Creativity and innovation for vibrant career

Ranjan K Baruah *

We are aware that mere academic qualification is not enough to get placement or decent jobs. There are skills which are important to be employed and sustained in the competitive job market.

Two words which are important when it comes to getting a job or to become an entrepreneur or to become successful in life are creativity and innovation. People who are creative and innovative are always ahead of their peers when it comes to careers.

There may be no universal understanding of creativity. The concept is open to interpretation from artistic expression to problem-solving in the context of economic, social and sustainable development. Therefore, the United Nations designated 21st April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.

Creativity and innovation could be seen from different perspectives which includes its connection with self and individual growth and to a bigger term like achieving sustainable development. We shall discuss more on how it helps individuals in shaping their careers and their present and future.

We should know that the creative economy too has no single definition. It is an evolving concept which builds on the interplay between human creativity and ideas and intellectual property, knowledge and technology. Essentially it is the knowledge-based economic activities upon which the ‘creative industries’ are based.

Creative industries include audiovisual products, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts– are a highly transformative sector of the world economy in terms of income generation, job creation and export earnings.

Today, the creative industries are among the most dynamic areas in the world economy providing new opportunities for developing countries to leapfrog into emerging high-growth areas of the world economy.

On World Creativity and Innovation Day, the world is invited to embrace the idea that innovation is essential for harnessing the economic potential of nations. Innovation, creativity and mass entrepreneurship can provide new momentum towards achieving the Sustainable Goals (SDGs). It can harness economic growth and job creation, while expanding opportunities for everyone, including women and youth.

The Government of Canada’s Skills for Success model defines creativity and innovation as “your ability to imagine, develop, express, encourage, and apply ideas in ways that are novel or unexpected, or that challenge existing methods and norms.”

Both creativity and innovation can drive change in almost any industry, and they can both enhance our career development. Creativity usually refers to the act of generating new ideas itself, regardless of whether those ideas result in measurable outcomes or solutions. Creative minds are always respected and they always bring positive impacts in the community.

Innovations mean something new and out of the box. Innovation and creativity share the common quality of introducing new ways of thinking to a problem or challenge.

When we are creative and innovative we are more confident and that helps us in shaping our future. Creativity and innovation enhances our probability of getting campus placement in the corporate sector ahead of our peers. There are many ways to improve and learn these attributes.

Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 SDGs - the most ambitious development agenda in human history – requires both creativity and innovation. Green technologies – those used to produce goods and services with smaller carbon footprints – are growing and providing increasing economic opportunities but many developing countries could miss them without decisive action.