NOTE: This page is regularly updated to include new data and best reflect current hiring trends. The original survey was conducted on January 29, 2024. We outline our methodology and provide a bit of context about who we are at the end of the report.
Worried that your lack of work experience is preventing you from landing a job? Don’t be.
Our 2024 Hiring Trends Survey found that 65% of hiring managers say they’re open to hiring candidates based on their unique skillset, even if they lack traditional work experience.
According to the opinions of surveyed hiring managers, our results also showed that:
- 47% consider educational qualifications “important,” with 25% seeing them as “essential”
- 43% think candidates having a degree from a prestigious institution have no influence on their hiring decision
- 54% believe soft skills are highly important
- 48% have opted not to hire a candidate because they were lacking soft skills
- 66% say soft skills can be taught
The growing shift toward skills-based recruitment
In today’s job market, experience and education are no longer the biggest factors that determine whether a candidate is hired.
Our Hiring Trends Survey found that while 47% of hiring managers still consider educational qualifications important, only 25% of them consider them a must.
This mindset shift is particularly noticeable in the tech industry, where new technology is evolving so fast that there’s a larger gap between the skills needed and what traditional education teaches. Reflecting this trend, the World Economic Forum estimates that 50% of all employees will need to reskill by 2025 to address advances in technology.
As a result, employers like Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Walmart are changing how they hire by removing degree requirements from job postings and instead focusing on candidates’ skills and certifications.
According to McKinsey research, this method helps companies attract a more diverse talent pool and provides opportunities for job seekers who are traditionally underrepresented in the workforce, such as women and people of color.
Geoffrey Scott, Senior Hiring Manager at Resume Genius, says,
It’s obvious that we’re still at the beginning of a big shift. Employers have to keep up the pace and invest in new ways to assess skills and in changing company cultures to value skills as much as degrees.
Geoffrey Scott, Senior Hiring Manager at Resume Genius
What does skills-based hiring mean for less experienced candidates?
Over half of hiring managers saying they support skills-based hiring signals a major change. This shift is creating opportunities for candidates with the right skills, even if they don’t have much practical experience.
Ed Huang, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Resume Genius, says, “More employers are adopting a more flexible approach to hiring, dropping non-essential requirements and focusing on the skills and qualifications that matter most. This trend is a growing indication that education isn’t the only factor in determining a candidate’s potential, nor is years of relevant work experience.”
For instance, in the past, you might have felt that you needed years of experience in a particular field before you could apply for a job. But now, more employers are concentrating on what you can do, rather than how long you’ve been doing it.
If you’re a recent graduate or looking to make a career change, the skills-based hiring trend can ease the pressure of having must-have educational and work qualifications when starting out in a new industry. Instead, the focus is on highlighting your abilities to present a compelling case for why you’re the right hire.
In fact, Test Gorilla’s 2023 State of Skills-based Hiring Report surveyed 1,000 employees and found that 86% of them said that having the chance to show their job-related skills would make it more likely for them to get their dream job. Huang adds,
As skills-based hiring becomes more widespread, we’re seeing a more level playing field emerge, where talented individuals from all backgrounds can highlight their abilities, pivot into new industries, and pursue their aspirations. It’s an exciting development that’s redefining what it means to be a successful candidate.
Ed Huang, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Resume Genius
Thoughts on soft skills amongst 2024 hiring managers
Our survey revealed some eye-opening trends about the importance of soft skills:
- 54% of hiring managers regard soft skills as highly important, with 48% passing on candidates if they don’t have these skills
- 66% of hiring managers believe that soft skills can be developed
The findings suggest that employers are looking for workers who can complete their technical job responsibilities well but also contribute positively to the workplace environment through their interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with others.
Corissa Peterson, Career Expert at Resume Genius, says:
Now more than ever, the emphasis in hiring isn’t just focused on where you’ve earned your degree or the prestigious titles you’ve held in your career. Instead, the spotlight is on your soft skills and practical abilities — what you can bring to the table, how you navigate challenges, and your capacity to work well within a team, even from a distance.
Corissa Peterson, Career Expert at Resume Genius
4 ways you can prepare for skills-based hiring processes
To thrive in a skills-based hiring environment, you’ll need to be strategic when presenting your abilities on your job application. Here are some practical tips:
1. Develop a tailored job application
You should always create personalized versions of your resume and cover letter that highlight specific skills that are immediately relevant to your target role.
“A line cook applying for an office job won’t need to talk about their knife skills but they could highlight their ability to work in a fast-paced and demanding environment, their ability to multi-task, experience working as part of an efficient team, and confidence prioritizing tasks,” says Samuel Johns, Recruiting Manager at CV Genius.
You can increase your chances of getting hired by using keywords that appear in the job description and tailoring your resumes and cover letters to the role requirements.
Scott also emphasizes the importance of showing how you’re a good fit for the company. He says,
Carefully matching your skills and goals to a job description shows you’re a good fit and helps you stand out from the many people who approach the application process with less precision. That deliberate effort to tailor your application and match a company’s desired qualifications will make a connection with a hiring manager and should lead to more interviews and job offers.
Geoffrey Scott, Senior Hiring Manager at Resume Genius
Also, during interviews, candidates should be prepared to discuss specific examples of how their skills have been applied in real-world situations.
“It’s helpful to practice interview questions and answers so you can get better at articulating how your skills have led to a positive outcome,” advises Johns. “Try filming mock interviews and then watch the footage back so you can see how your answers could be improved.”
In addition to your resume and cover letter, developing a portfolio showcasing your work is especially important for fields like graphic design, writing, programming, and project management. Include case studies, project summaries, and any other work samples that demonstrate your skills in action.
2. Focus on soft skills and versatility
Our survey reveals that 54% of hiring managers highly value soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, so try highlighting these skills in your resume, cover letter, and interviews to give you an edge in the job hunt.
To stand out as a candidate and demonstrate your suitability for a position, provide specific, real-life examples in your job search materials and interview responses of how you’ve applied your top soft skills in previous roles.
For example, if you’re seeking a project management role, ensure your resume and cover letter showcase instances where you’ve effectively managed tasks, prioritized deadlines, and collaborated with teams. By doing so, you’ll be able to demonstrate to potential employers that you’re able to effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
3. Get comfortable with skills assessments
Skills assessments are commonly used by employers to evaluate your abilities and suitability for a role. To boost your confidence and readiness for skills assessments in job applications, familiarize yourself with the format of assessments you may encounter.
You can find practice assessments online on platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Skillshare. Many websites also offer free or paid practice tests tailored to specific industries or skill sets.
For example, if you’re applying for a data analyst position, you can find practice assessments that simulate real-world data analysis tasks on platforms like DataCamp or Kaggle. Practicing regularly using these resources will help you become more comfortable with the types of questions and tasks you’ll face in the actual assessment.
Finally, don’t overlook the importance of reviewing feedback after completing practice assessments. This step helps you identify areas for improvement and focus your efforts effectively.
4. Pursue continuous learning
Employers highly value candidates who demonstrate a commitment to ongoing development and improvement. To achieve this, start by setting yourself some learning goals to guide your efforts and identify areas where you’d like to develop or enhance your skills.
Asking for feedback from peers, mentors, or supervisors actively is a good way to gain insights into areas for self-improvement and identify learning opportunities.
You can explore a variety of learning resources, including online courses, webinars, workshops, books, podcasts, and certifications, to find what works best for you.
For instance, certifications are an excellent way to showcase your skills and expertise in a specific area because they provide tangible evidence of your knowledge and proficiency, which can be valuable to employers when evaluating your qualifications for a job or promotion.
Methodology
Resume Genius conducted this survey in partnership with Pollfish. The study aimed to understand how various stages of the hiring process — resume evaluation, interviews, and skills assessments — affect hiring decisions, as well as to identify the candidate qualities most valued by U.S. hiring managers.
The survey commenced on January 29, 2024, and targeted a sample of 625 participants. To qualify, respondents were required to be actively involved in hiring within their organizations. The survey ensured a balanced representation across various demographics, including gender and age groups, to accurately reflect the diversity of the U.S. workforce.
Pollfish uses Random Device Engagement (RDE) to minimize bias and ensure a fair and organic selection process. For further details on Pollfish’s methodology, please visit their website or pr@resumegenius.com.
Sources
- Google, “Our Hiring Process”
- IBM, “Application Process”
- McKinsey & Company, “Taking a Skills-based Approach to Building The Future Workforce”
- Microsoft, “Building a More Inclusive Skills-based Economy: The Next Steps for our Global Skills Initiative”
- Resume Genius, “2024 Hiring Trends Survey: What Makes a Great Job Candidate?”
- Test Gorilla, “The State of Skills-based Hiring 2023”
- Walmart, “All Learning Counts at Walmart: 5 Ways We’re Investing in More Opportunities To Grow”
About Resume Genius
Since 2009, Resume Genius has combined innovative technology with leading industry expertise to simplify the job hunt for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
Resume Genius’s easy-to-use resume builder and wide range of free career resources, including resume templates, cover letter samples, and resume writing guides, help job seekers find fulfilling work and reach their career goals. Resume Genius is led by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider.
For media inquiries, please contact us.
