We can see a lot in the communities looking to land a job in Tech / Digital people starting with “I want to learn how to code”.
Not saying that coding is useless, not at all, but this is probably not where you should start if you don’t know why and when use it to solve a problem. If you make a small shift and say: “I want to be a builder, solving problems, and I need to code to achieve this specific task as there is no other existing tool/solutions to achieve what I want”, you will be probably unstoppable and you will learn all the technical skills you need.
Moreover, great technical skills are helping to solve many problems, except some core human collaboration and interaction need. Either you are a freelancer (working independently for clients) or part of a team, or even an entrepreneur, your behavior and communication will be key to continuing to progress and unlocking an amazing career.
People say they need to learn how to code because some programs or relatives say so and they see an opportunity to have a job / revenues. But most of the time it is not enough, and after a short bootcamp, if you do not build up your overall competence and not just a technical skill, you might still face a lot of problems to find a sustainable opportunity.
Actually, Yoann thinks that it is one of the key issues in the existing Digital Divide and inequalities. Access to the internet ( = the infrastructures) becoming less and less an issue, the basic education and experience is making the main difference. Most of the people having a business or scientific or social sciences degree in Europe for example will be able to adapt and find different kinds of opportunities, learning on the job (and with complementary online and offline learning) even if their diploma did not prepare them for that. On the other end, if you are bad to present yourself, to prove your experiences, to reflect on what you did, to show you can learn, to showcase your knowledge, to communicate with others, to build with a team, your chances to find sustainable opportunities may be very low. That does not remove some existing stigmas and all the inequalities, for sure, but this mindset and competence are giving you more chances to beat the odds.
Particularly in emerging economies, the education system is too often not preparing accordingly the youth or supporting the reskilling of its workforce in a holistic way. A lot of new technical programs related to ITC or STEM exist but Core Critical Skills (as Singapore could call them) are missing.
Digital competence refers to the ability to use technology effectively, efficiently, and safely in order to achieve specific goals. It is a broad concept that encompasses a wide range of skills, including basic computer literacy, as well as the ability to use specific software and tools.
Some key components of digital competence include:
Digital competence is becoming increasingly important in today's workforce, as technology continues to play a larger role in many industries. It's important not only for individuals but also for organizations, to have digital-competent workforce to be able to face the ever-changing digital landscape. Additionally, digital competence is essential for individuals to function in a digital society, and to participate fully in the digital economy. With technology rapidly advancing, developing digital competence is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and updating of skills.
