How to Quantify Your Future?

If you are reading this then it’s safe to say you have an interest in the future. But have you considered that the future isn’t tomorrow it is Now?  I am sure you have heard people say we are living in the digital world, but have you stopped to think about what that means? The truth is we are already in the 4^th industrial revolution and that has been occurring since the middle of the last century according to the World Economic Forum. The article is not about the advancements in technology like self-driving cars, chatbots or robots, but rather it’s an opportunity to introduce you the reader to a means of participating in the future through new and emerging careers, which we see as Quantifying Your Future.

The South African Graduate Employer’s Association (SAGEA) is a not for profit professional association dedicated to connecting and advancing graduate employment. Representing over 340 professionals across more than 200 organizations, our members represent the country’s top talent management specialists. SAGEA started a noble initiative in 2019 called Quantifying Your Future, which aims to provide information and insights to potential learners and students, in order to enhance their understanding of new roles emerging in the world-of-work.

The starting point for Quantifying Your Future was with mapping the schooling system and interest which students display from as early as primary school to possible career paths which is illustrated below.

The backbone of the career paths identified is Mathematics which the primary language in quantitative analysis. Quantitative analysis is the use of mathematical and statistical methods (mathematical finance) in finance. Those working in the field are quantitative analysts (or, in financial jargon, a quant). The careers in math’s tech that are emerging which embrace the 4^th industrial revolution are illustrated below.

If what you have read has sparked your interest and you would like to investigate these even further, please feel free to register with Quantifying Your Future Now to receive news and updates. You will also find very useful material like video interviews of real people in the identified careers so you can get a better understanding of what the career entails and which companies need the quantitative skills. We hope that this article has been useful in showing that the future is now and that you can participate in the digital world by considering different career options that embrace the 4^th industrial revolution (see our posts of top emerging jobs and the most in-demand job skills).