ee said that students who sat the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) would already have been streamed, while the curriculum in international schools is more integrated.
Azril Amir Jaafar, one of Veritas Design Group principal architects, shares his experiences and those of a course mate.
In secondary school, Azril belonged in the science stream. Following his A levels, he had the option of studying civil engineering or architecture at university.
He said that as it takes six years for one to become an architect, one who chooses this profession really needs to enjoy it as a career.
Azril said he ended up choosing architecture as he has always enjoyed drawing and designing.
He added that architecture training covers a wide scope that allows graduates to branch out into other design fields and also become builders, landscapers, interior designers and even animators.
He said that one of his course mates from the university is today working in the movie industry producing special effects.
Said Azril: “He’s probably earning more today doing that, but the point is not about earning more; the point is about doing what you enjoy more.”
BE BOLD
Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak branch lecturer Mohd Taufik Mohd Suffian said he has encountered many students who after SPM or Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia, still do not know what they would like to do for a living.
“I have seen with my own eyes, at expos where we promote our campus, the parents were more interested in getting information on what’s available, entry requirements and career options than the children accompanying them,” he said.
“My advice to students is to ask yourself, what kind of job do YOU enjoy? This is YOUR life, so it should not be dictated by others.
“Of course one still has to consult those who are paying for your education but be bold, know your rights and claim them.”
Mohd Taufik said that students should basically choose the stream that they are stronger in, judging by their exam results.
“If you do not get to pick the course you want because you do not fulfil the entry requirements, then choose something similar that you are able to qualify for,” he said.
“It is also not always a good idea to just follow your friends. There are some students who enrol in the same college and even same course just to be with their old friends.
“My advice is, be ready to make new friends. The more friends you have, the richer your life will be.”
Taufik added that students should not pursue a career just because it appears to be glamorous.
“I have a friend who was studying to be a doctor, then when he later realised his preference for physiotherapy rather than medicine, he switched courses. Well, better late than never,” he said.
KNOW YOUR PASSION
Dickson Channel Saban Omar, a student placement counsellor with Lincoln University College, said that students who know their passion and have the green light to pursue it have already overcome the main hurdle.
The problem arises if a student is keen on studying music but his parents want him to do medicine.
“Before even thinking of furthering your studies, do you even know what your
passion is?” said Omar.
“I’ve met lots of students who come to me asking which course they should take and my reply to them is, where do you see yourself in five years from now? They need to be able to answer that question.
“If they’re undecided about what course to take, I’ll ask them another question, one that is related to their hobbies because it plays a big part in their education. It’s better for you to study something that you love than wasting your time on something you’re not interested in.”
Omar added that those who are unsure about what course to pursue can attend education fairs where not only choices are on display, but questions will be answered at the booths as well.
CROSS-DISCIPLINE ELECTIVES
At Taylor’s University, prospective students who need advice will be gauged according to their academic competency.
“For example, if a student wants to pursue medicine but is weak in science subjects, we will advise the student to rethink that decision and also warn of the ‘risk’ of going forward, especially if there is involvement of professional body,” said Ee.
“Based on the student’s learning style, counsellors will be able to advise on the best option for tertiary education.”
Where career prospects are concerned, Ee said that for arts as well as science graduates, “the world is their oyster”.
She noted that for the majority of school-leavers today, business-related degrees are still the first choice, while architecture is also popular because it’s a marriage between the arts and sciences.
“I’ve noticed communications to be another key area because branding and image are areas that feature prominently today,” she said.
“Previously, students from the arts stream always remain in the same field but there has been a shift in trend which now sees science students opting for an element of the humanities field in their degree, which can be business, communications, design or psychology.
“Science students have better options and touch-points because, regardless of their degree, they can choose to work in any profession they want,” she said.
“Nevertheless, there is always the risk of being in a particular science degree which I do tell our students. At the end of the day, though, the choice is in their hands.”
Some subjects such as psychology, accounting and business are may be offered as either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree programmes.
In such cases, students can choose whether they prefer the broader sweep of the BA track or the more tightly-focused approach of the BSc track.
Taylor’s University offers cross-discipline electives to all students so that they are exposed to more areas that may be useful when they enter the workforce.
“Engineering students, for example, can choose to pick up a marketing module and medical students can take up an entrepreneurship module as their elective subject,” said Ee.
“At Taylor’s University, we provide the Career Profiler to help validate a student’s interest, passion, skills and abilities (combination of EQ and IQ) and match the results with suitable courses.
“We recommend every student take this test before they enrol in any course, which helps to lessen their dilemma or uncertainty about the academic path to take.
“Our students say they have found the Career Profiler to be very helpful as they can make an informed decision with their family after learning what makes them tick.
“Nearly all who took the test have found the results of the Career Profiler to be on the mark and have enrolled in the suggested courses.
“Additionally, to help students make the right decision, we provide general foundation programmes to allow students more time to think about their academic path.
“During the one-year Foundation in Art or Foundation in Science, they will be exposed to many areas and will have ample time to decide on their tertiary education at the end of their Foundation programme.”
Finally, the job market of today is one that has become even more competitive, less predictable and evolves rapidly.
With industries being disrupted by the digital revolution, students today must be ready for more game-changing scenarios to emerge when preparing for their future in the workplace.
It would therefore be a good idea to research on future job trends, if one wants to avoid ending up with a skill that will no longer be in demand five years from now.
And that’s where information from reports like World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs will come in handy.
General differences between BA and BSC degrees
Arts
• can customise to individual interests
• broad array of courses
• more writing skills involved
• develop skills like the power of expression
• may have more options career-wise
Sciences
• more focused on subject matter
• more concentrated on technical and practical aspects
• more analytical skills involved
• acquire skills that make one employable
• may be more restrictive career-wise