The rise of skills based hiring
We are seeing lots of companies starting to prioritise demonstrable skills over degrees when advertising for new staff. This year the UK hiring landscape is going through a shift where degrees still matter but mainly in regulated fields such as law and medicine but they are making way for actual skill sets.
What is driving the change?
Labour shortages mean that companies have had to become more open minded with their hiring strategies and criteria so along with more flexible working patterns, the importance of qualifications are also being considered. Companies can find that degrees can be a barrier to social mobility and therefore make diversifying their workforce very difficult.
It’s no secret that tech is developing - rapidly. It is developing so quickly that degrees and other qualifications can’t keep up, hands on experience, research and on some occasions, short courses are the only way that the workforce can get in line with the changes and the only way businesses will be able to get ahead/stay in line with competitors.
Financial pressures means there is more emphasis on ROI for all areas of the business, including hires. The best way to ensure that you have the greatest chance of employing the right person first time is to take into consideration their experience and skills as opposed to solely their qualifications.
Here’s some tips on how you can hire successfully based on skills:
Use skills based job descriptions listing specific competencies needed, focus on outcomes, remove or de-emphasise degrees/qualifications unless they are legally or technically necessary.
Implement skills assessments as part of the interview process - this will enable you to understand their capabilities and will be a great predictor of how they will perform in their job day to day.
Ask for portfolios or work samples where it’s suitable - for data and creative roles for example.
Where appropriate, you could conduct a trial day/few hours in which you can set out tasks where candidates can demonstrate their skills.
Explain to candidates the shift in your hiring strategy and why. This will attract a more diverse pool of candidates who have learned in alternative ways.
What can this mean for the future?
Skills first hiring isn’t a hiring trend, it is a strategy and is a great way to hire staff today. It will broaden your talent pools, support DEI and is much more in line with how people are currently learning and growing.
