Learn why skills are the most valuable thing in your career toolbox right now and how to use them to build your future and get ahead

By Jess Henderson, Careers Manager

Everyone’s talking about skills

Skills have been part of a general?conversation about recruitment and selection for a while, but recently, there has been increasing discussion about?their importance which seems to indicate that skills are growing in their value.

Why is this happening, and what does it mean for you?

The topic of skills-based hiring currently is being heavily driven by some influential voices, including LinkedIn, as indicated by?their recent blog and skillset report .

However, I’m also seeing more and a wider range of people and organisations discussing skills-based hiring,?and I expect it to be a growing focus of recruitment in the coming years in?both the experienced and graduate hiring areas.

Why is this happening?

Skills have long been an integral component of hiring decisions. You usually see various skills listed as requirements, alongside specific credentials such as qualifications and/or experience.

Skills and labour shortages are rife and are continuing to grow in many roles and sectors. This competition is forcing companies to re-evaluate their approach to hiring.

Job descriptions and person specifications have generally always been a ‘wish list’ as opposed to an exact profile of the individual who ends up getting the job. Frequently, credentials such as a certain qualifications or experience may act as minimum thresholds.

Many employers are reconsidering their approach to this, and others are being encouraged to do so from many quarters.

What does this mean for you?

Know your skills

It's more important than ever to identify and evidence the skills you have gained during your studies and other activities during application processes.

Your skills may be discipline-specific or more general ones. Don’t underestimate the value of transferable skills. These are the most frequently listed requirements in virtually all job descriptions. Examples include?research skills, critical thinking, communication, intercultural awareness, problem solving, teamworking and project management (and there are countless others!).

If you’re struggling to identify core skills gained from your degree, a useful starting point is your course descriptions and/or the University’s Graduate Attributes . You might also find brainstorming with a course-mate useful.

Reflect on your skills

Reflection is a core part of learning. Not only will it help you identify any areas of strength, weakness or skills gaps, but it will enable you to articulate your skills in a way that is meaningful to others, including recruiters.

There are several models of reflection, and the Study Skills webpage from?the University of Cambridge provides a useful summary to help get you started.

Spell it out to employers

Employers won’t guess or make assumptions about your skills based on your subjects of study, experiences or previous job or internship titles. You must be specific. For example, if you undertook a certain number of hours in labs throughout your degree, state how many. If you received great feedback or marks on a presentation, specify this.

You should always present yourself in a way that is meaningful to the recruiter. Use their language where relevant. For example, if they refer to ‘interpersonal skills’ rather than ‘communication skills’ make sure you do too.

Access more opportunities

With growing?emphasis on skills-based hiring, it may become easier to get into new areas of work or fields unrelated to your degree.

We’ve already seen this happen in the digital sector. In the past five to ten years, more and more employers have moved away from requiring specific technical degrees, to accepting applicants from a wider range of disciplines, right through to welcoming applicants of any discipline. Certainly, in the tech sector, this has been driven largely by the skills demand outstripping supply. We may see more of this approach in other roles and sectors in the coming years.

Upskill yourself

Consider short courses. In the last few years, we’ve seen a significant increase in the range of online learning options, many of which are now more readily available and accessible. These can be a great way to learn specific skills or to demonstrate relevant professional interests and commitment.

Learning in-demand skills also gives you a competitive advantage. There are many different providers, and you should research your options?before choosing courses.?For example, professional bodies can be one way of finding out about in-demand skills in your sectors of interest. You could also talk to people in the roles or industries in which you’re interested to get their advice on what you should?learn.

In addition, as a UofG student, you have free access to LinkedIn Learning through the University’s subscription .

Become a habitual learner

Scheduling regular learning time is valuable habit to form and will be increasingly important in the future.

The pace of change means we will all need to reskill throughout our lives. This is the concept of lifelong learning. Getting into the habit of making learning a priority will be invaluable. You may already schedule study time for your course or other learning which is great. If not, now might be the?time to start.

Other resources

The New Rules of Work : Learn what Lifelong Learning is and why it’s important in this short online, video course from LinkedIn Learning

‘Can you tell me a time when you've shown leadership skills?’ : Learn what leadership skills are, how to develop them and how to discuss them in a job interview

What really are ‘communication skills’ and how do you demonstrate them? : Learn what communications skills are, including the different types of communication, and how to demonstrate them

Skills Development Scotland Sectoral Skills Assessments : Read what skills are in-demand in different sectors and other Scottish labour market information

Prospects Job Profiles : Learn what skills are required for certain jobs