A perfectly tailored CV no longer guarantees an advantage in the labour market. As many as 41% of recruiters struggle to find candidates with the right skills, while 72% believe that competencies are just as important as experience and education. In a world of accelerating technological change, companies are increasingly focusing on potential, adaptability and readiness for development. Michael Page’s “Talent Trends” report clearly shows that skills are becoming the new currency of the labour market.
The changes taking place in the labour market are prompting companies to take a more cautious approach to traditional methods of assessing candidates. According to Michael Page’s “Talent Trends” report, 41% of recruiters identify the lack of relevant skills as one of their biggest challenges. At the same time, organisations are increasingly implementing a “skills-first” model, which focuses on candidates’ abilities and potential.
According to the study, 77% of companies already declare that they use this approach, while 39% see clear benefits from its implementation. The most frequently cited advantages include better identification of candidates’ actual skills, indicated by 70% of respondents, and easier matching of talent to the current and future needs of the organisation, mentioned by 62%.
Companies Are Looking for Potential, Not Just Experience
“The labour market is currently undergoing a phase of transformation, driven primarily by business and technological changes, as well as growing uncertainty about the future of organisations. As a result, the skills-first approach is becoming increasingly important,” says Sylwia Podpłońska, Senior Manager at Michael Page.
“Companies are often unable to clearly define what a given role will look like in a few months’ time. That is why they are less and less likely to look for candidates who are perfectly matched to a specific position. Instead, they are focusing on people with potential — those who learn quickly, can adapt and function well in a changing environment,” she adds.
Michael Page’s “Talent Trends” report shows that the most sought-after competencies today include adaptability, cited by 49% of respondents, interpersonal skills, indicated by 43%, continuous development and willingness to learn, mentioned by 36%, and effective communication, identified by 35%.
“Hard skills remain important, but on their own they are no longer a guarantee of long-term employment,” emphasises Sylwia Podpłońska.
Candidates Are Also Changing the Way They Think
The transformation of the labour market is visible not only on the employers’ side. Candidates are also increasingly aware that organisations today are looking primarily for skills rather than perfectly matched career histories.
According to the “Talent Trends” report, 56% of professionals say they are more likely to apply for a role if the job advertisement focuses on required skills rather than formal criteria related to experience or education.
“Candidates are now expected not only to be flexible and ready for change, but also to be able to ‘sell’ their skills rather than job titles or years of experience. At the same time, skills such as critical thinking, the ability to learn, responsibility and interpersonal competencies are becoming increasingly important — areas that cannot be easily replaced by technology,” concludes Sylwia Podpłońska.
