With the full-time undergraduate employment rate declining from 72.2% to 68.7% (2019 to 2020)1, finding work is tough for young Australians. What they lack in work experience, 9-5 newbies must add to their artillery as much as possible to compete with other applicants. With the labour market moving to be more online based, there is increased pressure to turn the digital naïve into digital natives.
The ongoing global pandemic has highlighted the need for robust IT skills. As companies have moved to remote ways of working, it is becoming essential for candidates to have up-to-date technological skills. For the last 18 months, COVID-19 has shaped a large portion of how we work and with evolving guidelines, it’s crucial for candidates to adapt. But upskilling isn’t just for the undergraduates, it’s important everyone (whether you’re in the workforce or not) takes a second look at their skillset and what’s becoming more relevant each day.
Chris Tzalabiras, Tech Training Expert at Koenig Solutions, works with those looking to grow their knowledge on a daily basis and has noticed an increase in demand.
“Aside from internships, course-acquired skills are what new prospects can bring to the table when applying for roles. There is more of a need for micro-credentials, it could be the difference between you and the next person.”
Research2 reveals employers are having trouble recruiting staff, with a lack of suitable applicants being the most common reason (48%) for recruitment difficulty. Lacking experience (17%) and lacking technical skills (14%) are the other challenges facing recruiters.
However, Chris has some advice for job seekers to help get to the top of the pile in the gruelling competition that is the labour market.
“There are a few ways young grads can stand out to employers. Be presentable and professional both on and offline and strive to be as digitally literate as possible. You can also never have too many skills. Upskilling does not require you to start from scratch and go back to university, instead it’s about deepening your current understanding of a topic to improve outputs.
“There are certain courses, such as our Microsoft training and certification course, that can ensure your knowledge is in line with the newest practices and open doors in the online evolution of our workforces,” Chris says.
“Investing in yourself automatically adds value to the organisation you’re applying for, which will always be a benefit to them.
“Also, never underestimate the power of LinkedIn! It’s a great place to network, follow trends within your industry and see what other working professionals are up to. Just remember that unlike other social media platforms, it notifies the people you’re stalking,” Chris laughs.
If you’re looking to get your foot in the door of your dream job, investing in additional learning is the perfect place to start.
Koenig Solutions is offering the digital naïve the chance to bolster your resume to set yourself apart from the competition. The goal? To make entering the workforce less of a daunting feat.
