Without doubt, the only way to make meaningful inroads is a multifaceted approach. The starting point for companies is to invest in their current staff and future proof their workforce. This means identifying the skills needed for the future, conducting an audit of the skills people already have, and then designing learning programs that bridge the gap. It might combine comprehensive skills surveys to get a granular understanding of what needs improving, open dialogues with teams to gain an insight into the perceived gaps faced on the ground, and/or tracking industry trends to pinpoint emerging skills that could be lacking.
In short, it needs to be an holistic assessment that will equip businesses to make informed decisions in how to upskill employees.
Next, it’s time to look at recruitment processes. While it may be challenging to upskill internally, it can be just as difficult to locate and hire professionals who possess up-to-date skills and knowledge in the right areas. Something that exacerbates the issue is that companies often insist on several years of experience. But given the speed of tech change, such people often don’t exist.
It begs the question, do we need to stop using time as a yardstick for experience when it comes to hiring? The short answer is yes. Or at least we need to
re-think what constitutes experience. For example, working within the Salesforce ecosystem for 10 years brings a raft of professional benefits in terms of problem-solving and navigating unexpected barriers, but it doesn’t necessarily equate to someone’s technical knowledge being entirely up-to-date. What’s often more important is that people are able to evidence the right attitude, as well as hard and power (or soft) skills, and that employers give someone’s lived experience the weight it deserves.