Have you heard about these new jobs?

So you are thinking about what to study and the career to pursue, right? Well, new jobs have emerged, and you might want to consider some. Have you heard of the following?

Generational expert

The work force is changing, and who better to explain Generation Z than a member of Generation Y? All sectors are facing challenges concerning the recruitment and retention of Generation Y graduates. Now Generation Z is growing up with media technology. A generational expert can help organisations to build loyalty in their workforce by engaging in practices that connect directly with the much younger employees.

Market research data miner

There is so much information online, presenting organisations with huge volumes of data to sift through in search of details about their customers and clients. Companies now need experts who are able to comb through and analyse all manner of data, as well as to look for behavioural patterns that would help businesses to predict future trends, including advertising. A degree in information science would be a starting point for a job like this.

Social media manager

There has been a massive shift in how organisations communicate with their staff and customers. Much of this is now done online through social network communities, where feedback is immediate. A social media manager (SMM) could be a tech savvy graduate managing the Twitter feed or Facebook page. The SMM could also be a strategist who helps the organisation to tap into social audiences through targeted advertising and marketing.

Chief listening officer

Communication between an organisation and its customers used to be one-way. The organisation would advertise or market and the customer would listen or watch.

Today, with all the various social channels in place, organisations need to listen to what their customers are saying. A chief listening officer keeps an eye and an ear on social media channels and real conversations so that the organisation is up-to-date with what its customers are saying and take appropriate action.

Sustainability experts

“Green” roles are becoming more common as organisations look for ways to be environment-friendly. A degree in environmental science or management is useful as more organisations are employing graduates who can help them become ‘greener’.

Generations Y and Z have grown up in a culture that values recycling and being green. Even if you cannot take a degree in environmental science, try and incorporate a few relevant subjects into your study.

User experience designer

Would you rather be woken up in the morning by a loud alarm clock, or by a soft sunbeam through the window accompanied by the sound of birds?

A user experience designer creates and shapes experiences for users through technology. They try to understand what end users need even before the user thinks about it. Steve Jobs was good at this.

Professional blogger

A blog is a regular entry on the web to discuss issues or to give a personal opinion. There are many blogs out there posting statements and receiving comments. The scenario gets interesting when a person is making money from blogging.

A professional blogger would be an individual whose opinion is followed by millions of people such that they can make money from it, either by being paid by stakeholders in the field they are blogging on or through advertisements.

Pro-gamers

There are professional video game players, known also as pro-gamers. Seriously? You may ask.

Well, they can make millions of shillings a year playing video games competitively. Much of the money is made through sponsorship by computer hardware companies, energy drink makers, and others, and some through prize money. There are leagues out there. Pro-gamers are the hi-tech athletes of Generation Z.

The writer is a director at the International Education Centre