Higher education: how can you prepare for the careers of tomorrow ?

This is the question that all secondary school students, and their parents too, are asking themselves: which post-bac career path should we choose to meet the expectations of tomorrow’s employment sector? At a time when artificial intelligence is overturning all certainties about work, it’s important to prepare for the careers of the years to come. Here’s an overview and some explanations.

Where am I going and who am I?

Before asking themselves what is the best course of study for a successful career, students need to ask themselves what they want and the environment in which they want to work. Over the last few years, and particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the French have been asking themselves questions about the direction of their future professional careers. Will it be in line with their different aspirations? How can they move forward in a changing world of work?

Developing cross-disciplinary skills

85% of future professions do not yet exist, according to a recent study by the Institute for the Future (IFTF). To stack the odds in your favour, it’s best to develop cross-disciplinary skills that will always be useful, whatever the profession. They could be defined as follows:

• Creativity and curiosity: these skills are useful for all jobs and are highly valued by recruiters;
• Flexibility: adapting to change to create the conditions for your own profession is one of the best keys to success;
• Communication and co-creation: knowing how to develop a project in a cross-disciplinary way enables you to design more complex solutions that are validated by a group;
• Digital skills: mastery of digital tools and data analysis have become essential in the professional world;
• Continuing education: higher education is just the first stage in a long career of vocational training, to keep pace with changes in business sectors.
  Learning to learn is the key to adapting to the next changes in the world of work.

Focusing on growth areas

The future may be uncertain, but certain business sectors are still experiencing strong growth. Why not try to start your professional life in these still buoyant fields?

So-called emerging technologies (which will not remain so for long) are still at the top of the list of fields that are recruiting. Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are among the top priorities for managers over the next 5 years, as shown by PwC’s latest CEO Survey. There will be massive recruitment to meet the high expectations of business leaders.

Sustainable development and resilient enterprise are also areas in which significant investment is planned. There will be an increasing number of jobs in renewable energies, soft mobility and ecological transition.

In a way, this is the revenge of the humanities and social sciences: after being sidelined, they are coming back with a vengeance, to deploy CSR policies within institutions, for example. Léon Laulusa (Managing Director of ESCP) imagines positions such as ‘teleworking coordinator’ or ‘expert in human-robot interaction’. Workplace psychology and digital ethics are priority subjects and represent job opportunities in the years to come.

Finally, health and biotechnology remain sectors that are always in demand for talent. Biotech is developing rapidly, incorporating the latest developments in artificial intelligence.

Higher education is responding to all these developments and offering relevant career paths for future graduates.

What training courses should you choose to meet the expectations of tomorrow’s employers?

Universities and Grandes Ecoles have adapted to offer higher education courses that meet the needs of businesses.

Hybrid and international courses

It is now possible to combine several courses, for example combining technology and social sciences. This dual training broadens students’ knowledge and enables them to adapt to different issues.
If you want to perfect your skills in a very specific field, MOOCs or boot camps are new ways of complementing more traditional degrees.
For even greater flexibility and exposure to unusual practices, it is advisable to spend a few months abroad as part of an exchange programme such as Erasmus. This experience has become an almost compulsory part of the higher education curriculum.

Work placements

It is essential to get closer to the world of work to help you focus your training. Work placements give you a more realistic view of the world of work and enable you to adapt your training to the realities of the sector.
It also helps you to start building your professional network and develop your LinkedIn profile, for example.

Perfecting your professional agility

Over and above the qualifications you have obtained at university, it is essential to have a great deal of curiosity and agility about the sector of activity you are looking for. Knowing what the new trends are means you can better understand what’s at stake. And to adapt a career path to meet the expectations of human resources managers.
Soft skills will also play a decisive role in a job market increasingly dominated by task automation. You should not hesitate to cultivate them and perfect them over the course of your studies.