In case you haven't noticed, “skills-based hiring” is all the rage when it comes to human resource management trends. The term begs an amusing question: Do companies have a history of hiring unskilled individuals? All kidding aside, skills-based hiring is an HRM (human resource management) strategy that evaluates potential job candidates on specific skills and abilities as opposed to traditional criteria like diplomas, degrees, or years of experience. Not that these factors aren’t important considerations, but there is more than one way to skin a cat, as the old adage goes. Skills-based hiring isn't just a trend; it's a mindset.
To implement skills-based hiring, organizations must scrutinize their needs by methodically investigating the knowledge and skills that are necessary to successfully perform each job role or job category within their company. In such a model, a degree should be evaluated on whether it is a "must have", non-negotiable requirement or qualification for a particular job or actually just “nice to have”; what is essential?
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MIT Sloan Management Review suggests that skills-based hiring approaches are long-term shifts that include the culture of an organization, one of the most challenging factors to change – especially when paired with work group norms.
However, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest professional HR association, skills-based hiring is gaining ground and here to stay. Furthermore, the National Governors Association indicates that although skills-based hiring can seem complex, there are substantial benefits:
Like any strategy, there are both pros and cons to skills-based hiring. While skills-based hiring may not be suitable for all roles, benefits include reducing bias, increasing adaptability, and improving retention. Meanwhile, challenges might involve the potential for exploitation, complex implementation, and balancing skills with experience. However, an apprenticeship strategy could help alleviate some of these burdens and considerations. In reality, apprenticeships are a natural extension of skills-based hiring.
Because organizations continue to struggle to find the talent needed to fill job roles, they must explore different options, including apprenticeship, which combines a variety of technical skills and job-specific abilities, including communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Apprenticeships are designed to teach technical skills through hands-on experience and by working with professionals, which promotes the development of 'soft skills’ or transferable skills, including but not limited to:
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If your organization is leaning towards skills-based hiring, apprenticeships enable the development of top talent with high growth potential, bringing value to your firm.
There are a variety of industries where apprenticeship programs are valued, and major airlines are no exception. In fact, Delta Air Lines has a Skills-First Apprenticeship Program to develop employees for open roles at Delta. This initiative, launched in 2022, transitions apprentices into HR and IT roles as well as team roles in revenue management and corporate auditing. According to their website, Delta offers additional resources tailored to specific skillsets and work groups. This is just one example of a successful skills-based apprenticeship program. Similarly, other airlines offer apprenticeships in a variety of roles, some of which lead to FAA certification.
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Companies can often utilize a pre-existing program as a blueprint to build a practical and effective apprenticeship that meets their unique organizational needs, ensuring apprentices gain the right experience and qualifications.
There are a variety of reliable resources for employers available through the U.S. Department of Labor, Urban Institute’s National Apprenticeship Resource Hub, Jobs for the Future (JFF), and WorkforceGPS. Additionally, tracking progress is an essential element of the apprenticeship framework, something ApprentiScope’s Apprenticeship Management System can help automate.
The point is this – no matter the organization or industry, apprenticeship is a viable option for skills-based hiring, which, as we’ve ascertained, really isn’t just a current trend, but a mentality and strategic move that more and more companies should embrace, if they haven’t already – including yours. An apprenticeship is a reliable and valuable pathway that provides hands-on training and on-the-job experience.
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It provides workers with career advancement while employers reap the benefits with a cost-effective way to not only bridge skill gaps and increase productivity, but also develop and gain a skilled and loyal talent pipeline, increase their competitive advantage, and boost their bottom line – all key factors that lead to organizational success.