Connecting what a company wants with the skills someone has seems like an easy proposition. That's how the job market has operated for centuries, but is it working? Why are there so many mismatches? 

You guided your students for years, getting them career-ready. So how can you play a role in creating a better match? Skills-to-career matching can align students with what employers want, revolutionizing the old hiring and recruitment paradigm of relying on a resume and job description. 

To do this, you'll need to identify what skills are in demand, how to aid students in developing these skills and how technology can improve the process.

 

What Skills Are Most in Demand? 

Employers often have a good idea of what they want, which ranges from technical aptitude to great communication skills. Beyond specific job-related abilities such as software product proficiency or experience with a specific product type, soft skills are also highly in demand. 

 

Some of the most important attributes employers look for include: 

  • Excellent communication skills, both in speaking and writing.
  • The ability to work in a team environment and collaborate.
  • Signs of leadership, including being a good listener, being patient and being able to give and receive feedback.
  • Empathy.
  • Critical thinking.
  • Adaptability.
  • Time management.
  • Organizational skills.
  • A range of computer and technical skills.
  • Work-related experience.
  • Creativity and curiosity.

 

These traits are necessary for any job. A survey sent to employers about what they want in candidates makes this abundantly clear. Beyond an impressive GPA, employers said problem-solving skills and the ability to work as a team are the most needed attributes. 

 

So how do you help students develop and prioritize these skills? And how can they demonstrate their skills in a way that’s more accessible than a resume?

 

Helping Students Develop With Skills-to-Career Matching

Your students need a new approach when entering the job market, focusing on skill development, refinement and demonstration. 

 

A better way to direct  your students regarding skill development is to understand their career goals and assess where they already excel. You can then help them connect their assets and passions to a job. A skills gap assessment is one tool you can use to determine where they are. 

 

When working with students, you should focus on a few key things:

  • Advise them on the soft skills that matter to employers.
  • Provide them with tools and resources to improve these skills.
  • Ensure their goals and passions align with their skill development so they don’t go down a path that will lead them to a dissatisfying career. 

 

Eliminate Resumes and the Need to “Fit” Job Descriptions With AI-Driven Career Services Software

Job descriptions sometimes offer insights into what companies seek in a candidate. With the traditional approach to supporting students in their job searches, resumes are the primary vehicle to get the task done. However, tailoring resumes to “fit” job descriptions isn’t effective. It’s a keyword-matching exercise, which doesn’t reflect a candidate’s skills, goals and interests.

 

The better alternative is using innovative career services software. In this scenario, AI plays a role in the matching process, and keyword-stuffed resumes are not required. You can use psychometric assessment tools to steer students to in-demand careers post-graduation. 

 

Career services software expands your ability to support students without overburdening you. You also have access to outcomes reporting to measure the impact of your program. 

 

Your students will have more opportunities and start their career journey with clearer insights as they track their progress and develop transferable skills. They can define goals and measure against them. They can also focus on specific attribute development through pepelwerk’s Real World of Work Program. This solution also enables them to create a unique talent profile that replaces resumes and to receive career coaching. It’s a path to finding a job that matches their skills with fewer detours

 

Skills-to-Career Matching: Close the Skills Gap With pepelwerk

Ready to try an innovative approach to skill development and career guidance? The pepelwerk platform relies on data and AI instead of outdated resume-based standards, and it introduces your students to real career expectations that can accelerate their career success.

 

Start now by bringing career-matching services into the future with our solution, which provides all the tools you need to maximize your students’ opportunities. 

Still sending students to job fairs to connect with employers?