How to Fill a Company's Skill Gap as a Job Candidate

Since 2020, nearly every industry has felt the impact of a “skills gap.” This is the gap between the desirable skills an employer wants from potential employees and what skills are actually available within their candidate pool. This transition is largely credited to the talent shortage and to other changes industries have had to make due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Many employers have implemented continued education programs, revised new-hire training, combined positions, and reoriented their organizations to adapt to the expanding skills gap. For candidates in the job market, the skills gap offers an opportunity to further your career and land positions for which you may not otherwise have been considered, so long as you know how to market yourself properly.

Why Finding and Filling Talent Shortages Matters to Potential Employees

Filling shortages and keeping ahead of the industry changes and new demands caused by the skills gap is crucial for the success of many organizations – and the right employers know it. Because of this, identifying skills gaps can be beneficial to employees seeking to move up within their own organization. Some organizations may even create new, better-paid positions that are a combination of two previous positions to combat the talent shortage. By taking additional technical skills training, candidates and current employees may be considered for positions they otherwise would not have in the shifting market.

4 Strategies for Identifying Talent Shortages and Marketing Yourself

Marketing yourself amid the skills gap requires networking, branding, an understanding of your current skills, and, if needed, additional technical training. Here's how you can make talent shortages work for you:

1. Review Several Job Postings and Tweak Your Resume Accordingly

The easiest way to identify gaps prospective employers in your industry are trying to fill is to review current job postings. Read both the title and the details of the position to gauge what skills employers are looking for. You may notice patterns of similarity or certain skills that weren't previously sought after in these positions.

Once you know what employers are looking for, update your resume and other supporting documents. Add keywords and skills you noticed employers mention to demonstrate your versatility. Be sure to check what new job postings are saying and update your resume regularly to ensure you're keeping ahead of your industry.

2. Leverage Your Previous Work Experiences

Another effective strategy entails reflecting on your own personal work experience and accomplishments to identify transferable skills. For example, what have previous employers taught you or trained you on? Did you do work outside of the core demands of your job, such as helping another department or learning new software? Awareness of your own versatility is crucial for marketing yourself appealingly.

3. Network With Industry Experts, Corporate Leaders, and Hiring Managers

Networking doesn't just help get your foot in the door. It also keeps you in the loop on changes and advances within your industry, which is more important than ever before. A critical aspect of using social media to further your career is making sure your LinkedIn profile accurately represents your professional skills. Update your LinkedIn and social media presence regularly based on what new demands you see from employers and experts within your virtual network. 

Stand Out in Your Job Search

Register today to learn new skills and land a job you'll love.

Job Seeker Sign In

Sign in with Google

Sign in with LinkedIn

Sign in with Apple

Or, use your email address:

Next

We value your privacy

4. Upgrade Your Technical Skillset With Online Courses

You may need to expand your current skills based on what employers and hiring managers are looking for. Trainings focus on two types of skills: transferable skills like leadership training, and technical skills within your industry. Of the two, technical skills are the most important to keep updated. 

Many employers will pay for technical training for new hires if they need to, but most would prefer to hire skilled workers who have already completed the training themselves. Taking online courses teaching technical skills that employers in your industry are looking for will make you a significantly more desirable candidate.

While the widening skills gap can create opportunities for prospective candidates, marketing yourself to take advantage of it requires networking, proven technical skills, and proper branding. Trusted by over 65,000 employers, iHire will help you assemble a dependable job search strategy that's up-to-date with employers' needs within your industry. Knowing what employers and experts in your industry are looking for will help you further your career amid the talent shortage and land the right job.