🤼 The Tug-of-War Between AI and Human Talent

👉 The Current State of Tech Layoffs

• The tech sector has seen 7,785 redundancies in the opening weeks of 2024, with companies like Google and Amazon announcing new rounds of job cuts.

• Google, led by CEO Sundar Pichai, reduced its workforce by approximately 12,000 roles last year.

• Amazon has announced plans to cut several 100 employees in departments such as Prime Video and MGM Studios.

👉 The Impact of AI and Automation on Jobs

• The rise of AI and automation has led to tech layoffs, affecting human jobs.

• Spotify, a music streaming platform, recently cut 17% of its staff, affecting around 1,500 employees.

• Dataminr, a big data startup, announced a 20% staff cut, amounting to around 150 employees.

• Klarna, a fintech company, instituted a hiring freeze instead of resorting to layoffs, believing AI can handle certain tasks that once required a significant human workforce.

👉 The Reasons Behind Tech Layoffs

• Tech layoffs are driven by the need for efficiency, cost-cutting, and the recalibration of staff sizes.

• Certain roles in the tech industry are more vulnerable to layoffs than others.

👉 The Future of Tech Layoffs

• In 2023, the global tech sector experienced a 50% increase in tech layoffs, resulting in over 240,000 job losses.

• Despite these challenges, the US labor market showed resilience, with a growing need for workers skilled in generative AI.

• This trend suggests a shift towards a more AI-integrated job market, requiring professionals to adapt and acquire new skills.

• Cliff Jurkiewicz, vice president of global strategy at Phenom, believes there's a positive side to AI, with opportunities for tech jobs in other industries.

• AI Curators, AI Ethicists, AI Policy Makers, Legal Advisers, AI Trainers, AI Auditors, and AI/Tech Interpreters are key roles in AI. These roles show that AI is mature in the business world and come with a lot of different responsibilities.

• Upskilling for an AI-Driven Future

• As AI technology advances, companies require a workforce that can complement AI's capabilities.

👉 Building Projects The Gateway to Experience and Knowledge

Real-World Experience: Mimics the type of work you'd do in a job.

Portfolio Building: Creates tangible evidence of your skills and creativity.

Complex Problem Solving: Involves working through all stages of software development.

Technology Exposure: Allows exploration of different technologies and tools.

Soft Skills Development: Enhances skills like project management and self-motivation.

👉 Leetcode: Your Gateway to MAANG

Skill Refinement: Great for honing problem-solving and algorithmic thinking.

Interview Prep: Many tech companies use similar questions in interviews.

Immediate Challenge: Offers a wide range of problems with varying difficulty levels.

Feedback Loop: Instant feedback on solutions helps in learning and improvement.

Coding Efficiency: Focuses on writing optimized and efficient code.

🏆 And the Winner is…………………. 

While Leetcode is crucial, it’s important to note that in some countries, recruiters may not focus solely on Leetcode-style questions.

They may assign take-home assignments or inquire about your experience with specific frameworks or technologies. In such cases, your projects become a clear advantage, showcasing your practical skills and ability to deliver tangible results.