Taking up a new job and then settling into the work environment takes an incredibly stressful process. For older job-holders, shifting into a new job can be exciting as a new milestone in their career path but at the same time can be an exhausting process of adaptation. In smart cities, there are a number of jobs that are threatened by automation, most of which involve a large amount of human work. These job-holders must learn to adapt to new technologies, and in certain cases, might lose their jobs altogether.

The transportation and labour industries are the most likely to be affected by automation, and the areas where the first real-life applications will be seen. For labourers and truck-drivers, it is important to spread awareness about the dangers and imminence of the problem, as well as preparing them to transition to new roles. This will include an awareness of the roles, as well as the availability of training and educative programs to give them the necessary skills.

Don’t compare the new job with the old ones. There will definitely be differences but complaining about them will only make things worse. Be attentive to the new culture and the work ethics. Try to understand what people around you expect from you and don’t over-exert yourself. After a few weeks of work, you can ask for feedback from your older co-workers to understand the level of your performance and accordingly bring changes. Getting a good feedback really helps boost your morale. At the end of the day, it is yet another job which will be demanding in its own ways and one should be prepared for it.

With changes in the over infrastructure of a number of industries by the advent of robots, technology, and artificial intelligence, there is a problem growing in the shadows. It is our responsibility to prepare employees and workers in these areas, lest we be faced with a massive unemployment problem we are unprepared for.