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Times are tough for new grads and early career workers. Reports indicate that it is harder than ever to get an entry-level job, with one report finding that around 52% of recent graduates are in jobs that don’t even require a uni degree.
After 10 years, 45% of them are still stuck in jobs that don’t require a degree qualification. Further data backs up the anecdotal evidence around the erosion of entry level jobs too. One analysis of around four million job postings has found that 35% of postings for “entry-level” positions now ask for years of prior relevant work experience.
That’s not exactly entry level, and presents a particular Catch-22 for uni grads or for those trying to get a foot on the career ladder. Entry-level positions have traditionally been really important because while you may have the academic qualifications you need for the world of work, you don’t yet have vital practical experience.
So when employers start to ask for experience on job ads, it adds a new layer of confusion and frustration into the job-hunting mix.
Now, a new report from General Assembly, a technology education provider, has found that entry-level workers are more unprepared for their jobs compared to five years ago.
Only 48% of employees and 12% of mid-level executives believe today’s entry-level workers are well-prepared. But this isn’t all the fault of new grads.
“The entry-level employee pipeline is broken,” says Jourdan Hathaway, chief marketing officer at General Assembly. “Companies must rethink how they source, train and onboard employees.”
In other words, some of the responsibility must be placed back on employers.
Lupe Colangelo, who is director of alumni engagement and employer partnerships at the education provider has more insight to add.
“People clearly need more support to enter the workforce and succeed. We can’t expect individual employees to close today’s skills gaps on their own. Businesses, governments and educational institutions must come together to modernise how we approach workforce readiness.”
That’s all great in theory, but if you want to maxmise your capabilities as well as boost your chances of success in the job market, what can you do?
Jourdan Hathaway says that “There are evidence-based approaches to improving workforce readiness. Technology apprenticeships and skill training programmes, for example, provide employees with experience that mimics a real work environment, allowing them to build communication and collaboration skills alongside technical skills.”
In the UK, the Digital and Technology Solutions Professional (Level 6) Apprenticeship programme lasts for 48 months and pays up to £27,000 a year. Being paid while you’re also learning vital skills can be a smart way to underpin your future career.
The General Assembly report found that 49% of executives and 37% of employees said a lack of soft skills were the top reason why entry-level workers seem unprepared for work.
Soft skills are essentially your human capabilities. They are also known as transferrable skills that graduate employers look out for. Think communication, problem-solving, leadership, organisational, empathy, teamwork and analytical skills, among others.
Aim to develop these, and make sure they are on your CV. For example, if you worked in retail during your uni days, you can emphasise how you developed communication and teamwork skills as part of this experience.
The AI business is booming and both graduates and early career employees would do well to upskill.
Data shows that not only do AI-related jobs offer 78% higher pay than other occupations, the difference is most notable in more junior positions. Those beginning AI-related jobs at entry level were offered salaries 128% higher than other occupations, and this fell to 58% for mid-level and 47% for senior roles.
According to Lisa Heneghan, Global Chief Digital Officer at KPMG International, “Generative AI is an increasingly hot topic in boardrooms, with leaders looking to better understand its potential and how to implement this technology in their business strategies. The challenge is spending the money in the right places, and having the right skills to fully exploit the opportunities it presents.”
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