Competencies chart the course of a career

As part of the ‘Science Cafe’ events launched by the Council of Higher Education (YOK), Izmir University of Economics (IUE) hosted a gathering titled ‘Professions of the Future.’ During his presentation at the Ege Palas Hotel, Taylan Özgür Demirkaya, a lecturer at the IUE Department of Business Administration, provided guiding recommendations for young people making their university choices this year and their families. Stating that students should first ask themselves, “Do I really want this department?”. Demirkaya said, “I frequently hear comments from young people about how certain professions yield high incomes. Shaping choices based solely on this is not right. Focus on where your heart and interests lie as well.”

While the ‘Professions of the Future’ gathering was taking place, Izmir University of Economics also set up a booth at the ‘Open House’ event organized by Artı Tercih Fuarcılık. The IUE booth attracted great interest from prospective students and their families, forming long queues of people seeking information about the University. Throughout the day, IUE Department of Business Administration Lecturer Taylan Özgür Demirkaya met with young people experiencing the excitement of university selection, both around the booth and in a special session, to answer their questions.

“SUCCESS HAS NO SINGLE CRITERION”

Noting that some students today define themselves by certain rigid standards, which is not the correct approach, Demirkaya said, “Students use expressions like ‘I got an AA in that class’ or ‘I achieved a 4.00 GPA in my major.’ However, this mindset makes it difficult to determine where we truly want to see ourselves in life. Simply holding a diploma, launching a YouTube channel, or obtaining a good certificate is not enough on its own. I have seen students who achieved great career success despite having low GPAs. Of course, a high GPA is important, but not having one is not a sole indicator of failure.”

“IT IS HARD TO PREDICT THE FUTURE”

Emphasizing that it is very difficult to predict with certainty today which professions will be in high demand in the future, Demirkaya said, “I have been teaching artificial intelligence since 2016. There are vast differences even between the GPT version I used in December 2022 and today's versions. The pace of change is so rapid that some professions are disappearing completely, while others are undergoing deep transformations. This also applies to fields like engineering, law, and academia.”

“FOCUS ON WHERE YOUR INTEREST LIES”

Demirkaya continued as follows: “I frequently hear comments from young people regarding how certain professions offer high income. Shaping your choices solely around this is not correct. In truth, there is no such thing as 'the single right profession' in life. The best thing you can do with the decisions you face right now is to focus on where your heart and interests lie. The path you choose may or may not always make you happy; what truly matters here is showing the courage to embark on that journey, as well as what you add to yourself and learn along the way.”

HIGHLIGHTED 6 CORE COMPETENCIES

Stating that alongside a diploma, one must possess various competencies to build a successful career, Demirkaya said, “No matter which profession you choose, there are 6 competencies that I strongly believe you must possess. Even as professions change and transform, I believe these competencies will always create advantages. The first one is conflict management. Being able to generate solutions during disagreements in group work is extremely important. Next is ‘teamwork’. It is not easy, but it is one of the foundational elements of success. Third is ‘effective presentation skills’. Someone who can convey their ideas in a simple, impactful manner moves several steps ahead of their peers. ‘Communication’ is also an indispensable skill. People who know what to say, where to say it, and when to say it reach success much more easily. Another important competency is ‘emotional intelligence’. Understanding what the person in front of you wants and being able to listen properly carries great importance. The final one is ‘learning how to learn’. Discovering ways to access information and continuously improving oneself is invaluable. These competencies are not acquired simply by listening to lectures; they are gained through experiencing, applying, and reflecting upon them.”