Partner Article

Digital jobs for a digital future

As a 20-something year old recruiting for media and digital jobs, I have often thought I was pretty clued up on all things digital. Thinking back merely 3 years when I walked into a University Lecture with my brand new iPad 2 tucked in amongst my books, the fascination and awe I received is hard to believe now in an age where two year olds can happily access an iPad and purchase the latest Online colouring book. Yet I am often shocked at the rate of progression in the technological and digital industries and left wondering; are we becoming more and more submerged into a digital world? If so, how will this affect our everyday jobs? And can we keep up with the ever increasing demand for skills in the digital media industry?

Fascinating facts:

• 43% of people admit to checking their Facebook when they wake up
• 87% of the population of the UK has some form of social media account
• People in the UK spend an average of 4 hours 11 minutes on the internet each day
• 87% of people use their smart phone for searching local information everyday
• The average age children get their first handset is age 11 Nearly one in ten children have a smart phone at the age of 5

Putting it into Perspective

For those fresh out of University, these jobs are being talked about like they have existed forever. However, to put things into perspective, here is a small list of jobs that did not exist as little as 10 years ago:

• App developer
• Customer Relationship Manager – customer information CRM
• SEO/PPC Consultant
• Digital Marketing Consultant
• Online Content Editor
• Social Media Manager
• Professional Blogger
• Online Reputation Manager
• Social Media Strategist

Jobs for the Future

I have never been into picking up the Sunday paper or subscribing to monthly magazine subscription. It is predicted that from as early as 2019 will see of death of printed papers and magazine. Those working in the print industry have seen massive change in their job roles and a demand for skills that they may have never had to possess. Printing was once about putting ink on paper and now the printing companies that flourish in the digital world are those who recognise that it is about selling integrated marketing solutions and knowing how to reach out to those been offered new products every day.

With the Digital world evolving so rapidly, it leaves us Recruiters wondering… What jobs will we be recruiting for in the next 5, 10 and 20 years? It’s is estimated that in as little as 16 years, our children could be studying for the following roles:

• Avatar Manager: responsible for the design and management of holograms of virtual people
• Digital Architect: architects will be able to create to scale projections of digitally constructed versions of buildings and houses. Allowing them to be manipulated before being build
• Touch E-Commerce Executive: ever wondered where that sofa was from? Where your favourite actor got that shirt from? Already in the early stages of creation, people will soon be able to watch a TV show, film or advert and click on anything in the screen and be taken to the site on which to buy it
• Digital Waste Removal Manager: ability to effectively remove data fully from online
• Digital Micro Marketing Manager: digital marketing aimed at a very niche, specific demographic. For example, a high end female clothes manufacture based in London advertising specifically to females, in London, aged 23-30, earning over £50,000 per year with a passion for vintage clothing. All information accessed online, of course

What will the future hold for the everyday jobs most people take for granted? With Google creating self-driving cars, will we need taxi drivers? Advances in online shopping to lead to the closure of shops and loss of shopping assistants? And bars already sampling replacing their staff with giant vending machines which pour your chosen drink in accordance to how much money you put in.

Research predicts that 47% of job categories will be open to automation with the next two decades. That is not to say however that new jobs aren’t been created every day. Changes are coming. And with it, a demand for new skills, skills that are yet to be seen in the mainstream. Sign me up for a virtual reality headset that means I do not need to leave my bed to ‘come to work’ every day.

For further information on how we’re helping the digital world find the right people to fill these potential skills-gaps, just give us a call on 01937 547 098 or drop us an email to hello@coopervance.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucy Addison .