The need for reskilling even for recent graduates

Many people don't possess the practical skills they need to succeed in the workplace after receiving a university degree. The pace of technological change in the workplace means that college degree programs cannot keep up. Some students are being prepared to pursue jobs that no longer exist, and others do not possess the required skills for the jobs they want. As a consequence, the skill gap has grown substantially.

Automating work tasks even further exacerbates this problem. Due to automation, graduates will focus on higher-value work sooner in their careers, as repetitive activities are automated. The demand for autonomy and responsibility among this demographic is suited to this model at an earlier age. However, it also means that they'll need to prepare for what's ahead: more employers will seek candidates with exceptional soft skills. They'll need to be capable of writing, listening, and communicating.

Fortunately, new graduates have excellent work skills that they can use to bridge their skill gaps. For sure, this particular demographic contains more demanding and anxious young workers. However, they are still curious and actively seek fulfilment through purpose, agency, development, and self-direction. While they understand their careers will take them through multiple roles, industries, and sizes of companies, they maintain a commitment to keep moving forward.

An innovative iterative method that is sensibly shaped by the needs will be used to resolve the skills dilemma for this cohort. Since recent college graduates already possess college degrees, they need not go through cumbersome, lengthy training programs, which are often out of date. Instead, they can take advantage of the virtual resources available online and filter them with the technologies available to them.

Continually employing skills and reskilling throughout a career are vital components for anyone seeking a lateral career change. Still, they will be significant for this newly graduated demographic seeking to stay current and relevant.

Here is how you need to reskill for the future:

Upgrade/add core technical skills

If you want to attract more employers, consider enhancing your core technical skills, such as data science and digital literacy. Afterwards, build on the skills you already possess.

Focus on universal and portable skills

Regardless of where you go in life, acquire skills that will be valuable. By highlighting your transferrable skills, you will stand out from others. For instance, a data analyst is highly sought-after in a variety of job markets.

Find out what soft skills you need

Determine where your gaps are, and then set learning objectives to fill them. The vital soft skills in today's workplace are relationship management, effective communication, problem-solving, learning agility, and critical thinking. As a career professional, learning agility means consistently adopting new skills throughout your career, as well as having the motivation and curiosity to do so.

Adapt your learning by discovering, filtering, and applying

You can find many free or low-cost resources online to help you identify the skills you need for your profession. Using platforms like YouTube, you can discover and apply your learning through talks and interviews.

Keep a record of your past and future learning

Keeping a record of past and future learning is a good idea. You can use this approach in interviews and on the job to have better discussions about your skills.

Become familiar with your decision-making responsibilities

If you want to be conversant with your decision-making responsibilities, take charge of your learning and work. While you might be fortunate enough to have a mentor who can assist you, ultimately, it is up to you to guide your career.

Final thoughts

Many organisations view reskilling and learning opportunities as competitive advantages and ways to attract top talent. Furthermore, college graduates are also looking for opportunities to learn on the job while looking for a job. So, graduating students must adopt the current attitudes, technologies, and methods to establish a successful career path.

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