Wajeez Articles: [Survey] Top 4 Reasons Why Employers Are Not Finding the Skills They Need
There is a striking gap between what skills hiring managers value in a candidate, and how job seekers describe their own skills. The Job Preparedness Indicator research found that while job seekers are confident in their abilities, hiring managers have not seen candidates who match their qualifications. The Job Preparedness Indicator is a new annual survey designed to identify and track gaps between the skills candidates say they have and what skills employers need to fill available positions.
Conducted online Sept. 6–12, 2011, by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Career Advisory Board, the survey queried 540 hiring managers and 734 job seekers to determine what attributes employers consider most important but are rarely seen in candidates. The key findings include the following:
1 – Most highly-valued skills needed by employers:
According to the survey, hiring managers place the highest value on the following skills: strategic perspective, high integrity, global outlook, strong base work ethic/dependable and accountability.
2 – Disconnect between attributes presented and attributes valued:
More than half (56%) of job seekers in the US are confident they know what qualifications are required for employment, and 72% of job seekers are confident they know how to present their skills during an interview. Yet, only 14% of hiring managers reported that “most” or “nearly all” job candidates, over the past three years, have had the skills their company looks for in a potential employee.
3 – Skills managerial candidates present most out of sync:
More than half (57%) of job seekers surveyed are pursuing mid-level or managerial positions. However, hiring managers reported among the most important skills at the managerial level – strategic perspective, global outlook and business acumen – are highly valued but rarely seen in candidates.
4 – “Experience” trumps “eager to learn”
Only nine percent of hiring managers reported they would be “extremely” or “very likely” to hire a managerial candidate who lacked the necessary skills but appeared eager to learn those skills on the job. However, just 30% of job seekers ranked prior experience as the top factor in leading to a desirable job.
“We launched the Job Preparedness Indicator to better prepare candidates for success in their job search,” said Dr. Claude Toland, chairman of the Career Advisory Board, and vice president of Career Services at DeVry University. “The research shows there is a tremendous opportunity for job seekers to realign their approach with hiring managers to achieve career goals while meeting employers’ needs.”
