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How international students can use the skills gap to get a graduate job today

The skills gap may be something you’ve heard of when employers talk about recruiting new graduates, but what does that mean in relation to your job prospects? Whether you’ve graduated already or are still studying, the skills gap is pivotal to understanding how to meet the expectations of employers. The skills gap is the difference between what employers want their employees to be able to do and what employees can actually do. The way to bridge this gap is to understand what they’re looking for so you’re prepared with the relevant skills.  This is something you can start thinking about from the start of your university career and add to as you begin searching for your graduate role.

What skills are they looking for?

Usually, when employers talk about a skills gap, they will be talking about soft or hard skills. Soft skills can be harder to define as they concentrate on how you interact with others, your personality and people skills. These include communication, critical thinking, leadership and teamwork to name a few. Soft skills won’t be taught in a classroom, so you’ll need to find a way to show employers you possess these qualities. One of the best ways to do this while studying is to find work experience. This could be through a summer internship, volunteering or a university scheme. Work experience, even in a role not directly connected to your degree can still give you valuable soft skills which you can include in your resume with examples of how you demonstrated these traits at work.

Hard skills are more tangible, teachable abilities that are measurable. These can range from writing and maths to computer programming and web design. Hard skills are likely to be more related to your chosen industry. This means that with some research, you can close the gap.

How can you close the gap?

In order to close the gap, you need to stay informed on where the shortfall lies in your chosen industry. For example, we’ve noticed a number of reports this year on current gaps in Cybersecurity and Fintech (financial technology). These are hard skills that are currently underrepresented in IT, but how can you use this to your advantage? By understanding where the gaps are, you can equip yourself with the tools to make your CV stand out when applying for a job in these areas. This might steer you when choosing modules at university or may help you add to your skill set in your own time with online tutorials.

For more careers advice and tips for international students and graduates, check out GradLink UK today! Not only providing free advice but a global jobs board which connects you to employers overseas.