Future professions, new rules of career discussed at Üsküdar

A seminar titled “Future in Profession” was organized by Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO) to contribute to students' career planning and increase their awareness of the business world. In the program held in cooperation with İŞKUR, students received information about the future of the healthcare sector, the changing labor market, artificial intelligence and technological developments, personal competencies, networking, and the importance of the internship process in their career journey. 

In the seminar held at Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus Emir Nebi Conference Hall, students listened to evaluations on different topics related to their career journeys.

Career and Vocational Counselors Ümran Çoker and Nagehan Oral were guests at the program.

Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal: “Your career is shaped by the steps you take today”

SHMYO Director Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal, who delivered the opening speech of the seminar, stated that the event was organized within the scope of cooperation that began with a visit to the Kadıköy İŞKUR Directorate last year. Karasakal, who stated that İŞKUR carries out important work in terms of increasing employment, meeting the needs of the labor market, and supporting individuals' professional development, drew attention to the importance of students planning their career journeys more consciously.

Karasakal stated that they do not want students to be individuals who only recognize their professions when they graduate, emphasizing the importance of them being individuals who know their inner world and can shape their future. Karasakal stated that actively participating in activities where students meet the sector will provide them with experiences that will make a difference after graduation; “Your career doesn't start on the day you graduate. In fact, your career is shaped and grows with the steps you take today.” he said.

Ümran Çoker: “Significant changes are occurring in the healthcare field”

Career and Vocational Counselor Ümran Çoker made evaluations regarding the future of the healthcare sector and the impact of technological transformation on professions. Çoker; “When we look at the future of the healthcare sector, we clearly see the impact of technological transformation on professions. Health technologies are now intertwined with many fields, from artificial intelligence to augmented reality, from cybersecurity to the internet of things. Very important changes are taking place in the healthcare field, from 3D printers producing organs, to devices adapted to the body, to chips, and artificial intelligence-supported diagnostic systems. Therefore, in the coming period, we will face a professional world in healthcare that develops and transforms with technology.” she said.

“We need to be aware of our competencies”

Emphasizing that students should not stay out of the change, Çoker said; “Simply having a diploma will not be enough in the business world of the future. We need to increase our professional competencies, follow new technologies, and combine these technologies with our professional knowledge. We need to make good use of technology and our professional knowledge. We need to make good use of the creative intelligence that comes from being human. We need to be aware of our competencies so that we can transfer the simple, easy, and labor-intensive parts of the job to robots. That's why we have to make a difference.” she stated.

“Position yourselves as the professionals of the future”

Çoker also pointed out that data is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare sector; “Data is also becoming increasingly important in the healthcare sector. It is necessary to be able to read health data, extract meaningful insights from this data, and develop new products and services by coming together with different disciplines. For this reason, make the most of seminars, trainings, and different development opportunities throughout your education. Do not see yourselves only as students; position yourselves as the professionals of the future. You need to start developing yourselves and preparing for the future of your profession today.” she said.  

Nagehan Oral: “You need to concretize your goals”

Career and Vocational Counselor Nagehan Oral, on the other hand, touched upon the importance of students knowing themselves and correctly evaluating their competencies in their career journeys. Oral; “First of all, we need to start by getting to know ourselves. This is actually what we owe to ourselves. When determining our career path, it is very important to be aware of our strengths and areas open to development. For this, you can do a SWOT analysis of yourself. In addition, follow the education, course, volunteering, exchange, and social development opportunities around you. Bilgeİş, BTK Academy, Coursera, European Union projects, and various programs carried out by the Ministry of Youth and Sports are opportunities that can be evaluated in this sense. When setting goals, just saying ‘I will do it one day’ is not enough. You need to concretize your goals with a certain time frame and intermediate steps. When you determine when you will do it and what stages you will go through, you will have a more concrete roadmap to reach your goal.” she stated.

“Don't hesitate to form new connections”

Oral also emphasized the importance of connections in the career journey; “From your university years, try to communicate with friends from different departments, student clubs, academics, and industry professionals. Don't think of networking as a self-serving relationship or favoritism. Instead of only communicating with people when you need them, you can build healthy relationships even before a need arises. Evaluate the seminars, summits, and conferences you attend as opportunities to meet new people. You can also use professional platforms like LinkedIn to develop these connections. Especially what we call weak connections, relationships we establish with people who are not in our immediate circle, can offer us new opportunities and different perspectives we never thought of. Therefore, don't hesitate to communicate with people from different backgrounds and create new connections for yourselves.” she said.

“Don't be afraid to make mistakes”

Oral also stated that the internship process is an important career opportunity for students; “Don't see an internship only as a mandatory process you need to complete. Observe how the institution you intern at operates, try to understand its work culture, ask questions, and try to contribute instead of waiting for work to be given to you. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, but always learn something from the mistakes you make and try to find solutions. Being visible, taking an active role, and contributing to the institution's operations during the internship process are very important. Because an internship is also a networking opportunity. Instead of cutting ties with the institution when your internship ends, express yourself and your career goals. Don't hesitate to say that you might want to work at that institution in the future. You need to see yourself not just as an intern or a student, but as a young professional who has already embarked on their career journey.” she said.

The event, where participants' questions were answered, concluded with a group photo.

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