The essentials of mastering technology
WHEN asked about the importance of technology for students, Facebook co- founder Mark Zuckerberg responded that technology is “where all the jobs are going to be in the future.”
“If you want to have a better chance of getting a job that’s good and if you want to get a job that pays more, then being proficient in technology … even if that’s not your primary job, is going to be really critical to having a lot of options and doing what you want in the future,” he said during his visit to a high school in California in 2014.
Simply put, aside from soft skills such as communication, problemsolving and teamwork, future employees need to be equipped with technological knowledge in order to thrive in their careers, given that the nature of jobs has evolved with the times.
Even if you do not specialize in information technology ( IT), it would be beneficial to have a basic understanding on technology-related skills, be it coding, data analysis, designing and more.
Here are some other things to keep in mind when boosting this employability skill: Excel in both software and hardware Besides the aforementioned skills, other software-related technological knowledge that you need to know are general but vital during your university and work life, such as using an office suite (word processor, spreadsheet and presentation programme, among others), e-mail and social media.
Similarly, understanding hardware isn’t limited to your computer or your mobile devices, but also office equipment like the photocopier or scanner so that you won’t have much hassle using them once you are in the workforce. Do regular updating Because technology tends to changes rapidly, take initiative to keep yourself up- to- date to the latest technological trends, whether specific to your career field or general development affecting most industries, to ensure ease of adaptation.
You can also add more technology skills or advance your current ones to improve your capability by attending short courses at IT institutions or learning online. Remember courtesy Your ability to communicate appropriately is still relevant where technology is concerned, especially work-related matters through e-mail correspondence, thus use proper language and search online for e- mail etiquette or e- mail samples for various situations when in doubt.
Being courteous also applies to online interaction through social media and forums due to lack of faceto-face discourse, so respect online users by commenting thoughtfully, rationally and necessarily. Be responsible Technology is made possible because humans are utilising it, hence use it to your advantage instead of becoming a slave to it. For example, don’t get too attached to your mobile devices until you cling on to them on the road, in bed and everywhere you go.
Also, as online content can be posted by anyone, cross- check information and check the reliability of its sources to verify its legitimacy instead of getting easily affected over what turns out to be untrue.
Therefore, use technology wisely by treating it as your tool for success.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media- M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.