The UK is in the midst of a skills shortage across multiple sectors. Digital technologies, adult social care, engineering, AI specialists, and cyber experts are some of the sectors struggling with recruitment right now.
While this might seem like a prime opportunity for any candidate to land a job in the preferred sector, the reality is far from true. Employers are looking to secure the right people for their vacancies, and this means stricter criteria to allow them to hone in on the right people and ensure that they secure the right talent to reduce turnover and improve standards.
Let’s take a look at what exactly employers are looking for in the in-demand sector.
Prove Technical Knowledge and Hands-On Experience
This is becoming non-negotiable. Sure, you need your education and training, but you also need relevant experience to back up what you have learnt. This can be via any charitable work you undertake, or any work experience in different sectors that you can bring with you to the company.
So while you’ll be asked and tested on your technical knowledge, you’ll also need to have experience to back up what you do too. Have you worked in hospitality during your time gaining your education? This proves you have experience in handling fast-paced environments, communicating awkward scenarios, problem-solving, and more. This isn’t always about what you learn in the classroom, but the experience you have that can be transferred to a role.
Soft Skills Matter
Soft skills are those things that aren’t always taught in a classroom.
This is how you communicate with those around you, both colleagues and clients. It is how you approach difficult situations, your emotional intelligence, and how you conduct yourself in a professional capacity. These show who you are as a person, and it’s all relevant for employers. They need people who fit their vision for their company, and when there’s a skills shortage, this comes into focus more as they need people to support their existing team, not just fill vacancies.
Evidence Of Ambition
Ambitious employees aren’t always a bonus for companies, especially smaller ones, where there isn’t always room for progression. In these situations, the employer will need to align the vision of their company with the career trajectory of those they are interested in bringing on board. Sometimes this means working with international recruitment agencies to find candidates whose career goals align with what they want for the future of the company. Other times, it’s sourcing local hires who know the area and help build something that benefits people they serve with new insights into the company and what it needs to deliver.
It’s not just one singular ambition “to be the best,” it’s how what you want and what the company needs align that paints a better picture.
Sector Awareness
Knowing what you need for the job role is only the baseline, especially in fast-growing sectors of emerging technologies. You need to be invested in the sector as a whole. Having your finger on the pulse of where it’s headed, knowing what you need in relation to upskilling and ongoing training to remain competitive and relevant, is vital.
It’s less about memorising reports and more about identifying gaps, setting yourself goals and challenges, and striving for a more fulfilling career that has longevity.
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