At DeMont, we believe in empowering students with transformative educational experiences that unlock their potential and equip them with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven world. Recently, we proudly organized the first batch of the DeCODE program, a groundbreaking initiative that immersed students in the fascinating world of computer science. Through hands-on activities, exposure to cutting-edge concepts, and a deep dive into relevant industry topics, the program sparked creativity, ignited passion, and paved the way for students to become future leaders in the computing field.
The DeCODE program was designed to infuse creativity, enhance problem-solving abilities, and provide practical exposure to various facets of computer science. It aimed to equip students with invaluable knowledge that holds significance across industries, as technology continues to push boundaries and present new opportunities. By introducing students to the foundational principles of computer science, the program highlighted the diverse pathways available for those who aspire to pursue a career in this dynamic field.
The four-day program immersed students in a range of captivating topics, including Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, and Data Science. By delving into these cutting-edge subjects, students gained a comprehensive understanding of college-level academics in the field of computer science. Through interactive sessions, engaging discussions, and hands-on projects, they acquired the skills needed to solve complex problems using programming and software development principles. The program not only provided knowledge but also nurtured students’ passion and curiosity, fostering their growth as future tech innovators.
Upon completing the DeCODE program, each student was awarded a certificate of participation, recognizing their commitment to mastering the intricacies of computer science. This certification serves as a testament to their dedication and expertise in the computing field, setting them apart as individuals who have embarked on a transformative educational journey. Armed with this recognition, students walked away with newfound confidence, prepared to embrace the vast opportunities that lie ahead in the world of technology.
What does it mean to future-proof your career? Simply put, future-proofing your profession is going above and above to get yourself ready for a workforce that will change and largely depend on technology. So instead of waiting for technology to replace your labour, you’ll take proactive steps to position yourself so that potential employers can’t afford to pass you up.
Thinking globally: Geographical limitations are becoming less important in several industries. Because of this, it is likely that your clients, co-workers, and stakeholders will come from different countries in the future. Dealing with individuals from various linguistic, cultural, and racial origins is a requirement of a global workforce. By accepting jobs that demand international travel and learning a new language, you can develop the skills necessary to succeed in the global workforce. Learning about different cultures and expanding your knowledge of how people operate abroad can make it easier for you to find employment in the global economy.
Adopting a “change is inevitable” mindset: This could go a long way in ensuring that you aren’t threatened by automation and anything the future might hold. For starters, you can plan as you do today and be prepared to modify your route at any time. Additionally, as your surroundings begins to change, keep an open mind about what this transition may bring – and be ready to face it full on – rather than resisting it and falling back into old habits.
Learning New Digital skill: This is one of the best methods to gain the self-assurance required for this new technology-driven environment. One ought to be tech-savvy rather than tech-averse. It pays to brush up on your project management skills as well because project management is another field where robots won’t be able to compete as the human touch is still required. Asking yourself how you can use technology to increase your productivity is another way to look at this. If you’re a marketer, for instance, this can involve becoming aware of crucial technologies that can speed up the analysis of your work and performance tracking. But it might also result from setting up automation that simplifies the path of your customers. The philosophy underlying those procedures is all human-powered, even though the robotics of automation can be set up and performed by a machine.
Expanding Existing Skillset: You may have already noticed that having a college degree no longer distinguishes you from other candidates. The secret, then, is to never stop learning. Continue to learn new things on your own and pick up new talents, especially in-demand ones like web or app development and cyber security. Professionals can do this most effectively by registering for online courses. Your career will be set up for future success thanks to these new skills, which will help you stand out to employers.
As you keep your technical skills fresh and aim to add a few new ones to your digital toolkit, you shouldn’t overlook your soft skills. The technical aspects of your job might be automated by a robot, but soft skills like leadership, collaboration, communication, and time management still require human expertise. These soft skills are in great demand and will remain so if technology does not advance to the point where robots can demonstrate the same emotional intelligence as people.
Building a Digital Portfolio: Even though most individuals don’t frequently Google themselves, you should make it a practice to do so occasionally to discover what information your digital footprint contains. It’s time to build a stronger digital portfolio to replace these older, less professional versions of yourself if your Google search still throws up some unflattering links to your college years. These are some actions you can do to leave a better digital trail for your professional life. Create an online portfolio to display all your awards, participate professionally on sites like LinkedIn and Twitter or others well-known in your sector or niche, and write material showcasing your professional experience.
Each of these actions will simultaneously assist you in future-proofing your career. Finally, keep in mind that opportunities and beneficial advances are just as likely to come in the future as our upheaval and uncertainty. You may look to the future with hope and enthusiasm if you act right away to future-proof your job.
We understand the benefits that come with having guest lectures, especially for our students. At Demont, there are an overwhelming number of opportunities for students to learn from prominent individuals across a variety of fields. The session by Dr. Maiss Ahmad on ‘Are leaders born or made?’ proved just that.
Leaders are emerging by developing their inner skills, whether managing a growing business or a big corporation. Numerous studies have demonstrated that people can be developed into leaders. If this is the case, then anyone can choose to become a leader. Qualities of a good leader include self-awareness, relationship building, constant & consistent, empowering others, and many more.
Different examples were discussed about the leadership qualities possessed by successful leaders at present. Such as Jack Ma, founder of Ali Baba who does not believe in getting involved in the day-to-day decision-making of the employees. He prefers to stay away from the micromanagement scheme. He always pushes his employee to grow well in their own creativity. One learner mentioned the leadership quality possessed by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime Minister of UAE, like self-confidence and innovation. He strongly believes in, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
To conclude the session, it was mentioned that leaders may have innate personality traits and intellectual propensities that give them the potential to lead effectively. Leadership can be developed with the help of hard work and all the necessary qualities required to become a successful leader. You can be a good leader with a strong desire and willpower. The learners also shared their viewpoints in the form of small group discussions. The knowledge given by Dr. Maiss Ahmad will be fruitful for our learners and they will implement the same in their learning journey with us.
Testimonial
Shahroze Shoukat
BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Business, Pearson UK
After completing our CTL Program and being part of the Guest Lecture by Dr. Maiss Ahmad, I’ve got to learn a lot of new things when compared to just a few months back. I now know what it takes to be a leader, how to communicate with people, and how to work in teams, all of which would come in handy before stepping into the workplace. My experience at DeMont has been extraordinary and there’s nothing more I could ask for!
DeMont Institute of Management and Technology arranged an academic field trip to Al Rawabi Farm for its students. The visit gave our students an idea about the role of technology in running a successful business. For instance, the shade installed for the cows was equipped with the latest technology. To monitor the cows, they have at present 25 veterinarians and 13 assistants with them.
During the visit, our students observed various management skills adopted at Al Rawabi such as:
Interpersonal Skills
Leadership skills
Organizational skills
Apart from the above, our students also gained knowledge related exactly to the farm industry such as:
Understanding of animal welfare and health issue
Pasture management
Farm industry Standards and safe farming practices
In the end, our learners had a small question and answer round with the employee of the company. The session was handled efficiently by the respective person in charge from Al Rawabi. During this session, it was shared with us that robots are used for packaging as the packaging process is fully automated. The fruits for the juices come from different countries like India & Pakistan (Mango), Orange (USA), and New Zealand (Apple), etc. The whole industrial plant is under sanitization every day from 2 – 4 AM. This statement compelled our learners to imagine the hard work required by the employees working in the industry.
The field trip proved to be valuable for our students as it offered them exposure to real-world experiences, reinforcement of classroom lectures, and encouraged students to have curious minds. Our students got to learn about the different functional areas including production, operations, quality control, marketing, distribution, etc. Having the opportunity to experience business operations in real-time has significantly enhanced our students learning experience and knowledge. Overall in-depth knowledge has been acquired by our learners with a token of love from Al Rawabi in the form of packed juice and croissant for each visitor while returning from the tour. As a lifetime memory, we clicked the group picture at Al Rawabi.
Here’s what our students have to say
Aldrin James
Higher National Diploma in International Business, Pearson UK
The industry visit trip to Al Rawabi Farm helped us understand the different aspects of running a diary business. We got to see a live tour of the cows, the poultry feed and their living conditions. The factory manager explained to us how the manufacturing, packaging, distribution and all other process comes together. We were shown how the milk was extracted from the cows and how the company operates and sources its resources. After the tour was over, we were given free samples of Al Rawabi juices and snacks and we had a couple of good photo sessions. I learned from the trip to Al Rawabi how the industrial process of manufacturing takes place and the efficiency of distribution time in a business where the product has a shelf time before hitting the market.
Mustafa Mire
Higher National Diploma in International Business, Pearson UK
One of the most unforgettable days of my life was the Al Rawabi Farm field trip organized by my university. Together with our friends, we learned the process of organizing, planning, leading, and controlling resources for the successful functioning of a business. I would like to thank my university for providing me with an opportunity to visit Al Rawabi Farm which made me realize how organisational structure matters in any business firm. It also tells me ‘’the art of getting people together and working towards a common predefined goal’’ which everyone should strive to do.
In recent years, technological advances have allowed machines to perform many jobs previously performed by humans. As a result, workplace efficiency and productivity increased, and manpower requirements decreased. Some may worry that increased use of technology will lead to fewer jobs being available, but this may not be the case. While it is true that some jobs become obsolete as technology advances, new jobs are also created to replace them. For example, as automated machines become commonplace in manufacturing, workers who know how to operate and maintain them will be needed. In addition, the increasing use of technology also opens new opportunities for entrepreneurs who can create innovative products and services that solve people’s problems. Overall, the positive impact of technology on jobs and their future is clear. With the continued development of technology, even more, positive effects on working life and the economy can be expected in the coming years.
Here are the top 5 job sectors that have improved due to technology.
1) Advertising and Marketing: The digital age has seen AdTech evolve, and new media platforms emerge. The advertising space available to brands is greater than it was 20 years ago, and it will continue to grow in the future. The next decade is going to be an exciting time to witness how artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality impact the industry. Advertisers can communicate with the public. More content is available to consumers. The last decade has seen steep growth curves in websites, social media, video platforms, on-demand television, and audio. In addition, different platforms were created during this period, resulting in a change in daily media consumption. The average time people spend with media has also changed rapidly depending on the media environment.
2) Education: Technology is such a big part of the world we live in. Many jobs that did not require the use of technology in earlier years require the use of technology today. There are many more computers in homes than in previous years and more and more people know how to use them. Children and adults use technology every day to surf the web, send text messages, social networks, play interactive games, and more. We are a developing technological society and, in many ways, depending on its use. Thus, using technology and teaching students has become a priority in public schools. Students live in a high-tech world today. Most students use some form of technology daily including messaging, social networking, and web browsing. Students find this type of technology useful and very enjoyable. Those same students who are used to these types of technologies are connected to the use of technology in school. If their learning environment reflects the ways in which they interact with the world, they will be successful in their education (Christen, 2009). Technology can transform the classroom into an interactive learning environment.
3) Healthcare: Healthcare technology has provided healthcare with advanced tools to improve patient care. With an EHR, doctors can easily access a patient’s complete medical history and make informed decisions. Doctors can even use apps to identify potential medication errors and improve patient safety. Virtual Reality (VR) devices and applications help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression in the elderly and people with mental health problems. Augmented reality (AR) also helps surgeons perform complex operations. Both virtual reality and augmented reality devices can help improve patients’ health and fitness. Some examples, such as robotic knee replacement surgery and gene therapy in cancer treatment, show that health technology will only grow exponentially soon. In conclusion, it can be said that technology has revolutionized healthcare, and this should continue in the coming years. Although developed countries have been able to use health technology more effectively, developing countries have not lagged. Today, more and more healthcare providers are realizing the untapped potential of technology and using it to streamline processes. It cannot be denied that healthcare and technology go hand in hand, and professionals must make the necessary changes and investments to improve the quality of healthcare.
4)Banking: Banks have always been associated with long queues and overwhelming paperwork. However, the demand for labor and paper has decreased dramatically because of the technological development of banking. The adoption of futuristic technologies has also gained recognition in the banking and financial sector. In technology introductions, customer service improvements and system upgrades are rapidly gaining acceptance. Mobile wallets, online deposits, e-bill payments, and other similar financial features have become standard in recent years. Artificial intelligence is at the core of the transformation of digital banking due to the increasing demand of customers for digital banking services. In a year marked by the Noteband – an 86% drop in the value of money in circulation in India on November 8 – cash payments rose by 22% in October 2016 compared to October 2015, indicating that Indians have steadily increased their acceptance of various things like digital payments. CLSA predicts that the value of digital payments in India will triple by 2026, reaching $1 trillion from $300 billion in 2021, thanks to the government’s initiative to increase financial access through simple bank accounts, Aadhaar cards, and mobile connectivity. In addition, these advances are largely followed by the expansion of fintech and new banks that make the entire banking process more convenient and effortless for customers.
Errors are reduced and data is better protected. When banking depended entirely on human precision and expertise, errors and mistakes became more common. Human abilities are limited; therefore, they tend to miss details or make miscalculations.
5) Retail: The introduction of point-of-sale equipment, bar codes, and a large billing and payment database storage capacity has made it simple to manage large setups. Operations can be recorded in a structured and methodical way, allowing for an in-depth look at sales and transaction volume. The country’s sales volume has increased due to electronic transactions. Sales have increased because of payment flexibility and cashless transactions. Maintaining competitive advantage through customer retention and acquisition is made easier with effective communication. Although it may be difficult for retailers to implement new technology, the ease of use and cost-effectiveness drive the demand for new innovations. Businesses’ expenses and inventories must be monitored by big stores. The focus of retailers can remain on retaining customers through innovative strategies because automated machines and high-end computers simplify the process. Security systems also make shopping safer for both customers and retailers, which gives them a lot of mental relief.
Final thoughts
Technological advancement has changed the way we all work. Jobs that aren’t experiencing rapid growth are still experiencing rapid changes in the adoption of technology, requiring to hire professional in those skills. These changes have brought about higher level of productivity and helped in creating promotion opportunities for others.
The cost of replacing employees, especially productive ones, is high for companies, which is why they place a high value on employee retention. The loss of talented employees can also strain existing employees, who need to take on extra work until those roles can be filled. In light of this, retaining your top employees should be a priority for your organization. These days, keeping your most valuable employees isn’t easy. There is a vast difference between how past generations viewed employment and how it is viewed today. For millennials, job hopping is a common practice in the workplace. To attract top young talent, employers need to use innovative recruiting strategies to find and hire ideal job candidates.
Source: VantageCircle (2022)
To prevent talent from leaving your company, you must not only recruit the best people but also nurture and engage them. Most companies find it troubling and challenging to deal with the “Great Resignation” (also known as the “Great Reshuffle”). If businesses believe their most important assets are their employees, retaining them is critical. Reviewing current policies and implementing new communications and procedures that will make a difference isalso helpful.
So how can you keep your best employees?
This blog post outlines a few ways to do it.
1. Onboarding and orientation
It is imperative to set every new hire for success from the outset. During the onboarding process, new employees should learn not only about the job but also about the company’s culture and how they can contribute to it. Whether in person or virtually, the training and support you provide from day one can set the tone for an employee’s entire career.
2. Employee compensation
A better-than-average salary and excellent benefits are obvious ways to retain top workers. As an incentive to stay with the company, you can also offer a retention bonus. You can also improve employee job satisfaction by improving health care benefits and retirement plans. Employees will remain in their jobs for longer if they are well-compensated and engaged. Your employees’ wages should be tied to the performance of the company. The company’s revenue and profit goals will be aligned with their interests, and it will serve as an inherent incentive for them to stay.
3. Communication
With hybrid and remote work on the rise, good workplace communication has become increasingly important. If your direct reports work on-site or remotely, they should feel comfortable approaching you with ideas, questions, and concerns at any time. To promote timely, constructive, and positive communication across the entire team, the organization needs to do its part.
4. Continuous feedback on performance
To show employees that you are listening to their feedback, many employers are abandoning the annual performance review in favour of more frequent meetings. During these meetings, employees discuss their short- and long-term professional goals, enabling them to visualize their future within the organization.
5, Training and development
Technology continues to change how we work, so it is especially important to upskill employees today. By upskilling, people gain new skills and competencies. Organizations should prioritize investing in their employees’ professional development. Make educational opportunities available, such as virtual conferences, tuition reimbursements, or financial support for continuing education. As a method for building leadership skills and advancing professional development, succession planning is extremely important. When employees aren’t allowed to grow in their organizations, they feel irrelevant.
6. Work-life balance
Working remotely has made it easier for people to avoid going to the office. Remote work offers employees the flexibility they desire. For two working parents, a flexible schedule is essential. It does not mean that they won’t work the same number of hours, but that they can manage their work outside of normal work hours. Job satisfaction depends on a healthy work-life balance. Management needs to be aware that people have lives outside of work, and that maintaining a balance can be even more challenging when working from home. Your best employees can benefit from flexibility.
7. Acknowledgement of milestones, big and small
A great way of promoting employee retention is to shine a light on notable achievements. Whether your team finishes ahead of the deadline on a major project, or a worker reaches a fifth work anniversary, seize the opportunity to mark the milestone together. Even if you need to celebrate virtually, it can be a meaningful and memorable moment for everyone.
8. Great work environment
People will stay at a company that celebrates diversity and makes them feel included. A more interactive and engaging work environment has replaced the drab, permanent cubicle type of workspace. It is becoming increasingly important for companies to enhance their office environments to retain top talent. With amenities like free coffee and snacks, a pool table, and fitness and relaxation rooms, employees won’t dread going to work. Happy hours on some days, birthday celebrations, and parties as rewards for successful projects are effective ways to motivate your employees.
9, Effective change management
Aside from the recent disruptions caused by the pandemic, every workplace is subject to change, both good and bad. These times require insight and reassurance from leadership. If your organization is undergoing a major change, keeping your team as informed as possible can ease anxieties and keep rumours at bay.
10. Don’t micromanage
Employee morale is hurt by micromanagement, and employees are deprived of the opportunity to achieve better results for themselves. Put more emphasis on facts and results than on the process and have feedback revolve around whether or not set expectations have been met. By reviewing their results, employees can determine if their process was successful. They can see what they are doing right and what is leading to their success, as well as how they need to adapt.
In conclusion, organizations must constantly strive to improve if they want to reduce employee turnover and increase employee satisfaction. In addition, they need to prioritize their employees’ overall well-being, which will strengthen their entire organization. Eventually, some of your team members will leave your organization, but they will know they are valued and supported, and they may even recommend your company to others.
College is a thrilling stage of life that is full of enjoyment, fear, dreams, and obligations. Here, kids learn how to be organized, responsible, knowledgeable, and aware to prepare them for the future. But as the saying goes, taking the first step is the hardest. This is what happens to kids when they travel far from home to study.
It may be challenging to adjust to a new location because of the warmth and comfort of home, the love and care of family and friends, happy memories, and a sense of belonging to the city one has lived in for a long time. It can be quite difficult to acclimatize to new culture, climate, and surroundings.
A university is a new environment that triggers different reactions among first-year students. Thus, life at university for the first year can be exciting and challenging. The university terrain is drastically different from that of the secondary school in which the students had been attending their education before they joined the campus. Students get anxious as they adjust to the academic, social, personal, and lifestyle challenges that the university presents.
The combination of many stressors of university life, such as planning for the future, struggling with exams and assignments, coping with demands and challenging professors, deciding on a major, and transitioning into financial and emotional independence, can be an overwhelming experience for many students. Hence, almost all new students go through an adjustment phase upon entry to a university with each student varied in his or her own pace of development.
Transitional difficulties are not a sign of weakness or failure, but rather are frequently the start of a better and more fulfilling college experience. Slowing down and realizing that this is a change in your life that you desperately need can help you adapt to the surroundings. Consider your time in college as an opportunity to develop and improve. Recall the factors that led to your decision to attend college. Keep in mind all the effort, diligence, and planning you put into selecting the right college and course. There are a few methods to handle living away from home when you attend college.
Give yourself time to adjust: Allow yourself to get adjusted to college life. Be open to getting along with people around you, speak, and sort out if there are any issues. At times just speaking with someone makes an impact and can bring down the stress level. Also, interaction with people gives you an opportunity to get to connect with like-minded people, gain good friends, reduce stress, and ease loneliness.
Stay organized: When you prioritize an organization, you give yourself time to focus on what really matters, like your much-needed sleep. Organizing your daily schedule and tasks allows you to concentrate on what needs to get done that day instead of being distracted by things around you.
Join clubs and activities: College is the best place to work on your hobbies and interests. Join different clubs as per your interest such as sports clubs, theatre clubs, art clubs, and public speaking clubs. Get involved in campus activities. These activities will help to boost confidence, help to make new friends, and build connections.
Explore: Exploring new places is also a great way to keep yourself entertained. When you’re exploring, you’re learning all the time. Understanding new cultures, food, history, and language could broaden your horizons.
Regular communication with your family: Call your family and friends or leave them a large text about how they would have loved your favorite place (if any) tell them that you are missing their stupid habits and relive those moments by replaying them in your head. Talk to your family, initially, it would hit like a train but soon enough you will be getting peace from having the knowledge that they are always there for you. Talk things out before they destroy your mental peace.
Personal care: As you work hard to advance your career by advancing your education, the last thing you want is to get bogged down by unnecessary stress. It’s clear that self-care in college is one of the primary ways to balance stress and ensure overall wellness as a busy student. Making your well-being a priority in this way can help pave the way for continued success in your educational journey and beyond.
Keep in mind that everyone finds college challenging. No one is ever completely alone. You may be pleasantly surprised by how much enjoyment can come by just choosing to accept a new experience.
Part-time jobs have become increasingly popular over the past few years with many students successfully combining their university studies with part-time work. Working part-time offers a great opportunity for students to earn extra money while studying. Other benefits include gaining work experience, building self-confidence, developing administrative and leadership skills, discovering new interests, and meeting new people. Part-time jobs, however, are not without risks if students take up jobs at the expense of their academic work. There is the risk of reduced academic performance due to reduced study time, missing classes, and in the worst case, dropping out. To reap the benefits of studying and working, therefore, requires some balance, effort, and discipline.
Choosing a Part-Time Job
There are ample opportunities for students to take up part-time jobs these days – on-campus, off-campus, and online. The first step is deciding on what kind of job the student wishes to take up. One good way of approaching this problem is to figure out the reasons why the student wants to take up a part-time job. Is it to make extra money or is it to gain some transferable skills or is it to network and make new friends or for some other reason? Students should also consider how much time they can spare in a week. International students on a student visa should comply with the visa rules when considering part-time work. While traditional jobs for students require work shifts, remote jobs offer increased flexibility and more autonomy besides helping in digital networking and skills development.
On-Campus Part-Time Jobs
Campus Ambassador: This is a great on-campus opportunity for students who enjoy meeting new people and working in a team. Campus ambassadors have the responsibility of promoting the university and encouraging prospective students to enroll.
Teaching Assistant: A teaching assistant assists professors in classroom activities and helps students overcome any academic barriers. This on-campus role provides an opportunity to advance in studies too.
Research Assistant: Research assistants assist professors or senior researchers on research projects. While the job would depend on the department but essentially, the research assistant is expected to work on various projects, carry out research, collect data, perform experiments, and collate results.
Library Assistant: A library assistant is a role that can be taken up at the university library or at a library nearby. The responsibilities include routine, daily library operations such as shelving books, helping visitors locate books and other reading materials, and recommending useful books.
Off-Campus Part-Time Jobs
Restaurants/Catering: Restaurants and catering work often offers flexible hours and shifts. Duties involve waitressing, waiting tables, reservations, or at times even some cooking. The job can sometimes be tough, and physically demanding work, but a good server can make extra cash through tips. Many colleges and universities hire students to work at campus cafes.
Retail Store: Working as retail store assistants in bookstores, pet stores, drug stores, clothing stores, technology stores – or any other will provide students the opportunity to acquire customer service and interpersonal skills on the sales floor. These jobs would require more effort as they may involve long hours of standing and a fair amount of product know-how.
Paid Internships: Paid internships are a great employment opportunity for students as they can provide valuable experience to help them find a job in their desired field after graduation. Besides equipping interns with knowledge and skills, internships will help in growing one’s professional network.
Online Part-Time Jobs
Social Media Manager: The role involves creating brand promotions, analysing customer engagement, and communicating with potential customers. Working as a part-time social media manager will provide exposure and develop communication skills that will help with a career in marketing after graduation.
Freelance Writer: This is a good opportunity for students with good command over written language. A role as a freelance writer involves writing website content, blogs, product briefs, etc. This will help in enhancingthe student’s knowledge base besides enjoying the writing at one’s own pace.
Graphic Designer: Freelance graphic designer would be a good option for students who have some proficiency in software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Sketch, and Figma. Graphic design has applications across a wide domain and students can make use of their design and creativity skills for earning extra money.
Virtual Assistant: A virtual assistant offers services such as data entry, schedule management, record maintenance, and answering customer questions on social media sites like Amazon and LinkedIn, etc. This is a role that gives flexibility and at the same time experience in administrative tasks.
Next steps
While you consider which part-time job is best for you, it would be advisable to prepare a resume and practice your interview skills. Look up videos regarding interview etiquette, search for resume templates and prepare for the most asked interview questions in your preferred field of work. It’s always best to come prepared, so you can not only have a better chance of getting hired but also help you develop your soft skills.
It goes without saying that having a full-time job and managing studies is challenging. At Demont, we aim to tackle that by offering flexible and affordable programs in a variety of fields like business, HR, Marketing, Computing, Finance, etc. Making the process of learning and having a part-time/full-time job much easier.
Traditionally speaking, a ‘gap year’ usually refers to a year’s break taken by students before they start university. More often than not, this year is spent abroad on a structured programme or to spend time developing oneself and the skills before taking the next step in terms of education or career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that a gap year need not necessarily be 12 months but could last longer or be shorter, tuned to the needs of a student. Irrespective of the duration of the gap year, the foundational idea remains that the break offers students time for self-reflection, allows them to gain life experience, and be surer of what they want to do in college.
According to The Gap Year Association, a nonprofit membership community, recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as the Standards Development Organization for gap year education, a gap year can help you find your purpose by figuring out how to make the following four factors combine:
That which you love
That which the world needs
That which you are good at
That which you can be paid for
A student could spend a gap year being engaged in several activities like Working, Volunteering, Traveling, or Gaining life experiences.
Why does taking a gap year matter?
Over the last few years, gap years have become increasingly popular among college students. As many as 40% of students are now embracing the idea of a gap year. From Joe O’Shea’s book, Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs: “Studies that have looked at the academic performance of gap year students while in college state that in Australia and the United Kingdom, economic researchers found that taking a Gap Year had a significant positive impact on student’s academic performance in college. (Birch and Miller 2007; Crawford and Cribb 2012).”
Taking a Gap Year: Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Explore Opportunities
Taking advantage of the freedom to travel, explore areas around your own home, or get to know people outside of your comfort zone – these add to the kind of experiences that are valuable in ways different from traditional classroom experiences and are worth experiencing.
You could lose momentum
Taking a gap year for a year after graduation could sound like a strong plan as long as doesn’t turn into a three-year plan and the momentum to return to work reduces with time. It is always wise to keep a return date in mind and a plan of what needs to be done.
Earn Extra Money
You can always earn and save some extra money towards your higher education costs or future plans.
It can be very expensive
On the other hand, the costs could begin to add up. Keep aside some savings before you leave and then getting work while on your gap year could be crucial to making the most of your time.
Break to Recharge
This could serve as an opportunity to take a break from studying and return refreshed. You could volunteer, get valuable work experience, and travel the world.
It can be hard to justify
If you don’t plan or actively take part in anything during your gap year, it’s much harder to justify your trip to employers. To ensure this doesn’t happen, it is always best to create a plan detailing what you want to achieve and then document what you did while on your gap year.
Gain New Life Skills
You can use your gap year to develop any number of key life skills – anything from learning a language while living in another country, or honing communication and leadership skills while working on a service project.
Some people find a year out becomes a distraction from their longer-term plans.
It may be harder to transition back to school, after spending a gap year being idle or having withdrawn from academic engagement. After taking a year off, it could be more difficult to get back into the swing of things – your study habits and learning abilities may slide as you take that year off.
Gap years improve your job prospects
A productive gap year could be more valuable on your CV. Learning a skill, gaining work experience in your field, studying a language, or spending months learning about a specific topic or country can all help your resume stand out. A year spent volunteering or interning can also build skills that will impress potential employers.
You Might Waste Too Much Time
An unstructured year out may not add much value to your future – careful thought and planning is essential.
Final Thoughts
Despite the many advantages of taking a gap year, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. That being said, this should not be a decision that you leap onto impulsively in order to skip taking tests or because you are too indecisive about your future at the moment. It’s worth considering how a gap year could affect your finances before you decide whether to take one. One should consider taking a gap year if there are some specific life experiences (especially those that could be difficult to fit into a jampacked college schedule) one might want to experience prior to starting a career. On the other hand, one should not take a gap year if it is not going to be planned well.
Whether you choose to take a gap year or not, the right college is important. Demont is here to help you pursue your degree field of choice. Let us know how we can help you plan your future college degree path by reaching out to our admissions team today.
People with strong entrepreneurial mindsets make for outstanding project managers. The project manager’s role is to lead teams and team members over the finish line, and this enables them to think about a project beyond the fundamental skill set required to manage it. The project manager is ultimately responsible for the outcome and bears sole responsibility for the project’s success or failure.
“Project Managers play the lead role in planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects. They’re expected to deliver a project on time, within the budget, and brief while keeping everyone in the know and happy.”
Cam Lee, Rock Agency
Basic activities that must be accomplished by a team on the schedule are called projects. To ensure that the team assigned to work on the project completely understands the expectations from the project and adequately delivers what has been expected it on time, a project manager is needed.
To ensure that everyone gets what they want out of the project, the project manager serves as a liaison between the client and the project team. As a result, the project manager serves as the conduit for communication between the client and the project resources. The project manager oversees the entire team to ensure that the objectives are met, and that the client receives a flawless product within the allotted time frames.
Key Roles & Responsibilities of a Project Manager in an Organization
Being an effective project manager requires the following organizing skills, which may be applied to a variety of projects:
1. Activity, and Resource Planning
Along with outlining the workflow, a project manager breaks down the many tasks that make up project activity. Project managers are expected to coordinate the numerous operations of a project with the available resources.
A clever project manager can spot resource waste and redeploy resources for higher uses or utilization when planning is done precisely and the progress of groups of activities is closely monitored. This holds true for natural, technical, physical, and human resources. As a result, at some time during the project, the project manager’s position changes to that of a Tracker.
2. Managing Risks & Containing Issues
Any competent project manager will understand that risk is anything that happens throughout the course of a project that is “not as per plan.” This unanticipated development could either be beneficial or detrimental to the project’s success. Managing risk is all about being ready to deal with it.
Risks will develop into significant problems if the project manager’s duties do not emphasize the necessity to list them as potentialities that could become realities. The project will experience issues that cannot be appropriately addressed if dangers are not recognized, classified, prioritized, and planned for.
3. Cost Estimation and Quality Satisfaction
Only with a precise cost estimation performed utilizing a top-down or bottom-up method can any product or service innovation be pursued to a successful conclusion. A project manager can divide the project into units using the bottom-up methodology, and each unit’s cost can be determined using metrics such as cycle time, resource usage, cost per person, and others. The project budget is then calculated by applying this to each unit. The top-down estimation strategy takes a more all-encompassing approach, considering significant spending headings, recurring and one-time expenses, as well as other parameters. Without realistic, pessimistic, and optimistic estimates, cost estimation is incomplete.
To satisfy quality standards and guarantee client satisfaction, cost-benefit trade-offs are one of the main duties of the project manager. So, the expense of quality management–which implies higher productivity at lower costs to fulfill stakeholder expectations– should not be neglected.
4. Scalability, Interoperability, and Portability
First, a project manager must act quickly to determine whether a system or method being used to carry out a project can be “sufficiently” scaled to satisfy client requests.
Second, the project manager must be able to determine whether the software and hardware components may be set up differently to provide various organizational capabilities. It’s also crucial to determine whether a program or process can be converted to operate on a different operating system without requiring extensive rewriting.
5. Reporting and Documentation
The only way to maintain order and a sense of single-minded purpose when there are so many people working to bring a concept to life is to make sure there is a mechanism in place to report every small detail. Time logs, timetables, letters, and photographs are a few examples of documentation elements that, when recorded, offer proof, compile work, and highlight the project.
6. Communication
A proper medium (telephone, fax, encrypted, messenger), different channels (emails, memoranda, reports, press releases), and message structure (five W’s, i.e., Why, what, Where, When, Who, and one How) must be in place for communication to be effective.
As a result, managing every area of a project shapes the project manager’s communication style.
7. Strategic Influence
About stakeholders, suppliers, clients, end users, sponsors, governing bodies, steering committees, project team members, resource managers, and industry peers, a project manager’s sphere of influence is expanded by their various duties.
Conclusion
The project manager is a flexible professional that employs a variety of knowledge, abilities, procedures, and methodologies to interact with internal teams and external stakeholders to contribute to the development of a technique or item that helps society. Not only are the duties many, but so are the roles played to complete a project successfully. A project manager’s management skills can be enhanced by traditional knowledge and experience, but industry-relevant certification is a big help in handling all job roles. So, give yourself a chance to enhance your Project Management skills, and excel in your career with Project Management Course at DeMont Institute of Management and Technology, UAE.
