After my graduation from university one question was on my mind. What Job do I want to apply for?
The trend among our generation was to join a multinational company, bank or renowned institution. Prepare a resume that took hours or even a few days to complete. Then find an employment fair where a few companies are recruiting. Hand in hard copies of our resumes, if you are lucky you can sign in for an early interview. The alternative was to call the Human resources in a company we applied for earlier. Send our resume via email, hoping to get a chance for an interview.
Today everything has changed from searching for a job, interviewing, even the workplace is not the office for many. Technology and social media have changed the game completely.
Jobs in the past 20 years have been drastically affected by social media. New jobs came into being and managing businesses through social media and technology created new players in the market. The traditional marketing of products and services never went back to where it was. It is not a positive change all the way, but rather an inevitable one in a world that is led by technological breakthroughs.
In the 90’s and early 21st century we hardly heard the word, Blogger, influencer or page admin. It was all about specialized Departments within companies. I am seeking a position in Marketing ,finance ,sales and the likes. Social media has opened a new door in the job market. An influencer with millions of followers can take products and services to a different level. Companies do not look for a big traditional marketing campaign to show their product or offer a service. They need to have the product used by the influencer. There you go, sales can go up in a matter of minutes. However applications such as TIKTOK and tube that create profiles with millions of followers are usually poor in content.
Young boys and girls that show fun stuff, magic, singing and some acting drive millions of followers. Where is the content that really enriches the mind and brings knowledge to people. There are young people who regard and take this as a job. Yes they get paid by attracting millions of followers regardless of the content they provide. However, this creates a generation of device addicts. This exact definition is used by psychiatrists. The young generation that was born in the last fifteen years or find it hard to spend a few hours without scrolling or watching a device.
Today marketing products and services are not in the shopping center, department store or Hypermarket. It is made on an application that goes on your cell phone. Therefore you don’t need to go shopping to find new promotions, they hit your cell phone through a platform or a facebook advertisement instantly. The medium of exchange is the cellphone and the consumer is you. Since you carry your phone with you always, products and services can reach you anywhere anytime. On the other hand the idea of privacy or time for yourself has become a problem. How can one stop being bombarded, by messages either on mobile applications, social media pages not to mention regular SMS. It is a new communication pressure that is not only irritating but also controlling. Yes it is abusive to people and somehow controls their behavior.
It was a pleasurable experience going shopping back in the 90’s either to a shopping mall or just a small plaza. People are always looking for something new to buy ,clothes, a watch, shoes, you name it. Social media and online applications made customers go shopping on the screen. The same example applies for buying on social media such as facebook pages. No time wasting to go to the mall. In an hour you can complete a three to four hour shopping experience. Not only that but also make a purchase online. Finally you don’t have to go pick your purchase from the store. It is delivered right at your doorstep. Well known department stores such as JC penny went out of business due to social media. JCPenney didn’t see the online platform effect coming. They were not prepared with an online backup plan and people simply stopped going to the stores. As much as online shopping is convenient and time saving, the pleasure of going shopping is diminishing. It is as if every boy or girl has a separate world they are living in inside their own home.
The work place is another example of the technological effect on the place where we do business. I remember when being five minutes late in the office was a big deal. Today employees are encouraged to work from home. Some new jobs do not need an office . All your work is done remotely and submitted remotely. A perfect example is software engineers and information technology jobs. Nowadays Companies encourage employees to work from home. On one hand it helps them reduce the work space needed and therefore reduce expenses. On the other hand, it reduces the traveling costs especially in companies that have businesses overseas. Using applications such as Zoom meeting and Microsoft teams have made it possible.
When you compare the value of Google compared to companies such as Volkswagen, Honda and other car manufacturers, Google is by far more valuable today. Carrying your mobile device everywhere makes it very hard to have time for yourself or even have any kind of privacy. What you like, what you are thinking of and where you want to go are being directed by simple applications. The online business has created an easy solution to shopping, however consumers have lost the beauty of shopping through malls together. Today we have created a virtual life that is not only invading our privacy but also creating an individualistic lifestyle.
In conclusion, that remarkable change has created both a positive as well as a negative impact on the job market and workplace.
Today, you are the marketing tool. It is your you-tube channel that can present you to an employer or lead you into being an entrepreneur forming a successful company in a very short time.
