Academic Knowledge or On-Job Skills: What Is More Important?

More and more businesses across the globe are now looking for new recruits with the right skills, knowledge and qualifications. But if you think that means more job opportunities for you, then you need to think again. If you want to make the most of these employment opportunities then you need to ensure that you have exactly what the employers want. Studies show that currently there is a “skills gap” in the business world as there is a dearth of skilled employees needed for the technologically-inclined companies.

Are Graduates Job ready?

It was recently found that millennial in the workforce, who were polled by Deloitte, noticed a strong disassociation between the skills employers value in the workplace and the knowledge they have acquired in university. So are colleges incompetent in creating job-ready graduates? Can colleges prepare students for the corporate world? Take a look...

This has now become a looming question in the US as more than 2 million students are about to graduate. According to the responses of over 8,000 millennials, who were surveyed by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. (Deloitte Global) regarding the necessary skills for the workplace, it seems that most colleges and universities are unable to make graduates job-ready. The surveyed professionals think that the educational knowledge and analytical skills they acquired during higher education have not been able to significantly help them in fulfilling their daily responsibilities. Instead, the skills which they learn while on the job have proved to be more beneficial. Hence, these young professionals believe that such on-the-job skills are more crucial in helping them accomplish the overall goals of the business as well as their personal career goals in the long term.

When the young professionals were asked that how helpful the skills they acquired in college compared with professional skills they gained since graduation, around 63 per cent of respondents claimed on-the-job skills were more beneficial; while 37 per cent said academic knowledge was more helpful in achieving overall organisational goals. Moreover, when they were urged to rate both types of skills regarding what they think employers value more and the skills which express their personal strengths, the responses of the millennials show that there is a skills gap.

Need for the Right Training

The Deloitte survey ultimately suggests that companies need to heavily invest in training and development for their employees so that graduates can make significant contributions in accomplishing organisational objectives. One of the most effective and affordable ways employers can do this is by encouraging and supporting their employees to study a relevant online degree.

In fact, if you are a young professional then studying an online programme from any reputed UK university can actually help you to develop the right skills and boost your employability. One of the biggest advantages of studying online from UK is that you will not only gain quality academic knowledge, but will also be able to develop on the job skills simultaneously. As online courses allow you to study in flexible and convenient way, you can study while employed in a full time job. In fact, most businesses are now opting for candidates with online degrees as they have both experience and an accredited qualification.

The fact is earning an affordable UK university degree online can be highly beneficial for you as it will help you in reducing the skills gap and make the most of the available career opportunities.

How are you planning to close the skills gap? Share your thoughts and concerns with us. Simply comment in the box below.

Source: bit.ly/1HtAkhX