Picture this, you walk into a hotel and a virtual receptionist greets you, taking care of the hotel check-in procedure. No, we are not talking about some Hollywood science-fiction movie. It is happening in real. We are moving into a time where we are not welcomed by a human in flesh and blood but by a machine. Until now, machines have assisted us; now they are beginning to replace us. Adding to the surprise is that it is not happening in Silicon Valley but in our country, India.

A hotel in Bengaluru has employed a virtual receptionist to manage its front desk. The hotel had minimal staff, including two security guards and one or two technicians. Everything for the guests was arranged through the hospitality staff that was sitting miles away at the corporate office. This way they were able to manage multiple properties. The advent of the virtual world is both a thing to rejoice and worry about. The fact that an Indian city is adapting new technology and making the most of it is worth appreciating. However, what concerns us is the changing scenario of the job market.

International students who are planning to study abroad should make a note. When technology is seeping left and right in India, it surely has a much stronger presence in developed economies like Canada, Australia, the US, and other countries. This is why picking the right programme for pursuing education overseas has become so important. If we don’t choose the right course now—one that’s in demand for the future—we may regret our decision later. We might find ourselves struggling to secure a job, or even worse, facing challenges in qualifying for permanent residency.

Also Read: Artificial Intelligence: Shaping Career Choices

Changing Expectations from International Students

The hospitality industry is one of the many industries where human interaction is essential. It is considered that work-from-home is not feasible in this industry, yet, technology is being used in a way that was not thought possible. However, it will be too early to say about the effectiveness of using technology in tasks that are typically performed by human staff. What deserves our attention is that technology can get its hands almost everywhere.

This changing scenario should be considered by prospective international students as well. Suggestions from friends and relatives should not be the only guiding light when planning for your overseas education. The Internet is the easiest way to find out what is happening in a particular country. Search how the job market is behaving, what types of jobs are available and what the forecast says. Industries that were creating job requirements in the past may not be as profitable five or ten years from now. As we begin achieving our dream of studying overseas, we must learn the art to adapt as per new immigration policies.

Staying Ahead of the Game as a Student and Professional

Developed countries like to welcome those students who show promise of growth. They don’t want to have people who just want to be plain truck drivers or grocery store attendants. They want tech-savvy people who can engineer software and machines that can run those trucks without human interference. If you exhibit the potential and promise of providing technology for the future, you will find no problem in settling there permanently.

Also Read: What Canada Expects from International Students with Study Visa Changes?

People are complaining that it is becoming difficult to attain a study visa for Canada or Australia. The thing is these people are knocking at the wrong door. Many people are applying for a study visa for a programme that is not in demand or it does not match their academic background. Talk to overseas education consultants in Chandigarh to plan better for study visas.

The Takeaway

Technology will spring many more surprises for us in future. If we do not want to experience this surprise in our career, we should walk along with technology. International students need to adjust their immigration plans as per the requirements of the future. This adjustment will help them in acquiring a study visa and finally settle in their dream country.