November 21, 2011

Job skills gap is sometimes a matter of perception

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When looking for a new position, it's important for job seekers and hiring managers to be on the same page. Managers must clearly state what responsibilities they are looking for in the position they are offering and candidates must demonstrate that they have the skills to match the employers' needs.

According to an October survey by DeVry University's Career Advisory Board (CAB), however, the definition of what skills are needed in today's work force is hardly set in stone.

The most recent findings from the CAB's Job Preparedness Indicator study show that 86 percent of the 540 hiring managers surveyed said that only "some" or "very few" of the job candidates they have interviewed over the past three years possessed the "skills and traits" required to fill their positions. Yet, at the same time, a full 72 percent of the 734 job seekers surveyed said they were "confident about presenting their skills" during a job interview.

So, nearly 9 in 10 hiring managers say the majority of job seekers aren't up to snuff, while three-quarters of those same candidates think they have what it takes to get hired. That's not just a job-skills gap, that's a yawning chasm.

But are employers and job seekers really that far apart? Career expert and workplace consultant Alexandra Levit says the main problem is more likely about perception rather than a true skills shortage.

"There's this perception among job seekers that there are no jobs out there, and that's just wrong," says Levit, who is also a member of the CAB. "There are jobs, but so many of the job seekers don't realize what skills are needed to fill them. More often than not, they do have the skills, but they're not emphasizing them."

In the CAB study, for instance, one of the most sought-after jobs skills is "global competence," or the familiarity with how business works internationally. "Companies have subsidiaries in every corner of the world now," Levit says. "Anything you can offer that shows you have experience dealing with foreign countries can give you an edge. Even something as simple as traveling abroad in high school or college can be helpful, but a lot of people don't think to add this to their resumes."

Another high-ranking skill on an employer's list is the ability of workers to take a more strategic perspective in their jobs. For your next job interview, Levit recommends thinking not just about the immediate needs of the position, but also about what the company's needs will be five to 10 years down the road.

"Even for entry-level jobs, the hiring managers are saying they need more big-picture people," she says. "They want self-motivated people who have some familiarity with things like financial reporting and profit-and-loss statements."

One common mistake many job seekers make is to put all of their emphasis on technical training, especially when applying to the many high-tech firms in the Seattle area. "While it's true that technical skills are important, you should not discount your communication skills," Levit says. "Engineering companies these days are falling over themselves to hire people who have a mixture of technical skills as well as good interpersonal and problem-solving skills."

Of course, the misperceptions in the current job market are a two-way street, Levit adds. In the "do-more-with-less" philosophy of the current economy, some hiring managers have set unrealistic expectations about how many job responsibilities one employee can handle. "In some ways they can aim a little too high," she says. "If you look at a lot of the job descriptions today there are 20 different requirements that must be met. [Hiring managers] are going to have to accept that people are human and can only do so many things in one job."

This overloading of job descriptions, Levit says, is only going to get worse once more baby boomers start retiring, with fewer qualified Gen X and Gen Y workers to take their place. "Right now, about 85 percent of people say they are not happy in their current jobs but are afraid of leaving in the current economy," she says. "There's going to be a huge backlash when the economy begins to really pick up again and people start leaving for better jobs."

Until that happens, however, job seekers should be comforted to know that many of the job skills coveted by today's hiring managers can be taught without extensive retraining needed. "There are so many online courses these days, you can get up to speed pretty quickly," she adds. "You can even take webinars for a few hours on your laptop while riding the bus."

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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communication, education and training, generation gap, hiring practices, resumes, skills

1 Comments

Bill Gregory on November 25, 2011 2:08 PM | Reply

There is misconception that all learning needs to take place in a formal workshop of school program. Its important to recognize the potential of an individual developing new skills by working independently. This involves seeing a need, setting a goal, sourcing knowledge and trial experience opportunities, using new knowledge and skills in an actual situation, and getting feedback. If job seekers spend part of their time in transition with completing learning opportunities, they will gain in both qualifications and confidence.

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