Companies Eye Rural Areas to Tap Fresh Talents

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many changes that no one saw coming. With corporates, manufacturing units, educational institutes, and every other thing going on temporary shutdown, business leaders had to make difficult decisions to deal with the unprecedented times. One of the most debated topics being discussed since the start of the pandemic is whether remote working is a viable option for the long term or not. Employees across industries are still working from home and many companies feel that workforce productivity is decreased compared to the situation before the pandemic. 

There are, however, certain companies for whom remote working is generating new opportunities and the chance to explore untapped areas. One such sector is the eLearning industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be a boon for online learning platforms. The concept of remote working is fitting best with this industry and the key players involved in eLearning are keen on making the most of this situation. With millions of students unable to continue their education at schools and universities, there is a significant surge in the number of users looking to learn online. Evidently, the demand for online tutors has also increased and companies are turning towards rural areas to find new talent and fulfill this demand. 

The Edtech industry isn’t limited to school and college learners. There is a wide range of courses available for working professionals as well. Courses related to certifications like the PMP, ITIL 4 Foundation, CISSP, Lean Six Sigma, and Certified Scrum Master are some of the most preferred ones among employees. Online courses were already popular among professionals as they would easily fit into one’s busy schedule. As the present work-from-home scenario is giving them some extra time, professionals are looking to utilize it and upskill themselves. 

Traditionally, the major job opportunities were limited to metro cities and anyone looking for work had to shift there. But, at present, employers have broken the geographical and time barriers and allowed employees to work from their hometowns. The talent acquisition managers have identified a new trend that existing employees are referring their friends from rural and non-urban areas and there is a decent supply of talent from these areas in different sectors like the EdTech industry and the eCommerce industry. Job portals like Naukri have also noticed that though the job posts in cities have reduced significantly, there is a comparative increase in the number of job opportunities in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. 

Companies are also embarking on the benefit that talent from non-metro cities can be hired at lesser salary packages compared to those from metro cities. The employees too can avoid the higher cost of living in metros and work at the convenience of home, given they can afford good internet connectivity. However, hiring talent from rural areas is only suitable for entry-level to mid-career related positions. Roles like that of a team lead, project manager, product owner, or technical architect require a higher level of expertise and can only be led by a professional who has rich experience and exposure to corporate working. 

Upskilling and reskilling are what helping people from small cities get hired. With digital skills dominating the market, companies are no longer looking for any specific academic background or degree. People with an interest in a certain profession are taking up online courses and gaining the required skills. Digital marketing, online game development, machine learning, big data analytics, and ethical hacking are some of the most sought-after courses for the purpose of upskilling. These online courses are, in fact, affordable when compared to enrolling in a university program and doing a full-time course. So, one can either remain behind or make a wise decision of taking their career ahead by upskilling themselves through online courses. 

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