In an exclusive interview for World Youth Skills Day, Ankit Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Unstop, shared his innovative approaches with which he prepares students for industry demands.
World Youth Skills Day: On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, India.com had the opportunity to interview Ankit Aggarwal, the Founder and CEO of ‘Unstop’, a community engagement and hiring platform. Agarwal, who advocates for student skill development and prepares them real-world challenges, shared his views on how his company is working relentlessly to elevate the skillset of the youths and also acting as a bridge between the industry and the job seekers.
1. What are the most significant skill gaps you observe in the Indian workforce today? How is Unstop addressing these gaps?
Ankit Aggarwal: Rather than focusing on just a specific skill set missing today, I would like to share how there’s a gap between what the future workforce is being taught in academic institutions and what the requirement is in the industry. For example, there’s a growing need to use AI in everyday work, especially in the workflows that can be automated. This is taught to a fresher only when they get hands-on training within offices. On the other hand, soft skills are still not valued as much as the technical ones. We’ve seen an interest develop in corporates to look for candidates who are a great cultural fit and this can only be evaluated through their communication skills, personality, and behaviour.
At Unstop, we’ve created a digital playground for students because at no point in their career do we want them to feel, “I wish I had done this”. From upskilling through self learning modules, practicing their skills, to connecting with mentors from different industries, we’ve made the process to learn and grow simpler. And more accessible to anyone. Students from any college, any city, and any domain can be a part of competitions and challenges that give them a chance to bag PPIs and PPOs.
2. How is Unstop leveraging technology to enhance skill development and training? Are there any innovative approaches or tools you are particularly proud of?
Ankit Aggarwal: The most important aspect that we’re covering is making the platform available and accessible to students from any city, college, and domain. They have the means to explore new opportunities, through upskilling and by competing in challenges that give them the confidence and real-world experience. We’re also focusing more on skill based hiring by giving recruiters different types of methods to evaluate candidates. From cognitive, psychometric, technology assessments to language and gamified ones that give them an understanding of a candidate’s skills.
We’ve also made it possible for students to connect easily with mentors online through our platform. Students can choose mentors as per the domain they need expertise on, experience level, feedback and reviews, and more.
3. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected skill development and employment in India? What strategies has Unstop implemented to adapt to these changes?
Ankit Aggarwal: Most things shifted online because of the pandemic. Students were on the lookout for new opportunities to not just upskill but also gain experience through internships. They had more time in hand to balance upskilling and college together. In terms of employment, we saw a shift in the job roles being offered. There has also been a shift to focus more on the hybrid workforce model.
At Unstop, we changed the way hiring looks through a comprehensive hiring process that can be done online. From attracting, assessing, and eventually hiring candidates. By using engagements like hackathons and case study competitions, we are giving access to any student, from any college and domain to be a part of the hiring process of top companies. Not just this, we’ve also made it possible for students to focus more on getting mentorship directly from industry experts rather than searching for ways to gain knowledge on topics that are common but require a different POV.
4. With a significant portion of India’s population being youth, how does Unstop engage and empower young people to enhance their skills and secure employment?
Ankit Aggarwal: With a community of 10 Mn+ students and early talent, we make sure to connect them with the right opportunities to learn, upskill, showcase their skills, gain CV points and get hired while unlocking their true potential throughout their academic journey.
From learning opportunities through self-paced courses and modules on Unstop Pro, a gamified platform to practice skills like coding, interview prep, skills assessments and more, to mentorships from industry leaders and experts who have gone through the same cycle as a student and know the problem areas that need to be addressed. The best way for these students to showcase their skills is through competitions and challenges that push them to put their best foot forward and solve business problems that companies are facing.