Afshar tweeted an example of how automation took over the 'knocker upper' job.
From manufacturing to service, jobs across industries are being threatened by automation /digitization. Recently, food aggregator Zomato laid off 540 employees from its customer support team due to the automation of certain processes.
“Over the last few months, we have seen our technology products and platforms evolve and improve significantly. We have dramatically improved the speed of service resolution, such that now only 7.5 per cent of our orders need support,” the company had said in a statement.
While the automation threat to jobs is real, people often forget that automation is part and parcel of growth. Over the centuries, every industry has seen jobs evolve (or disappear) as automation enters. Recently, Vala Afshar, chief digital evangelist – Salesforce, shared an example of how automation did away with the “knocker upper” job in the 1920s.
Before alarm clocks, people would be hired to wake you by knocking on your window at a certain time of day. https://t.co/Xl8I96fH7Y
What is a “Knocker Upper”? As Afshar mentions, the “knocker upper” was a person who would knock on people’s windows at a pre-arranged time to wake them up. The trade, which spread throughout the 19th century and partially the 20th , was mainly prevalent in industrial areas where workers were required to work the early shift but could not afford their own watches. It was also used by dock workers who had to wake at odd hours.
To make sure that only the person who paid for their services who would be woken up, they used a long fishing-rod like stick with a knob at the end to tap on windows. Charles Dickens is said to have referenced one such ‘knocker upper’ in his novel 'Great Expectations'.
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As alarm clocks became more affordable, the trade petered out but some reports suggest that it still existed in certain mill towns even up to the 1970s.
Is Automation the End? Afshar may or may not have intended to draw a direct comparison between “knocker uppers” and automation fears today but one can’t help but notice the timeliness of his tweet.
Nearbuy CEO Ankur Warikoo was more direct in drawing a connection, asking a question that’s been on everyone’s minds.
I wonder what they did when their jobs got taken over by machines! #history https://t.co/Mx3meXcYir
@ValaAfshar Yet another proof that digitisation is killing jobs. ��
— Francesco Andreani (@andreanityce) 1566014674000
Be A Sharp Cookie At Work: Update Your Skills, Keep Learning To Stay Relevant
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Amazon plans to retrain nearly a third of its workers in the US. This is how you can reskill yourself to adapt to new markets.
Adaptability is the order of the day. It’s important to ride along with the change so that you don’t get left behind. Amazon US is training 100,000 workers in new skills, such as machine learning and even nursing. Whether it’s recession, boredom or job insecurity that’s the cause, reskilling can only be a boon for your career. Take a look at how you can keep yourself updated in the ever-changing workforce:
Amazon plans to retrain nearly a third of its workers in the US. This is how you can reskill yourself to adapt to new markets.
Adaptability is the order of the day. It’s important to ride along ..
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When it comes to spending extra time at work, few of us do so voluntarily. But in many big companies, employers offer various training programmes to help their employees improve and fine-tune their skills. These programs are usually free, but go under the radar simply because employees are unaware. So, keep up to date with what your company is doing, not just in your own team, but across sections. Your bosses will then know you’re keen to push yourself and are up for the challenge.
When it comes to spending extra time at work, few of us do so voluntarily. But in many big companies, employers offer various training programmes to help their employees improve and fine-tune their ..
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Instead of using your free time to surf the internet, get tangled in online debates or play mindless games, use the internet proactively. You can get online streams of seminars, talks and even podcasts on various topics that can help you. This is an easy way to learn about industry trends. If you aren’t finding the right way to up your skill set in the real world, try the virtual.
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Write down your current skill set and make a note of what you would like to add to it. Whether it’s communication, management or customer service, seeking out skills will help you retain and further your career. While seminars and web series are great for learning softer skills, when it comes to technical skills, find a course you can do. Seek a professional course online or after-office hours to help you add a specialised certification to your resume. These usually take only a few months.
Write down your current skill set and make a note of what you would like to add to it. Whether it’s communication, management or customer service, seeking out skills will help you retain and further..
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While access to learning is everywhere, it boils down to nothing if you do not apply your skills. It may be a cliché, but practice does make perfect. Don’t wait for the ‘right job’ to show off your skills; use them in any given opportunity. Dive into projects where you can use your new skills, even if it means not getting credit or being paid. Use your learnings to help colleagues gain confidence. Applying them to real-life situations can help you see how far you’ve come and how much further you need to go.
While access to learning is everywhere, it boils down to nothing if you do not apply your skills. It may be a cliché, but practice does make perfect. Don’t wait for the ‘right job’ to show off your s..
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Hanging out with people who already have the traits you’re keen to pick up will help you get a deeper understanding of what you want to learn. It can also help you see what kind of experience you need to secure a better opportunity. Networking sites are also a good place to get acquainted with people within your industry with whom you can learn and job search if you want to put your new skills into play.
Hanging out with people who already have the traits you’re keen to pick up will help you get a deeper understanding of what you want to learn. It can also help you see what kind of experience you ne..
