Today’s job market is fast-paced and ever changing. In such a dynamic scenario, employers are more interested in hiring people with specific skills rather than those that simply possess a degree. While a degree is certainly an asset, it no longer is a benchmark of your capabilities or the only determining factor that can land you a job. 

Skills Vs degree

One of the most important reasons that skills are preferred today is that they are directly applicable to the job at hand. A degree gives the person a broad understanding of the subject but skills give you what you need to perform on the job. Therefore, it would be no surprise if a person without the right degree but with the right skill sets is able to hit the ground running and perform extremely well in their role and make valuable contributions to the company. 

There is one more reason why skills are becoming more important than a degree. The job market is constantly evolving and new technologies and methodologies are being developed all the time. The curriculum taught in a college that leads to you getting a degree does not change dynamically and it is possible that whatever you have learnt is no longer relevant or newer skills are required in daily practice. Hence employers are looking for candidates who can learn quickly and adapt to new skills. Degree holders may not have that knowledge. 

There are other reasons too. A degree normally addresses a broad category of knowledge whereas skills refer to a specific ability or expertise. Employers are looking for people with specific skills who can fill the exact needs of their company, which someone with a broad understanding like a person with a degree may not be able to fulfill. 

Now let us take a deeper look at both aspects and examine them in detail.

Degree

A degree is an authentic certificate that declares that the person applying for the post has a knowledge of the work requirement and had the ability to manage the functioning of the role that they are going to be assigned to. A degree has its advantages:

• A degree makes a person confident in their approach and outlook and is an important part of their personality development. 
• A degree earns social respect and reputation. A person is assessed through the qualifications they possess.
• Obviously, a degree earns status and money. The more specialized the degree, the higher the earning potential.

Skill 

A skill is an abstract term that cannot be evaluated on paper. It is a broad term that defines if the individual can accomplish the tasks on hand or not.

• Every degree holder does not possess the skills required for the job
• While a degree can help you land a job, a skill can help you grow in the job.
• Skill attracts the interest of clients, superiors and managers and helps you grow in stature.
• It is possible that you are extremely skilled and can accomplish a job but have no degree to state that you are capable of that.

The type of skills that in demand and those that employers look for are:

• Communication skills
• Time management
• Team work
• Self-motivation
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Basic computer skills

How to supplement your skills

Employers are looking for people who have the right technical and soft skills needed to work even if they have got them through non-traditional education paths. These people could have been trained in software boot camps, got professional certifications, technical certifications or on-the-job training or internships. Certifications can help you demonstrate your expertise and help build your credibility. Professional certifications can be obtained online. They increase your knowledge and skills in a particular domain.

The future of skills

As of now, the right skills are being given more value academic degrees since the nature of work is changing fast. The recent pandemic has shifted workplace culture and changed the way people work. The future of work is not about only having hard skills but also about having job skills. Companies want more than just technical and task-oriented skills. They want creative problem-solving skills, people with an eye for detail, team players, those with good time management skills and those with an ability to deal with ambiguity and complexity. 

Conclusion

A degree continues to be a big asset for a job seeker, however to advance in your career, you will need new skills. So, while we spend a good part of our early life acquiring an academic degree, a major part of our career will be spent in acquiring skills required to succeed on the job. In the meantime, the internet and new technologies are changing present day jobs and several of today’s jobs may cease to exist a few years down the line. Going forward jobs will require specific skills that will need to be acquired through alternative pathways. Currently academic institutions are not addressing the skills gaps issue and this means that skills will have to be acquired through alternate methods and pathways. While a degree imparts a certain level of expertise which is the first rung on the ladder of abilities, we will need to supplement it with skills required for the job and get job-ready.