[PRESS RELEASE] Preparing Digital Talent | DigiTalk #40

Yogyakarta, May 12^nd, 2020 – Startup or digital company has become a new attraction and trend in Indonesia, especially among the younger generation in planning about their future careers. Various stigmas towards startups have also emerged, ranging from flexible working hours to challenging work environment. Together with Hiroko Amanda who currently serves as Chief of Employer Branding at CODEX, Center for Digital Society (CfDS) will explore the process of building digital talents in Indonesia on facing the working atmosphere in digital era. The 40th series of DigiTalk was held on Tuesday (12/4) via Zoom and YouTube channel.

Startup or Corporation?

The dilemma between startups and corporations as a career destination is something that is often occurred to young people. However, there are some differences from the working atmosphere at startup and corporation. As a newly established company, startups have relatively large risk and that makes the work atmosphere more challenging. Flexible working hours are indeed one of the hallmarks of startup culture, but we must also be prepared to be contacted outside working hours. Ideas are also important in startups, because innovation is the key to the startup’s dynamics. “So, for those of you who like a flexible work environment and the opportunity to experiment, startup is the right choice,” said Hiroko.

In the other side, stability in the corporate experience create a more orderly and clear working atmosphere, such as fixed working hours and all of the benefits provided. Because of the clear and fixed work pattern, there is also little chance to experiment. With the composition of a large team, the corporation also divides the work into specific parts. “Corporations will be suitable for those of you who like an orderly work, equipped with adequate benefits,” said Hiroko.

Job Landscape in Digital Era

The 4.0 industrial revolution is changing the job market in Indonesia. Technological advancement has resulted in many job displacements that are replaced by machine automation. However, on the positive side, many new job opportunities are open. To adapt to this situation, Hiroko believes that we must learn skills that cannot be replaced by machines, such as communication and human resource management.

Hiroko stressed that hard skills alone were not enough in this era, and it only became a secondary assessment when it comes to recruitment. Soft skills become more important because it is not easy to form this skill. Abilities such as critical thinking, leadership, and complex problem solving are some of the soft skills that are often sought by companies today.

Career Preparation Tips in Digital Era

According to Hiroko, many new graduates are not equipped with the ability to face a real work life. A good grade alone is not enough, because many companies consider organizational experience and internships as a more valuable aspect than good grades. To avoid differences in perceptions between job applicants and companies, Hiroko recommends to find out the company’s background and values first before applying to the related company. Students can also take advantage of the career center and campus resources to prepare themselves before entering the workforce. “The most important thing is do not apply for a company just to follow where your friends go to,” concluded Hiroko.

Writer: Christophorus Ariobumi

Editor: Raka Wicaksono