The Reality of “Overqualified but Under-Experienced”
Today’s job market is increasingly competitive, especially for new graduates and career changers. While official statistics may be lacking, it’s clear that more and more employers are not only demanding degrees but placing a strong emphasis on the lack of experience challenge.
A report by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs revealed that, as of the second quarter of 2023, over 225,800 individuals with university degrees or higher were unemployed in Vietnam, a 10,000 increase from the previous quarter. A Navigos Group survey also found that 41% of businesses struggle to recruit due to candidates lacking soft skills and practical experience. And the actual figures are likely even higher.
So, how can you overcome this barrier and build a solid career? The answer lies in overcoming confidently the lack of experience challenge, gaining gradually practical know-how, and the Internship of Excellence Program (IEP) from OKR.BUSINESS, a consulting, coaching, and talent development firm, is a groundbreaking solution to this problem.
Many young people find it difficult to pursue their dream jobs due to the reason of “lacking experience
The Impact of Lacking Essential Practical Experience
“Lack of experience” is frequently cited as one of the top reasons employers hesitate to hire candidates. Gaining practical experience is crucial for any young person’s career development, especially in the current challenging economic climate.
There are three main reasons why employers often hesitate to consider candidates with the “lack of experience” challenge:
- Time-consuming initial training: Starting from scratch with a new hire takes time and resources.
- Internal resource drain: Training new employees can strain internal resources.
- Slow onboarding: Inexperienced hires may take longer to get up to speed and contribute effectively.
Talented youths always hunger to learn and contribute their values
Young Talents Eager to Learn and Contribute
For young people and career changers, overcoming the lack of experience challenge hurdle offers significant benefits:
- Enhanced knowledge and skills: Practical experience allows you to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios, honing both hard and soft skills, making you a more attractive candidate.
- Real-world experience: Working on actual projects, facing real challenges, and learning from mistakes provides a deeper understanding of your chosen field and helps you develop essential skills.
- Expanded network: Internships introduce you to experienced colleagues, managers, and industry experts. This not only broadens your knowledge but also helps you build a strong professional network to support your future career.
- Confidence and resilience: Practical experience boosts your confidence in your abilities, preparing you to face workplace challenges head-on. You’ll learn to solve problems, make decisions, and work independently, becoming more confident and resilient.
How Young People Can Gain Real-World Experience
The “Overqualified but Under-Experienced” Dilemma
In today’s job market, new graduates and career changers often face challenges finding work due to a lack of experience. Employers tend to favor candidates with a proven and practical track record. So, how can you overcome this hurdle?
Recommended Solutions:
There are several ways to gain experience and hone your skills, preparing you for the real-world demands of the workplace:
- Participate in extracurricular activities: Clubs, teams, and volunteer projects offer great opportunities to develop soft skills, teamwork, and expand your network.
- Intern at companies: Seek short-term or long-term internships at different companies to experience real work environments and learn from experienced professionals.
- Attend industry-specific courses and workshops: Enhance your professional knowledge and stay updated on the latest trends in your field of interest.
- Build your personal brand: Create a professional online profile, share your knowledge and experience on social media, and participate in industry forums to establish your personal brand and make a positive impression on potential employers.
- Self-study and practice: Read books, take online courses, and explore industry-specific tools and software to independently enhance your knowledge and skills.
Confidently pursue your career and passion with the necessary skills and expertise
IEP – An Optimal Solution:
The Internship of Excellence Program (IEP) is an effective solution for gaining experience and opening up numerous career opportunities. IEP is designed to provide you with a realistic simulated business environment where you can participate in real projects, work with experienced professionals, develop essential skills, and overcome any concerns about lacking experience in your desired field.
At IEP, you can:
- Experience real work: You’ll participate in actual projects, work with experienced professionals, and develop the skills necessary for your future career.
- Develop comprehensive skills: IEP not only helps you enhance your professional skills but also cultivates essential soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
- Learn from experts: You’ll work directly with experienced professionals and managers, receiving dedicated guidance and support.
- Diverse internship positions: IEP offers various internship positions in fields like Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, Finance, and more, helping you discover your strengths and find the right career path.
The IEP – Your launchpad to an excellent career start.
IEP’s partner companies also highly value the quality of the program. Mr. Quoc Bao, Marketing Manager of a tech startup, commented: “IEP provides a source of high-quality young talent with practical skills and a professional work ethic. We are very satisfied with the interns from IEP and are continuing to expand our collaboration with the program in the future to meet our company’s recruitment needs in 2024 and beyond.” Ms. Minh Hai, HR Director of an international marketing agency, affirmed: “Businesses always welcome young talent to strengthen their core workforce. We are delighted that we no longer have to worry about candidates’s ‘lack of experience’ challenge as before. Having dedicated and high-quality programs like IEP significantly reduces our company’s recruitment time and effort.”
Gaining practical experience is an ongoing process. By combining various solutions, including the IEP program, you can equip yourself with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to confidently enter the job market and achieve career success.
