Is IT Automation Serious Threat for Engineering Students?

BANGALORE: The world of software is growing rapidly with creations of tools and programs that make not just work but also life easier. Many software companies have made huge revenues through IT automation. Therefore, with the increase and betterment of automation software that requires less human labor, poses a threat to those who work towards a career in IT firms, with sophisticated computers. Automation reduces human error, faster and more accurate operations, and better allocation of resources.

Automation is the linking of disparate systems and software in such a way that they become self-acting or self–regulating. This has very less room for the need of humans, who work separately on two variants that can easily be integrated by a computer with the help of software. Over the last few years, growth in trades and changes in technology have placed many people out of jobs. If this continues then economies will have to adapt and focus on how to distribute the benefits of technological advance.

Students, who are working hard towards a career in computer software, will have to be highly exceptional as they will be fighting for few seats. The IT industry used to be the sector that hired the most workers after college and this field was most sought after but the trend seems to be changing with the sophistication of software.

Is IT still a career choice? Well experts are of the opinion that it is not time to panic due to the rise of automation, because at the end of the day it is human beings who create the software and will always need the human touch in it. Eric Schmidt of Google said, “The race is between humans and computers, and humans must win”, in a report by financial times.  So there will always be spots for humans to work.

The quality of human beings to adapt to technology is not new. Humans being must learn to come up with something new and change the education system to see the integration of creative and technical skills, much like the 20^th century that witnessed the combination of science and technology.

"They will pay more and hire fewer, but they get top talent. More emphasis is placed now on software and technical skills," said Alka Dhingra, regional manager at recruitment firm TeamLease. Companies will be looking to hire people with talents that are beyond normal, thereby giving students a challenge i.e. to work harder and better.

Software engineer job used to be a ticket for a better life, but it is not going to be for long. This trend is already changing, so students will have to upgrade their skills separately. They shouldn’t mind working in small projects to get noticed for bigger ones and also they can no longer wait for companies to come to them but have to start approaching companies themselves.

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