Apprenticeships a solution for the over-qualified and under-experienced - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

Apprenticeships a solution for the over-qualified and under-experienced - Viewpoint - careers advice blog University degrees are still required for most jobs, but there is a balance graduates need to strike between academics and work experience to avoid becoming over-qualified and under-experienced. There are a number of professions where having a degree is paramount, such as those within accountancy and finance, legal, technology, engineering and life sciences. Employers looking for candidates in these industries require them to have the basic academic qualifications or degrees to ensure they have the necessary technical skills and knowledge to perform the job.  However, experience counts for a lot too. Gain an edge It’s no secret that university graduates who boast good work experience stand out during the job search process. Real life work experience gives graduates a definite advantage over those who don’t have it. Work experience is also critical for those considering an MBA or further qualifications immediately after finishing their degree. The requirements for an MBA usually stipulate that you must have a certain amount of work experience under your belt. For those that enter into further study â€" such as post-graduate degrees â€" too early in their career or before entering the workforce at all, there is a risk that their employability will be hindered by becoming too academically qualified and not obtaining enough commercial experience and acumen. One of the places this is acutely felt is in my native country, the UK, where it was recently revealed that there was a 2.2 per cent drop in the number of graduates aged 21 to 30 in skilled work compared with a year earlier. Therefore it’s no surprise that the number of 18-year-olds taking up apprenticeships in the UK has increased by nearly 20 per cent since 2010. Apprenticeships could be the solution The UK has an advanced and effective system of apprenticeships which is revered by countries around the world. In China where I am now based, the government is seeking to improve skills levels to fill critical skills shortages within high-skill professions in a move to shift the economy from low-skill manufacturing to a higher quality goods and service exporter. The Chinese Ministry of Education has introduced policy to run several apprenticeship pilots emulating the UKs apprenticeship model with the aim of raising the quality of its workforce. There is a mismatch between the skills needed and those available Not only in China or Asia, but worldwide, there is a mismatch between the skills needed in the labour market and those of available talent. Apprenticeships could be the solution needed to close skills gaps, end youth unemployment and produce professionals who are equipped with the skills employers need in our world of work. Employers need talent with the skills and experience to hit the ground running, and who can add immediate value to their organisation. Apprenticeships are a particularly favourable solution in industries such as construction, where you are equipped with the practical skills employers in the workplace need. This form of training, or similar industry-specific programs, usually combines classroom learning with on-the-job training to provide a clear career entry point. Apprenticeships were seen by our CEO Alistair Cox as an important part of a solution to the pervasive skills shortages unearthed in our Hays Global Skills Index. Alistair explains,  â€œEducation and training schemes need to be better aligned and tailored to produce sufficient levels of the skilled resources businesses need”. Attitudes to apprenticeships The Hays Global Skills Index identified the looming skills shortages in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Japan and so on last year, but how did we get to this point? Some people have deemed the skills shortage the result of an education system that has failed to prepare young people for working life, while others describe it as a symptom of employer efforts to shift the burden of training employees onto academia rather than investing in it themselves. A recent study highlighted in the latest issue of the Hays Journal suggests parents lacking knowledge of apprenticeships could be acting as a barrier to students considering them as an option. The Barclays Apprenticeships study of 1,000 university students found that 42 per cent said their parents were their key influencer when making decisions on further education and work. Yet of the 1,000 parents also surveyed, only eight per cent were confident in their knowledge of apprenticeships, while 65 per cent believed university was the best option for their child. Could bias towards university learning be stifling the next generation’s chances of employment? What does the future hold? Many employers have successfully used apprenticeships to bring in entry-level talent and train them in the skills they need. While technological advances have removed some of the career opportunities for which apprentices would qualify â€" just think of the agriculture and manufacturing jobs now performed by robots and machines â€" they also offer a fantastic chance to create new or adapted professions, as explored in the latest Hays Journal. For every 20 jobs lost from automation, 13 will be gained Leslie Wilcocks, Professor of Technology, Work and Globalisation at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), is quoted in the Hays Journal as saying, “For every 20 jobs lost from the combined impact of technologies, digital fabrication, Internet of Things, big data, knowledge automation and robotics, another 13 will be gained”. With these new and evolved roles comes an opportunity for businesses to improve, adapt and refine their existing apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are likely to become more bespoke, intricate and, ultimately, worthwhile. Bringing it all together Regardless, employers and jobseekers of today should recognise the benefits of an apprenticeship. For employers, they close the skills deficit and create sustainable skills pipelines. For jobseekers they provide a solid grounding in your chosen profession and equip you with the skills employers need so that you can not only enter but excel in the world of work. [Part of this article was originally published in the Classified Post’s Career Guide/Career Doctors section, viewed here.] I hope you have found the above advice useful. Here are some other Viewpoint blogs to help you manage your workforce and progress your career: Why staff engagement matters to your business Dont rush into your first graduate role How to handle an employees pay rise request Is your business doing too much typing and not enough talking? When is the best time to have a job interview? How to use LinkedIn and Facebook in your job search Could you be a recruiter?