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‘Think Out Of The Box‘

Thinking outside the box is a critical survival tool for newage employees. Vibha Kagzi tells you how one can do so to build ones’ career

You may think that out-of-the-box is nothing but a management buzzword. A hangover from yesterday’s marketing presentation. However, the more one thinks about it, the more one is convinced that out-of-the-box solutions are the new convention, when it comes to building a career.

Let’s go back in time, just for a bit. In the post industrialisation era, and post-Independence period, we saw the rise of sectoral enterprises. Infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and banking sectors. Gradually, India saw the growth of the service sectors, especially in the field of IT and ITES.

Fast forward to the new millennium. While agro-based industries continue to rule the roost, the emergence of telecom industry, enabled by a worldwide paradigm shift in the Internet service industry has thrown up a plethora of new age careers. Even as we speak, tech disruptions continue to change the business landscape. Artificial (AI) enabled software services, and digital technology are reverse engineering the way we do business. Smart technology and social connectivity have helped penetration of information to grassroots level. Today, everyone is connected on the virtual map with everyone else. This hyper-connectivity has changed our lives, influenced our decisions, and helped us innovate to keep up with the changing times.

Careers of today need unconventional thinking. You can’t hope to survive the march of time, using old systems and processes. Without reinventing the wheel, you can apply out of the box ideas to adapt to the environment. How so? Simply think beyond the obvious. Here are some insights that will help you think unconventionally.

The definition of a workplace is changing: Business leaders now recognise the benefits of working remotely, instead of working within a cubicle at the corporate office. Managers, professionals, and even CEOs are choosing to work from their ‘beach-chair’ instead of the rigid confines of a workplace. Why? Because remote working ensures higher productivity, efficiency. With availability of modern telecommunications and connectivity, workplaces offer greater flexibility to the new age employee. At ReachIvy, many of our experts work remotely with our students, and ensure speedy delivery of service because of flexible work.

The line between work and play is fading away: The world of work is changing the way people behave and interact with each other. Social media platforms are great enablers to build long lasting relationships with people. At the same time, many companies adopt a fun-at-work model of operation to encourage people to produce more, despite the growing needs of businesses of today.

The big-data companies already know a lot about you: Data driven businesses have access to real-time information. Companies use data management systems to understand client behavior, preferences, or buying pattern. That means, everything you have done so far, online or offline, can be tracked. With newage data analytics software systems to enable corporations, companies have changed the way they market their opportunities and the way they want to acquire talent. In light of the situation, you can only hope to gain an edge with unconventional thinking.

How can out-of-the-box thinking improve your career: Newage employees will need to redefine their career goals in order to stay on top of the game. They have to constantly analyse how their existing skills stack up vis-à-vis their counterparts. Innovating, skilling, and multi-tasking are the ways to go ahead. Education remains a top priority, as most companies veer towards professional qualifications and international exposure.

Below are three ways to help bring about out-of-the-box solutions for your career.

1. Do I perform tasks that can be performed by robots: You may find this difficult to believe, but it wouldn’t surprise me if automation and robotics completely take over manual, repetitive jobs by the next decade. AI are the future of jobs which are labor intensive.

2. Does my current skill set equip me for the changing dynamics of business: If you are still performing tasks that you did three years ago, it’s time to skill up. A jack of all trades does not mean that you are a master of none. There are many ways to enhance your skills. You can consider many online courses. Massive Open Online Courses like edX, Coursera, among others offer you online training and education to help you gear up. If you want to change your orbit, an international educational program is your best bet. With a globally acclaimed educational program, coupled with international exposure, you will be poised for fast-track careers.

3. Are you well connected both offline and online: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram are changing business dynamics rapidly. Being a professional means to be visible on social media. Companies research potential employees on their social media sites before deciding to hire them. Also, these platforms offer an excellent showcase to display your skills, build credibility, network with high end professionals, keep updated on important events, and generate a buzz about you.
To step outside the box, you have to remember that possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Experience, Experimentation, and Exposure are the three E’s of out of the box thinking. Shake off your lethargy and get creative.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

ReachIvy is a premium education and career advisory that helps aspiring students get accepted into top tier educational institutions globally. We have successful admits at MIT, Columbia, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, London School of Economics, University of Michigan, Oxford, University of Chicago amongst others.

Vibha Kagzi, Founder and CEO, ReachIvy, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Mellon University. She has also pursued courses at the University of California, Berkeley, the London School of Economics and the Indian School of Business.

Our global team of counsellors have also acquired their degrees from premier institutes and are passionate about sharing their experiences with students worldwide.