That’s why recruiters are placing greater emphasis on interviews, work samples and human validation, said Devashish Sharma, CEO and co-founder of Taggd, an AI-powered hiring platform headquartered in Gurgaon.

“AI is helping genuinely strong candidates who aren’t strong resume-writers present themselves better,” Sharma told Moneycontrol. He, however, cautioned that the same tools are also being used by candidates whose experience may not align with job requirements.

“Candidates without relevant experience are also using AI to make profiles look more credible or better-matched than they are,” he said.

AI-polished resumes are becoming harder to differentiate

Speaking about an unintended consequence of widespread AI adoption, Sharma told Moneycontrol that resumes are becoming less useful as standalone indicators of a candidate’s suitability. When applicants use AI to optimise wording, highlight achievements and mirror job descriptions, recruiters are finding it increasingly difficult to separate signal from noise.

“The net effect is that AI-polished resumes reduce differentiation, making resumes less reliable as standalone signals,” Sharma said.

The shift marks a new phase in recruitment. Earlier, candidates focused on adding keywords to pass ATS filters. Today, AI can rewrite an entire resume, create tailored cover letters and position candidates as strong matches for multiple roles.

As a result, recruiters are changing how they evaluate talent, the Taggd CEO said.

Interviews and work samples are gaining importance

To counter the rise of AI-enhanced applications, the AI-powered hiring platform is placing greater emphasis on structured interviews, evidence of work and recruiter-led verification.

“Taggd’s countermeasure is shifting weight to structured interviews, evidence of work, and FDR-led validation,” Sharma said.

FDR refers to Taggd’s “Forward Deployed Recruiters”, human recruiters who review candidate profiles, validate experience claims and assess depth of expertise beyond what appears on a resume.

According to Sharma, AI does not make final hiring decisions. Even if Taggd’s AI platform does not recommend a candidate, recruiters can still review the profile and move the applicant forward based on their judgement.

Betting on human-AI hiring model

Sharma’s comments come weeks after Taggd launched TARA, an agentic AI recruitment assistant designed to support enterprise hiring at scale.

The company, which describes itself as India’s largest AI-powered talent fulfilment partner, said TARA works alongside human recruiters to improve hiring speed, talent matching and recruitment efficiency.

According to the company, nearly 80 percent of enterprise organisations today use AI tools in at least one part of the recruitment process. But, only about 20 percent report seeing measurable impact from those investments.

Sharma said the company’s approach is not fully automated.

“Our model is ‘humantic,’ not fully automated. AI drives volume and speed, humans stay in charge of relationships, governance, and guardrails,” he said.

The company uses AI for functions such as candidate outreach and screening, while recruiters remain responsible for trust-building, answering questions and making judgement calls.

Human recruiters still have the final say

Elaborating on the company’s hiring process, Sharma said it includes multiple human checkpoints.

If a candidate does not respond to initial AI-led outreach, a recruiter steps in to explain the process, address concerns and build trust, he said. Human recruiters also review AI-generated recommendations later in the hiring funnel and conduct deeper assessments of shortlisted candidates.

The company also allows candidates to request a human review if they believe they were screened out incorrectly. Such requests can be raised through a WhatsApp support channel and are routed to recruiters for reassessment.

For Sharma, the future of hiring is unlikely to be an AI-only process. Instead, he sees recruitment evolving into an AI-versus-AI environment, where candidates use artificial intelligence to optimise applications and employers use AI to screen at scale, with human recruiters stepping in to verify skills, experience and fit before making hiring decisions.

“The net effect is that AI-polished resumes reduce differentiation,” Sharma said. “Making resumes less reliable as standalone signals.”

The post Gurgaon hiring firm CEO: Jobseekers’ AI-made resumes make HR focus more on interviews appeared first on .

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

– John F. Kennedy

With the fast-evolving nature of the job market, be it due to new tech being deployed frequently or other factors, you might often wonder: Which jobs will assuredly remain in demand in the coming years?

No one can give you a 100% correct answer to that. What I can give you are deep, industry-wide trends.

Talking about the coming year, it is anticipated that the job market will experience mixed results in the first quarter of 2024, with slower growth in jobs across industries like IT, textiles, and media as compared to other sectors such as EV and pharmaceuticals.

Growth Trends in Pharma, Manufacturing, EV, BFSI, and Logistics

Industries such as pharmaceutical, manufacturing, EV, BFSI, and logistics have all seen consistent upticks in demand over the past 2-3 months. As a result, job seekers with skills in these industries will likely see increased opportunities.

Let’s dive into the job opportunities these industries will present:

• Pharmaceutical Industry

In the pharmaceutical industry, organizations are focusing on extensive R&D to drive innovation and become future-ready. Hence, the job opportunities for R&D professionals in core fields such as genetics, biotechnology, clinical research, etc., will witness a rise.

There will also be demand for talent in project planning, QA, strategic management, data analysis, and global compliance.

• Manufacturing Industry

With the shift towards Industry 4.0, automation and robotics will become an integral part of manufacturing processes. Organizations will look to hire professionals with digital skills that can help improve manufacturing efficiencies and productivity. Additionally, professionals with experience in additive manufacturing, materials science, and mechatronics will also be in demand.

• EV Industry

The EV revolution is going on in full steam and the EV industry alone is expected to create one crore jobs by 2030 . According to Biswaroop Mukherjee, Head HR, Commercial Vehicles Unit, Tata Motors, “In the coming years, we will see continued demand for engineers in the EV industry, particularly in the areas of program management, electronic, and mechatronics engineering, and fuel cell technology.”

• BFSI Industry

With the rise of digitalization in the BFSI sector, demand for professionals experienced in artificial intelligence and machine learning will significantly increase. Moreover, as blockchain technology becomes more prevalent in the finance industry, jobs related to blockchain development and implementation will be in high demand. Non-tech jobs such as digital marketing, business analytics, and risk management are also anticipated to witness healthy growth.

A Downward Spiral for Technology Market

The Indian technology industry has traditionally been a steadily growing sector. However, in 2022, the industry faced challenges as several companies experienced a decline in their worth. This was primarily due to a fear of recession triggered by increasing interest rates in developed markets, which adversely affected the growth of IT companies. As a result, job opportunities in technology have not seen the same level of growth as in other sectors.

Still, we can expect slow but positive growth for the jobs related to improving and building upon existing technology infrastructure. According to the Decoding Jobs India 2023 report, professionals with expertise in cybersecurity, blockchain technology, IT architecture, and design will be in high demand in the future. Furthermore, with the recent introduction of Metaverse and Web 3.0, jobs related to DevOps, AR/VR, cloud computing, and RPA will open up in huge numbers.

Challenges & Opportunities in India

While demand for skilled talent will remain high, India’s biggest challenge will remain to create enough jobs for our rising workforce. With an increasing number of applicants vying for the same position, it becomes difficult to stand out amongst the crowd and secure a job. In a LinkedIn survey, 21% of candidates affirmed that getting noticed by recruiters was one of the biggest challenges for them.

Despite these challenges, there is a silver lining for Indian professionals. Economic volatility has put pressure on overseas companies to optimize costs. As a result, many companies are shifting their hiring focus towards India to leverage our USP of skilled talent at competitive costs– particularly in ITes, research, analytics, and manufacturing space. If marketed well, India can become the global talent hub and fuel worldwide growth with our talented minds.

Conclusion

To stay ahead in this changing job market, job seekers need to be prepared to learn new skills and technologies. Additionally, creating a strong professional network and staying up-to-date with industry news and trends can also help in finding new opportunities.

Warren Buffett once said, “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.” Therefore, with the right mindset, determination, and continuous learning, job seekers can achieve success in the ever-changing job market.

About the Author

Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.

By Pankaj Bansal

Co-founder of Taggd and Work Universe

The post The Million Dollar Question: Which Jobs Will Remain in Demand? appeared first on .

“The purpose of education is to make good human beings with skill and expertise…”
– Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam

India’s education system has long been criticized for its emphasis on memorization, outdated curriculum, and limited opportunities for research and innovation.

In that backdrop, the National Education Policy 2022 is a welcome move that seeks to address the long-standing gaps in the education system and provide holistic and multidisciplinary education to students, right from the elementary grades to higher education.

According to the Honourable Education Minister Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, “NEP has envisioned the increase in employability of India`s youth by training students in schools and giving importance to Indian languages. The benefits of this scheme will be seen in a few years and then it will become successful.”

Let us take a look at the impact that NEP is expected to have on our country’s education landscape.

Restructuring the Education System

The NEP aims to restructure the education system in India which has been plagued by a rigid and compartmentalized approach to education. The policy proposes to bring about significant changes in the curriculum, traditional practices of teaching, and assessment methods, with a focus on developing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of the students.

Focus on Digital Education

With the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for digital education, the NEP places a significant emphasis on the use of technology in education. The policy aims to provide universal access to high-quality digital resources, including e-books, e-content, and online courses. The NEP proposes to develop an autonomous organization named the “National Educational Technology Forum”, or NETF, to facilitate the use of technology in education.

Dynamic Skill-Based Curriculum

The NEP recognizes the importance of industry-academia collaboration and proposes to bridge the gap between them by developing an industry-aligned skill-based curriculum. It will ensure that higher education institutions can make students job-ready right faster.

The policy recommends appointing industry professionals and experts as professors to bring real-world experience and industry-relevant knowledge to the classroom. This signals a clear action toward fostering a stronger industry-academia partnership and ensuring that students receive the practical knowledge needed to thrive in the workforce.

Multidisciplinary Education

The NEP proposes providing a multidisciplinary education to students that combines arts, humanities, sciences, and vocational education.

In my conversation with Mr. Ashish Munjal, Co-Founder & CEO of Sunstone University, he shared how multidisciplinary education promotes critical thinking skills, which are essential for succeeding in the 21st-century job-market in India. “The NEP envisions converting all existing standalone professional institutions into multidisciplinary HEIs by 2030. Undergraduate and postgraduate STEM programs are advised to include 8% to 18% of social sciences and humanities to align with core subjects and approaches”.

Choice-based Credit System and Multiple Entry/ Exit Options

The NEP’s introduction of a choice-based credit system and multiple entry and exit options will enable a fluid system that allows for the transfer of credits and facilitates more choice through a combination of compulsory core subjects and elective courses.

Mr. Munjal adds, “The introduction of the choice-based credit system enhances flexibility, ensures recognition of students’ learning achievements, and allows them to choose courses that suit their interests and career goals. Such features can prove to be a landmark in making our higher education system more progressive”.

Prioritizing Digital Skills

The modern job market values professionals equipped with digital skills such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, blockchain, quantum computing and virtual and augmented reality, with 70% of Indian employers seeking employees with digital skills.

The NEP focuses on teaching these skills to students and making them job-ready. Equipping the youth with digital skills also has the potential to make a profound impact on the country, given that employees with these skills have already contributed ₹10.9 trillion to the GDP of India.

According to Nirmal Singh, Founder and C.E.O at Wheebox, “The government’s focus on teaching digital skills will help create microentrepreneurs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, which can further help create 50 million additional jobs in these fields, by 2030.”

Promoting Research and Innovation

With this policy, the Indian government aims to create an ecosystem that fosters creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in education. The NEP proposes to set up a National Research Foundation (NRF) with a total outlay of ₹50,000 Crores over the next five years to fund and promote research in different fields of education in India.

The Way Forward

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The NEP has the potential to empower students with the skills and expertise they need to create a better future for themselves and the country.

The implementation of the NEP will require collective efforts from all stakeholders, including the government, academic institutions, industry leaders, and civil society, to create a vibrant and dynamic education ecosystem that will enable India to become a $5 trillion skilled economy by 2030.

About the Author

Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.

By Pankaj Bansal

Co-founder of Taggd and Work Universe

The post How will the NEP affect the future of education in India? appeared first on .

“The glory of medicine is that it is constantly moving forward, that there is always more to learn. The ills of today do not cloud the horizon of tomorrow, but act as a spur to greater effort.”

— William James Mayo

The pharmaceutical industry in India is marching towards becoming a global hub for medicines and pharmaceutical equipment. It has also made rapid strides in vaccine development, and the industry is witnessing work on a mission-mode basis to set up pharma manufacturing parks across India to expand the country’s pharmaceutical influence worldwide.

According to the Decoding Jobs India Report 2023, the Indian pharmaceutical industry market is set to grow from $49 billion to $130 billion by 2030. To broaden their growth prospects and be future-ready in today’s tech-driven environment, companies are keen to hire digitally-skilled talent to fuel their next growth phase.

Current Job Outlook In the Pharmaceutical Industry

According to Mr. K Kulbhushan, Global Head and Vice President at Dr. Reddy’s, “As the pharmaceutical industry continues to advance in 2023, we will see a growing demand for professionals with skills in chemical engineering, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, as well as project management.”

At present, there are a total of 2.5 million people employed in this sector. The pharmaceutical sector is creating a surge in demand for new roles and opening up several job opportunities. The industry is optimistic about growth, and according to the Decoding Jobs India Report, the expected hiring intention of pharmaceutical employers in 2023 is 16% more than it was in 2022.

Jobs Opportunities In the Pharmaceutical Industry

The industry has scope for multiple roles– be it in cybersecurity to maintain the secrecy of medicinal formulations, blockchain to build resilient delivery models, or robotics and AI to make smarter assembly lines, there’s ample scope and opportunity for professionals from diverse digital skills backgrounds.

Let’s take a look at some of the high-demand jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. 

• Tech-based Roles

 Pharmaceutical executives are looking to reduce their product development costs and time. To achieve this, companies require talent skilled in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and static/dynamic simulation software. As per a study by Pharmaceutical Technology, 70% of drug development is already done by leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP).

• Quality Assurance & Manufacturing Roles

Quality assurance is one of the core domains of the pharmaceutical industry and is responsible for developing and implementing quality standards for manufacturing drugs and medical equipment. There are several new job opportunities in this department for candidates from BPM (Business Process Management) and  Lean Six Sigma backgrounds who can develop efficient error prevention techniques, streamline inventory management, and improve the material flow.

• Project Management Roles

Project management is another key area of focus for companies, with a focus on ensuring effective collaboration among the teams. This has led to an increase in demand for professionals with knowledge in implementing the agile working methodology.

• R&D Roles

Research and development (R&D) is at the heart of every pharmaceutical company; hence, the need for research-oriented professionals is always high. The Indian Government is also playing a crucial role in promoting R&D by allocating USD 419.2 million towards research and development initiatives taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

This has led to job opportunities for scientific technicians who specialize in genomics, biochemistry, molecular biology, drug discovery, toxicology, and several other fields.

• Sales & Marketing Roles

Lastly, if we look at the non-technical side, companies are also looking for experienced sales and marketing professionals to gain a competitive advantage and build a strong relationship with their customers. This opens up doors for job seekers proficient in digital marketing, branding, social media management, and marketing strategy planning in this sector.

Mrs. Namrata Gill, HR Lead at Dr. Reddy’s, says that “The pharmaceutical sales market will require professionals who possess a strong understanding of marketing and product management to excel, as has also been stated in the Decoding Jobs India Report 2023.”

The Way Forward

The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a digital shift, and there are several job opportunities available for professionals willing to upskill and reskill.

Besides technical skills, companies actively look for candidates with two main traits– strategic thinking and strong problem-solving. So, develop your skill set in these areas. Put in efforts to network with industry professionals and be active on social media to connect with the right people, and clinch the job opportunity of your choice.

Lastly, I would like to leave you with an inspirational quote from Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”

About the author

Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.

By Dainik Bhaskar

The post Unlocking the Potential: Exploring High-Demand Jobs in the Growing Pharmaceutical Industry in India appeared first on .

InCruiter, a leading interview solution provider, has partnered with Taggd, a subsidiary of PeopleStrong, to expedite its hiring process. As part of this collaboration, InCruiter has equipped the company with its hero product, Interview-as-a-Service (IaaS), to seamlessly conduct interviews and shortlist the best talents for various IT and Non-IT roles have gradually boosted the Taggd employee headcount.

By leveraging this alliance, Taggd has successfully conducted around 900 interviews in the last one and a half months and has significantly benefited from the outstanding results. The IaaS platform has helped Taggd scale up its operations, recording exponential growth, which is no less than a milestone for the company.

Anil Agarwal, CEO & Co-Founder InCruiter said, “We are happy to collaborate with Taggd and add value to their business. It has been a great experience for us to work with their team in finding top talents, boosting their hiring process by 1.5X, and streamlining their recruitment process. With this partnership, we also got the opportunity to expand our customer base, making this synergy a win-win for both of us. We will continue to associate with more players in the future with an intent to make their hiring journeys smooth and hassle-free.”

Taggd President, Mr. Devashish Sharma, said, “We are delighted to join hands with a leading Interview as a Service partner like InCruiter that has been doing a phenomenal job in this domain. Through IaaS, we have brought great talents to strengthen our existing teams and scale our operations to new heights. We look forward to this synergy and hope to benefit each other in the coming months.”

By Express Computer

The post InCruiter partners with Taggd to streamline hiring and expand the workforce in India appeared first on .

“The automotive industry is a living, breathing organism that is constantly evolving, and the people who work in it must be flexible, adaptable, and innovative to keep up.” – Bill Ford

The automobile sector in India has been an unstoppable force, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite challenging market conditions in the last two years. It is witnessing a shift in consumer preferences, evidenced by the increasing demand for two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and EVs. And, with the growth of a sector comes an increasing demand for talent. As per Decoding Jobs India 2023 report by Taggd, the automobile industry will lead talent hiring with a 30% hiring intent in 2023,

Government Initiatives

India’s government is actively striving to create a business-friendly atmosphere to facilitate further growth in the automotive industry. This includes providing opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers, as well as attractive incentives for investors.

The government has introduced an infusion of approximately $3.5 billion in incentives between 2021 and 2026 to bolster the production and export of clean technology vehicles. The government has also provided Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) to certain automobile companies to stimulate local vehicle production and promote fresh investments.

More than 100 advanced technologies, such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electronic Control Units (ECU) for safety, Advanced Driver Assist Systems, BSVI-compliant Flex-Fuel Engines, and E-Quadricycles have been added under the Production-Linked Incentive scheme for automobiles.

“There is a noticeable, long-term boost in job creation due to the government’s focus on this sector.”

Skills & Roles in Demand

The 2021-2025 period is set to be a defining era for the automotive industry, as it transitions from manual and mechanical systems to more automated and electronic ones. The demand for convenience services has increased the need for digital skills across all branches of the automotive industry.

Furthermore, with the implementation of the government’s Production-Linked Incentive schemes, there has been a surge in job opportunities for engineers, technicians and consultants. The increased demand for vehicles has opened up multiple openings for fresh graduates, intermediate and mid-level professionals alike.

Companies aim to hire engineers with expertise in mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineering. In addition, they are seeking professionals with various skill sets for their Research & Development (R&D), Tooling, Purchase, Tailoring, Operations, Stores, Administration, Finance departments, and HR.

Other roles in demand include system engineers, program managers, electronic and mechatronic engineers with expertise in fuel cells, AUTOSAR architecture, battery management system, and system integration.

Get Noticed by Recruiters

Companies are approaching the right talent with targeted recruitment to help create a dynamic workforce. They are also focusing on employee needs, such as upskilling, better engagement, and work-life balance.

So, whether you are entering the auto industry or have significant experience, I present to you two pieces of advice to help you get noticed and strengthen your position in this sector.

1. References:References from experienced professionals in the community can help you get noticed more quickly and make connections that lead to job opportunities.
2. Communities:As candidates, you can benefit from connecting with communities in the automotive sector and career circles to find employment opportunities and gain insight into current industry trends.

If you are consistent in your efforts, the right company will definitely find you.

“The automotive industry is a reflection of society, and the people who work in it are as diverse as the cars they build.” – Mary T. Barra

About the Author

Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.

By Pankaj Bansal

Co-founder of Taggd and Work Universe

The post Rising Potential for Jobs in the Automotive Industry appeared first on .

“As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to advance, there are concerns that these systems will take over jobs traditionally performed by humans. One such technology that has recently gained attention is ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. But is ChatGPT really here to take jobs?”

The paragraph that you just read was generated by ChatGPT. Were you able to tell the difference?

ChatGPT was launched on 30th November 2022, and in less than one months, it crossed the milestone of 100 million users.

How does ChatGPT work?

Typically, we search for data and information on the internet. However, ChatGPT uses generative AI technology that helps in generating fresh content. Simply put– ChatGPT does not search for data, it stitches together and creates new data.

ChatGPT has also successfully passed the Turing Test, which measures a machine’s ability to carry out human-like conversations accurately without making any errors. From writing romantic poetry to screenplay, the tool can do it all!

However, with such technological advancement, many people are speculating that ChatGPT will come for their jobs.

Impact of ChatGPT on Jobs

In the past, it was commonly believed that creative jobs were immune to automation. However, the emergence of powerful generative AI tools like ChatGPT is changing the conversation. While ChatGPT has demonstrated impressive capabilities in tasks like copywriting, media article writing, fiction writing, and screenwriting, it cannot fully replace the unique abilities of creative people.

However, creativity involves empathy, intuition, and a deep understanding of human behavior and culture, which are complex traits that cannot be fully replicated by machines.

Roles that require human intelligence for turning a business vision into reality, like program management or aggregation, cannot be replaced by ChatGPT.

Let us see some more business verticals where ChatGPT can assist us:

Customer Service

Companies can use ChatGPT to answer simple as well as complex inquiries. However, the ultimate decision of closing the ticket or customer journey will require more than just answering questions– it will require dynamic and on the spot decision making which only humans can make.

Programming

1. While ChatGPT could assist in coding, it’s unlikely to replace the human role in creating the high-level design and converting it to a low-level design. These tasks require human creativity, critical thinking, and decision-making skills that ChatGPT may not possess. Therefore, it is more likely to be a helpful tool for programmers and product designers rather than a replacement for them.
2. ChatGPT or similar tools can handle some coding tasks, but the ability to apply the right solution to a problem and deploy it effectively requires human expertise. Therefore, software engineers will need to develop their skills in problem-solving, design thinking, and project management to stay relevant in the changing tech landscape.

Limitations of ChatGPT & Future Opportunities

At its core, ChatGPT is an algorithm that can only rely on data fed in its system. At present, it has been fed data only upto December 2021 and has extremely limited data to correctly answer queries post that period.

Unlike search engines, ChatGPT does not provide the source of its knowledge. It generates information based on its training data and presents it to the user without revealing the underlying sources. Additionally, users may not be able to evaluate the biases or limitations of the training data used by ChatGPT, which can affect the quality of the generated content.

The Way Forward

ChatGPT is not a threat to jobs. On the contrary, such technological advances are assistive and can create new job opportunities.

ChatGPT has a huge potential for creating a new industry of jobs centered around professionals with a problem solving approach clubbed with expertise in the tool itself.

The nature of work will change too. Work of the future will not only be done from typical offices but will be delivered from futuristic workplaces, called work labs, where artists and scientists will work together. Through such collaborations, humans will not be in conflict with robotics and generative AI, rather, humans will become masters in dealing with such technologies.

Simply put, professionals will have to develop skills in working within environments powered by tools like ChatGPT so as to stay a step ahead in their careers. It’s only natural for humans and workplaces to evolve. So, look at tools like ChatGPT as a must-have edge rather than a competition to your existing job.

Lastly, out of curiosity I asked ChatGPT to generate Hindi heading for this article. Here is what the tool responded: “चैटजीपीटी: क्या यह नौकरियां छीन लेगा?”.

About the Author

Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.

By Pankaj Bansal

Co-founder of Taggd and Work Universe

The post Demystifying ChatGPT: Is it here to take jobs? appeared first on .

As Kaifi Azmi said “उठ मेरी जान! मेरे साथ ही चलना है तुझे, क़द्र अब तक तेरी तारीख़ ने जानी ही नहीं, अपनी तारीख़ का उनवान बदलना है तुझे…उठ मेरी जान! ”

In India, women in STEM fields have had to overcome countless hurdles to pursue and advance their careers. Nevertheless, they have been able to make great strides in the field and are actively working towards creating a more equitable environment. Their efforts are helping to break down gender barriers and further the cause for better women’s representation in STEM disciplines.

“The enrolment of young girls in STEM undergraduate courses is increasing year-on-year. With positive industry support and an enabling social environment, India can become a leader in women representation in STEM and build a future where gender equality is the norm.” 

India is making great strides in empowering women to pursue careers in STEM fields, with an increasing number of women enrolling in degree programs and entering these industries. A recent report by India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed that the percentage of women in the total STEM workforce is 14.1%, and this figure is expected to rise in the coming years. As per the World Bank report the overall participation of women in the labor force needs to be looked into because of ecosystem challenges, the country is taking steps to reverse this trend and increased participation of women in workforce.

This is due to cultural expectations, gender-based discrimination, lack of women role models, and societal conditioning. It is critical to address these issues to increase gender diversity in India’s STEM workforce and navigate remote work transitions. This requires changing societal expectations from men and women, starting at a young age.

Government Initiatives

Anuranjita Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO of WeAce- a professional and personal development platform for women professionals, shares, “Women participation in STEM can be traced back to the early 20^th century when women led cryptography teams during the World War. Their participations subsequently reduced due to societal biases and large-scale participation of men in this field owing to lucrative salaries.

If you see, many tech designs- be it in electronics or automobiles, are sub-consciously designed keeping men as the target audience. This needs to change. Thankfully, industry leaders and the government have realized the need to increase women participation in STEM, and government schemes like GATI and KIRAN are a positive step in that direction.”

Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) has a chapter dedicated to promoting the equal representation of women in STEM fields. They work closely with Knowledge Involvement Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) to achieve this goal.

The Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) has formulated SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) to provide support and financial assistance to female researchers interested in pursuing R&D activities.

The Demand Rises

Presently in the job market in India 2023, the Tech Domain Remains The Biggest Employer Of Female Talent. 38% Of Female Employees Are At Entry-Level, While 26%, 19%, And 17% Occupy Managerial, Senior Managerial, And Executive Positions Respectively.

“Companies are hiring women talent with particular skills like forensics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, DevOps, and blockchain.”

This is an era of great potential as we transition into the digital age, and it is essential that every girl gains access to early STEM education, beneficial STEM employment opportunities, and leadership roles. With these opportunities in place, they can make the most out of this digital revolution.

What Can You Do?

Join women-led networks and communities, and seek help from senior women professionals to understand how you can better navigate your professional journey. SHEROES, a social network for women, has evolved to become a premium ecosystem for women’s growth — a supportive, understanding environment where ladies can invest in their overall wellbeing and professional development. They have created an impressive remote team of qualified, trained and certified female personnel who provide various business solutions. This is a readily available cloud workforce for professionals.

This will help lay a solid foundation of knowledge and expertise that will provide an advantage as you embark on a career in STEM.

About the Author

Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.

By Pankaj Bansal

Co-founder of Taggd and Work Universe

The post Jobs For Women In Stem appeared first on .

We all have heard enough stories about successful entrepenerus and CXOs without having  professional qualification and yet very successful. While degrees used to hold the key to success at companies, talent acquisition teams are now looking for candidates with a willingness to learn new skills and put their knowledge to use. If you do not believe in traditional education pathways, you can take comfort in knowing an alternative way of becoming professionally successful — by degree-agnostic professional advancement.

Developments in machine learning, automation, and artificial intelligence are changing the world, creating new roles across sectors. However, workplaces are failing to fulfil these roles due to a lack of adequate skills, which makes me emphasize more on pursuing reskilling and upskilling opportunities.

According to the India Skills Report (ISR), only 50.3% graduates are employable in 2023. On the other hand, skill-based roles are snowballing, and this is causing an ever-widening employability gap across a number of industries, including manufacturing, BFSI, and pharmaceuticals. At present, only 12% of the Indian workforce possess digital skills. But, therein lies the opportunity for professionals willing to go that extra mile for learning new-age skills and making themselves job-ready.

There are multiple institutions and companies facilitating this rising need for upskilling, through online and offline means, and the Edutech industry has seen a massive spurt in demand. Bootcamps have emerged who help people skill up like big ones including upgrad or early stage companies like Board Infinity.

This is not just it. Even in the space of higher education players like Sunstone Eduversity and many others act as the bridge between academia and corporates by skilling up people.

Msut read book ‘Can we be equal and excellent too’ by John Gardner ask the relevance of skills and quailifications beautifully! I say that now qualifications gradually are turning as reduntant as Heriditary priveleges mentioned by john in his book.

To conclude, if a degree and diploma, is not your cup of tea, in today’s times, not all is lost. You can choose an area of interest and get skilled in the most wanted skill that employers are searching for. But which are the skills that are currently in demand?

Skills in Demand

The massive scale of digitalization has increased the demand for tech professionals across tech and non-tech industries. According to our report Decoding Job Market in India 2023, DevOps, cybersecurity, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing feature in the top 10 most in-demand skills as of today. Introduction of new technologies like blockchain and Metaverse has also opened a door full of new opportunities, and are valuable skill sets in today’ times.

The exciting part is that most of such courses can be learnt by professionals with non-science backgrounds, and companies have no apprehensions about hiring them too.

Further, it’s not just tech roles with upskilling potential– the scope is increasing across all roles and industries.

For instance, operations and supply chain management, design thinking, agile project management, product management, and digital marketing, are skills that hold immense value across every business.

Government of India’s SWAYAM portal offers free training in several such domains, and top institutes like IIM and SP Jain also provide dedicated certificate courses at reasonable costs, making them easily accessible.

What Is the Way Ahead for You?

A report by Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS) revealed that the need for digital skills in India will grow nine times by 2025. 67% of recruiters today place more importance on a candidate’s skills and experience than their educational qualifications. Further, with the emergence of the gig economy, people will continue to gain ancillary skills and work remotely as gig workers.

I strongly believe that,  “A degree can support your hunger for learning, but constantly acquiring new-age skills will bring you more opportunities and success at work. Simply put that an assessment checks for your skills and not qualifications”

Therefore you prepare yourself for the tests. Dont fear them and as John Garner said ‘The tests couldnt see whether the youngster was in rags or in tweeds and they couldnt hear the accents of the slum’. So be ready and you can claim your future and your destiny !

So, the question I have for you is simple. Are you ready to embrace change and equip yourself with the necessary skills for these evolving and emerging roles? Your openness to learning and adaptability are key elements in setting up a successful career path.

Thus, keep learning and keep your skills relevant.

About the Author

Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups.

By Pankaj Bansal

Co-founder of Taggd and Work Universe

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Traditionally, to search for jobs, candidates had to rely on local newspapers, and temp agencies. While these methods may still be in use, they no longer provide the same access to opportunities that current job seekers need.

The Internet revolutionized the job search process, and in 2022, about 80% of job searches were conducted online, with job boards playing a crucial role in connecting candidates with companies. In the same year, Indeed alone recorded more than 250 million unique visitors every month.

These platforms are extremely efficient for finding jobs in the early stages of your career. However, job boards have their own limitations in terms of being too impersonal, overcrowded, offering poor CV quality to recruiters, and being inefficient for the evolving roles of today. One needs to go beyond job boards to efficiently find suitable jobs.

But, how so? The answer lies in networking. Over 85% of jobs in today’s age are fulfilled through networking. Here are 4 efficient ways to build your professional network and find jobs:

Talent Communities

Talent communities are networks of individuals with similar professional interests. It provides a nurturing environment for members to showcase their skills and engage in knowledge transfer from industry experts through webinars, workshops, and courses that help enhance their professional talent.

The community environment provides a unique networking experience for both employers and potential employees as it is easy for them to connect and build relationships – something which can’t always be done through job boards alone. Moreover, companies prefer posting job openings in such communities, which makes it an apt place to get your hands on better job opportunities.

“Staying involved with the talent community allows candidates to find better job opportunities and helps employers gain invaluable insights into candidates’ capabilities. The high engagement levels in such communities makes it easier for both sides to determine job-fitness and results in a smoother interviewing and onboarding process.”

Industry forums, such as NASSCOM (IT) and SIAM (Automobiles) have dedicated communities to promote professional networking. You can also consider leveraging peer networks like Career Circles by Taggd, that has dedicated communities for jobs in pharmaceuticals, jobs in IT, and jobs in automobile to received personalized job recommendations and opportunities.

Referrals

Job references are a trusted source used by companies for actively hiring talent. In essence, it is word-of-mouth marketing. You want to get in a company where you know someone who can vouch for your job skills? Request them to recommend you. The company will gladly consider your profile.

Studies have revealed that most companies hire about 40% of employees through referrals and that referred candidates are 4x more likely to be hired than other candidates. Industries like Automotive, BFSI, IT, and Manufacturing highly depend on references to hire candidates.

Social Media

In 2022, about 73% of millennials found their current roles via social media platforms. 66% of recruiters actively post job openings on social media, and LinkedIn is the most preferred recruitment channel followed by Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To successfully find jobs through social media, it is imperative for job seekers to maintain an active social media presence, and keep their profiles updated with their expertise, work experience, and skills. Some tips to boost profile discoverability include setting up a formal display picture, writing a concise work summary in the job profile section, and engaging with industry-relevant posts.

Whatsapp

Another popular source to become a part of professional communities is Whatsapp. Yes, the chat messenger on your phone. The smartphone app is actively used by recruiters to form groups and forward job openings. It is widely popular for seeking support roles in fields like IT, HR, Finance, and Admin roles.

The Way Forward

As India moves towards its vision of becoming a modern, skilled-based economy, the government is developing a new platform that will allow job seekers to easily showcase their skills to recruiters. This groundbreaking system promises to evaluate and measure applicant skill sets like never before. One can think of this platform as the ‘UPI of Skills’, and potential job seekers should keep watch-out for such developments in the near future.

The bottom line is if someone you are looking for a new job or considering career changes,

it is essential to go beyond job boards and experience the full potential of the digital jobs market. It might seem overwhelming to be active on so many channels to land your dream job, but remember-hard perseverance and patience always pay off!

About the Author

Pankaj Bansal is the founder of PeopleStrong and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.

By Pankaj Bansal

Co-founder of Taggd and Work Universe

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