Job-Seeking Best Practices in a Skills-Based Job Market

The hiring process is changing for both the job seeker and the hiring manager or recruiter. There's been a shift away from traditional hiring practices, which used college degrees and years of experience as the criteria candidates needed to meet before even sitting down for an interview. Now, it's all about skills.

Companies like IBM, Dell, and many others are focusing on skills-based hiring, looking at the hard and soft skills candidates bring to the table rather than where (or whether) he or she earned a college degree. Companies want job candidates who have the verifiable skills to hit the ground running on the first day, skills that will carry them into the future of work.

Here are some best practices of job seeking in a skills-based market

1. Start keeping a record of skills you're learning in your current role

   If you've been lucky enough to participate in training and development on the job, make sure those skills are accurately recorded. You'll want to bring those with you into your next role.
   
   

2. Get digital credentials

   Digital credentials will prove to a hiring manager and recruiters that you have the skills you say you have. They are data-rich, verified, and secure proof of achievements, learning, and skills. They make it easier for hiring managers by identifying skills rather than relying on degrees that may or may not be relevant to the role you're wanting to fill. But most importantly, they’re proof of learning. They tell a story about what you can do beyond being self-reported, or beyond a traditional academic degree.
   
   

3. Share those credentials 

   Share them on LinkedIn and other social media sites and with your network. This can get you on the radar of recruiters, allowing the job to find you, not the other way around.
   
   

4. Write a skills-based resume

   One thing that hasn't changed is the need for a resume. That's a vital tool for both hirers and job seekers. But the resumes themselves? They're changing, too. To compete for positions in companies that are using skills-based hiring, job seekers need skills-based resumes. That means you lead with a list of your skills, rather than the chronological listing of your work experience. It's going to take sitting down and really thinking of the skills and learning you have acquired along the way, from things like proficiency in Microsoft Office to managerial capabilities. Also list soft skills like communication, collaboration and problem-solving. Companies care about those, too.

Job seekers today need to be focusing on their skills, not merely their degree and work experience. Digital credentials will prove to hiring managers you have the skills needed to get the job done.

If you're interested in learning more about digital credentials, schedule a chat with our team!