I was sent details of a report recently which said that 70% of millennials are battling a crisis of confidence when it comes to their work-related skillset.
The report from job-search platform Job Today - which apparently surveyed their six million users - stated ‘the UK is suffering from a crisis in confidence with 70% of millennials not feeling that they have the skill set for their dream jobs’.
Millennials, or the under 35s, state that they’re suffering from a crisis in confidence when pursuing their ‘passion professional’ careers due to a lack of education - and the skills required - for these professions in the national curriculum.
I think that’s a somewhat cack-handed way of saying that the younger generation of employees who hope to find a job that keeps them fulfilled and feeling as if they’re making a difference, are worried they don’t tick all the skills boxes their potential employers are listing when they cast the net for new staff.
I think that’s an issue that’s not isolated to younger employees. Older people, mothers returning to work, those made redundant and seeking new employment and youngsters fresh to the marketplace all suffer from the fear that they don’t meet all the criteria of a job spec. Women are particularly prone, where men will tend to apply for a job for which they meet around 65% of the spec, women tend not to apply unless they feel they meet almost all of the criteria in a person specification.
It’s particularly difficult if you’ve found your dream job and are desperate to beat all the other applicants to the role. How can you ensure you have the edge?
Job Today were recommending these job seekers try a summer camp where they could pick up some of the skills they might be missing, and of course there’s nothing like adding a qualification to your CV or completing a course to help improve your confidence around the skills you do have under your belt and can promote to any potential employer.
But not many people can take time out to participate in a summer camp, and sometimes even taking a full day out of the office to participate in a course can feel stressful if you know you’re going to return to a full inbox and a longer ‘to do’ list.
That’s why my courses are designed for busy people – or those lacking confidence – to take in the security of their own home or office, at their own pace, to fit in with their daily or weekly routine. You can polish Business Writing Skills off in a day, or spread the five short sessions out taking one per week.
In today’s world where brand new roles in new industries are appearing every day, demanding skills unheard of just a few years ago, skills can quickly become out of date, and even those of us in secure employment can come to realise we’re resting on our laurels and our skillset could use a wash and brush-up. It’s a great way to feel more in control of your work-life and your future in an organisation, or to add to your CV to show employers you take your personal development seriously.
Having limited confidence is a tough place to start a job search from and can make it hard for you to feel you’re performing to your best in your current role. But scoring top marks in a skills course can have you feeling top of the world and more sure of the talent and experience you’re bringing to the job market.
If your confidence level is below par, why not research the skills you need for your dream job and think about investing in yourself to bring your confidence up to compete with the others in your field? What have you got to lose?