<p>When you think about what it means to be "qualified," where does your mind go? Do you think about someone who has every required skill for the job? Do you picture a candidate that simply meets the criteria to fit a position and nothing else?</p>
<p>At CareerCircle, we believe those characteristics are just the tip of the iceberg.</p>
<p>We <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/from-promises-to-progress-how-to-promote-equity-in-staffing-and-recruiting" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/from-promises-to-progress-how-to-promote-equity-in-staffing-and-recruiting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">promote workforce equity</a> by challenging America's employers to rethink what it means to be qualified for a role and reevaluate how they measure talent and potential to succeed.</p>
<h2>What does it mean to be "qualified" for a job?</h2>
<p>Today, the idea of a "qualified" candidate is so much different than it was been in the past. Recruiters and hiring teams are realizing the importance of taking in the big picture when considering someone for an open role, rather than relying on a standard resume to "grade" each applicant's fit for the job.</p>
<p>While it's essential to have the baseline skills that a position requires, it's just as crucial to have something of an "x-factor" on top of that.</p>
<p>Consider a stay-at-home mom, for example. Her<a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/how-to-uncover-the-hidden-soft-skills-you-already-own" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/how-to-uncover-the-hidden-soft-skills-you-already-own" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> list of intangibles</a> is every bit as deep and impressive as any of her traditional professional qualifications. There's no doubt that she's mastered budget management or the ability to handle challenging personalities during her time at home.</p>
<h2>Changing the way the industry views talent</h2>
<p>At CareerCircle, we believe that these are the kinds of skills that should be highlighted and celebrated when evaluating the workforce. We all have hidden potential: talents that are arguably more beneficial to a role than the standard ones that the job listing may require.</p>
<p>We acknowledge these hidden traits and look at the entire candidate to help them present their most authentic selves to potential employers. When we pledge to "rethink qualified," we're making a promise to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/advocacy-in-action-erasing-the-opportunity-divide-in-the-workforce" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/advocacy-in-action-erasing-the-opportunity-divide-in-the-workforce" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">challenge a dated hiring process</a>. Our platform lets candidates show off the complete picture of who they are, not just what they've done in their previous jobs.</p>
<p>Our member profiles are designed to encapsulate everything that makes each candidate unique, including transferrable skills, personal passions, and experiences that play into their fit for a role. We also allow them to make a human connection with potential employers from the onset, with video introductions that encourage employers to consider more than resumes and technical skills.</p>
<p>When it comes to employers, we inspire them to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/hiring-vs-workforce-development-stop-patching-holes-start-preparing-for-tomorrow" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/hiring-vs-workforce-development-stop-patching-holes-start-preparing-for-tomorrow" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">think differently about hiring</a>, and to take the entire person into account when choosing the right person for the role.</p>
<p>We do this by showing them that when they, too, "rethink qualified," they will no longer simply fill roles, but instead will begin to build a longstanding talent pipeline that will actively grow their workforce from within.</p>
<h2>Bridging the divide between equality and equity</h2>
<p>While we've made significant progress toward <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/building-the-workforce-of-the-future-the-value-of-equitable-hiring-practices" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/building-the-workforce-of-the-future-the-value-of-equitable-hiring-practices" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">building an equitable workforce</a>, there's still significant progress to be made. Offering job seekers equal opportunities to apply for an open role doesn't fully account for each person's unique situation or potential setbacks, such as a lack of training resources or a gap in their technical skills.</p>
<p>CareerCircle's mission is to support candidates at every step in their career journey, not just during their job search or application process. <strong>We enable candidates to uncover their hidden soft skills, boost confidence, and upskill in a variety of high-demand industries so that they can meet and exceed their </strong><a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/navigating-your-career-journey-5-ways-to-reach-your-career-development-goals" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/navigating-your-career-journey-5-ways-to-reach-your-career-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>career goals</strong></a><strong>. </strong></p>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/courses" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/courses" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">upskilling courses</a> provide high-value career development resources to underserved communities. We also offer mentorship and advocacy programs to help candidates realize their full potential, explore learning opportunities, and navigate every step of their career journey with confidence and support.</p>
<p>-</p>
<p>At CareerCircle, we believe qualified talent is where you'd least expect it. Whether it's that stay-at-home mom mentioned above or a construction worker with hidden skills that would make them the ideal software engineer, we know that sometimes all they need is a little extra help.</p>
<p>We "rethink qualified" because we want to help more people find their true calling. By putting a little bit of extra thought and heart into it, we can give the workforce, and employers alike, the confidence to achieve something more.</p>
<p>To learn more about our mission and commitment to workforce equity, <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/impact" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/impact" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">read about our impact</a> on America's workforce.</p>

We promote workforce equity by challenging America's employers to rethink what it means to be qualified for a role.

How CareerCircle Champions Workforce Equity & Equality

We promote workforce equity by challenging America's employers to rethink what it means to be qualified for a role and reevaluate how they measure talent and potential to succeed.

Rethink Qualified: How CareerCircle Champions Workforce Equity & Equality

<p>Every time you hire a new employee, you're investing in the ongoing success of your company. But sometimes, finding the ideal fit for each open role is much easier said than done. If you have trouble finding qualified, motivated candidates, you aren't alone. Seventy-five percent of hiring managers <a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/research-and-surveys/Documents/SHRM%20Skills%20Gap%202019.pdf" data-gc-link="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/research-and-surveys/Documents/SHRM%20Skills%20Gap%202019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">credit hiring challenges to skill shortages</a> in their applicant pools.</p>
<p>Fortunately, these skill shortages don't necessarily mean that the right candidate doesn't exist. Instead, perceived talent shortages often tie back to how employers source, evaluate, and hire employees.</p>
<p>Rather than using resumes or years of experience as penultimate qualifiers for a job applicant, employers should open opportunities to candidates with non-traditional qualifications, such as the candidate's recent completion of an upskill course in their field or industry.</p>
<p>But what exactly does that mean? And how do employers benefit from recently upskilled hires instead of those with a lengthy track record of success?</p>
<h2>What is Upskilling?</h2>
<p>Employee upskilling is the process of learning a new professional skill or advancing an existing one. It typically involves an <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/courses" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/courses" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online training course</a> with a certification or award upon completion.</p>
<p>Upskilling gives working professionals the opportunity to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/acing-the-modern-workplace-how-upskilling-promotes-personal-career-development" rel="follow">get certified in relevant skillsets</a>, ramp up in a new industry, or expand upon their existing technical skills. It also enables them to evolve their skills alongside new technologies and industry-specific best practices.</p>
<p>On the other side of the aisle, upskilling allows potential employers to evaluate candidates on acquired skills and performance instead of their limited work history or the experience listed on their resume.</p>
<h2>How Does Upskilling Benefit Employers? </h2>
<p>Employee upskilling gives candidates a chance to advance their careers and increases employers' odds of bringing the right talent into open roles.</p>
<p>Sourcing recently upskilled talent isn't a nice-to-have hiring tactic. In fact, the practice is quickly becoming a necessity to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/getting-ahead-of-the-talent-deficit-5-ways-to-improve-your-staffing-and-recruiting-efforts" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/getting-ahead-of-the-talent-deficit-5-ways-to-improve-your-staffing-and-recruiting-efforts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">improve recruiting efforts</a> and source qualified employees with in-demand skills.</p>
<p>Here are several reasons your organization should consider hiring recently upskilled candidates:</p>
<h3>1. Gain access to a larger talent pool.</h3>
<p>Upskilling is an invaluable tool for professionals without extensive experience in their desired field. When employers provide upskilling opportunities to underserved communities, like veterans and workforce returners, they're equitably expanding the talent marketplace. This means driving more qualified, diverse candidates into your talent pipeline.</p>
<p>Rather than limiting yourself to candidates who've been in the industry for a while or those with a robust resume, you can connect with upskilled candidates to expand your reach and bring new talent to your organization. You might even take it a step further by working with talent partners to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/equity-in-hiring-introducing-careercircles-employ-1000-challenge" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/equity-in-hiring-introducing-careercircles-employ-1000-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">provide upskilling opportunities</a> and scholarships to underrepresented groups.</p>
<h3>2. Bring new perspectives to the team.</h3>
<p>Employee upskilling can bring an array of perspectives and experiences to your workforce. Perhaps their experience as a stay-at-home parent gave them unparalleled multi-tasking skills, or they excelled in teamwork during military service that could revolutionize the way your teams work together.</p>
<p>More than their unique skills, these employees will also bring new perspectives and diverse backgrounds to DE&amp;I, culture, and team morale discussions. It's easy to get lost in the corporate shuffle and get used to "the way things have always been done." <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/building-the-workforce-of-the-future-the-value-of-equitable-hiring-practices" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/building-the-workforce-of-the-future-the-value-of-equitable-hiring-practices" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Improving thought diversity across your organization</a> can help you rethink your approach to people operations and address any conscious or unconscious biases that exist amongst your employees.</p>
<h3>3. Add motivated, teachable employees to your workforce.</h3>
<p>Employee upskilling is a great way to learn relevant skills and earn impressive certifications in their target industry. But more than the specific accolades they earn, candidate upskilling experience reflects an <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/learnability-todays-it-factor" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/learnability-todays-it-factor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ability to learn new skills</a> that will benefit their career, and your organization, over time.</p>
<p>Staffing based on technical skills alone can lead to challenges down the line; it&rsquo;s much easier to upskill a passionate employee than it is to retain an unmotivated one. As an employer, you can feel confident that your upskilled new hires are teachable, trainable, and can take direction from other working professionals. What's more, their willingness to upskill demonstrates motivation and work ethic, which means they'll likely perform well in their new role and take advantage of any continued learning or development opportunities you send their way.</p>
<h3>Connect with Qualified Candidates Through CareerCircle</h3>
<p>CareerCircle's <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/employers/signup" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/employers/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online platform</a> is designed to help candidates upskill while simultaneously connecting employers with qualified talent.</p>
<p>We provide candidates with career development resources, upskilling courses, and professional tools that enable their career growth and align their skillsets to employers' needs. By partnering with leading brands like Google and Salesforce, we offer job seekers unique learning experiences in data science, cybersecurity, full-stack development, and other in-demand fields.</p>
<p>From there, our recruiters support your staffing and recruiting needs by carefully vetting each of our member candidates and connecting you with the professionals who best align with your technical requirements, company culture, and immediate hiring needs. We holistically support your talent pipeline, from <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/the-power-of-partnership-how-staffing-agencies-promote-equitable-workforce-development" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/the-power-of-partnership-how-staffing-agencies-promote-equitable-workforce-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">workforce planning</a> to job placements and every step in between.</p>
<p>Ready to see how CareerCircle can support your long-term talent development needs?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.careercircle.com/employers/signup" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/employers/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Join the CareerCircle platform</a> for free to start connecting with diverse, recently upskilled candidates in your field.</p>

Skill shortages don't mean that the right candidate doesn't exist. It often relates to how employers source, evaluate, and hire employees.

How Employee Upskilling Helps Employers Grow Their Workforce

Skill shortages don't mean that the right candidate doesn't exist. Instead, perceived talent shortages often relate to how employers source, evaluate, and hire employees.

Connecting Candidates to Careers: How Employee Upskilling Helps Employers Grow Their Workforce

<p>It's no secret that technology advances fast, especially in the professional world. New technology paves the way for innovation in many industries, but only when it's backed by employees who understand how to leverage it.</p>
<p>Many employees fear falling behind in their current roles without the proper skills or training. At the same time, hopeful job seekers struggle to make new career connections without relevant industry certifications.</p>
<p>These scenarios are commonly referred to as skill deficits. And even though the concept of a skill deficit is simple, these gaps can hold many candidates back from their desired industry or position.</p>
<blockquote><strong>How can employees stay valuable in their current role? How can candidates overcome skill deficits and progress their careers? </strong></blockquote>
<blockquote>The answer is <strong>upskilling.</strong></blockquote>
<p>In this post, we'll explore the value of upskilling and share several ways it can set you up for long-term career success.</p>
<h2>Four Ways Upskilling Supports Personal Career Development</h2>
<p>As the name suggests, upskilling is the process of learning a new skill or advancing upon existing ones. Upskilling typically includes online training courses with a certification or award upon completion.</p>
<p>Upskilling allows you to invest in your personal career development and evolve alongside new technology. Whether you want to break into a new industry or advance within your current one, upskilling can help you master technical skills and achieve certifications that will prepare you for your next role <em>and </em>demonstrate your aptitude to employers.</p>
<h3>1. Pave the Way for Career Advancement</h3>
<p>While it is true that we learn on the job, continually upskilling is one of the best ways to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/upskilling-yourself-for-tomorrows-economy" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/upskilling-yourself-for-tomorrows-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stay relevant in the job market</a>. Mastering new skills can extend the shelf life of your current career and show your employer that you're ready for that next big promotion.</p>
<p>If you're actively looking to change career paths, upskilling can help you get a foot in the door even without a ton of on-the-job experience. Your upskilling certifications show potential employers that you've recently acquired relevant skills and that you're keeping up with trends and innovations in their industry.</p>
<h3>2. Expand Your Professional Network</h3>
<p>Upskilling courses don't just help you learn new skills; they also create invaluable opportunities to meet people with <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/navigating-your-career-journey-5-ways-to-reach-your-career-development-goals" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/navigating-your-career-journey-5-ways-to-reach-your-career-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">career development goals</a> similar to your own. Each time you enroll in a course, you'll meet other upskillers and forge connections with instructors, trainers, and mentors.</p>
<p>Be sure to add your classmates and instructors on LinkedIn or ask for contact information so you can keep in touch after the course ends. Any of these connections could lead you to a new career!</p>
<h3>3. Add Relevant Skills to Your Resume </h3>
<p>Upskilling gives you a tangible way to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/five-ways-to-level-up-your-resume" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/five-ways-to-level-up-your-resume" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">present your skills on a resume</a> or job application. And while resumes aren't everything in the job market, they're often the first thing a recruiter sees when searching for new talent.</p>
<p>Each time you complete an upskilling course or earn a new technical certification, add your credentials to your resume, LinkedIn, and any other online tools you're using to power your job search&mdash;like your CareerCircle candidate 360 profile! This critical step ensures each interested employer can see the full depth of your skills.</p>
<p>Having these items listed on your resume also makes it easier to bring them up in an interview and demonstrate your relevant competencies to each hiring manager.</p>
<h3>4. Keep Up with Industry Trends</h3>
<p>Upskilling helps you keep up with advancements in software and technology, even if you aren't actively searching for a new career. Many employers offer continued learning and upskilling opportunities to their employees. In fact, <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/upskilling-2025" data-gc-link="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/upskilling-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amazon is investing $700M in its upskilling program by 2025</a> to help its workforce master the latest industry innovations.</p>
<p>As you browse upskilling courses, keep your specific industry in mind and ask questions like:</p>
<ul>
<li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet">Which skills are most valuable in the field you work in or want to work in?</li>
<li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet">What required qualifications do you see listed most often on open job postings?</li>
<li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet">Which tools and platforms do professionals in your field use the most?</li>
</ul>
<p>Use the answers to questions like these to identify which skills are trending or in high demand, then go after upskilling opportunities that align with them. </p>
<h2>Dive into Upskilling with CareerCircle</h2>
<p>At CareerCircle, we see upskilling as an invaluable tool for candidates across industries and experience levels. That's why we partner with technology brands like Google and <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/future-proof-your-career-with-a-salesforce-developer-course" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/future-proof-your-career-with-a-salesforce-developer-course" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Salesforce</a> to connect our members with high-value upskilling opportunities.</p>
<p>Through exclusive access to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/courses" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/courses" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">digital upskilling and certification programs</a>, we help job seekers like you explore new career paths, advance in their industry, or take the next steps toward their dream job. Plus, CareerCircle offers career advocacy services, job search resources, and more to help you put your best foot forward on your resume or in a job interview.</p>
<p>Ready to power your personal career development with upskilling?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates/signup" data-gc-link="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Become a CareerCircle member today</a>!</p>

Explore the value of upskilling and learn several ways you can set your career for long-term success.

How Upskilling Promotes Personal Career Development

Acing the Modern Workplace: How Upskilling Promotes Personal Career Development

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144 Articles

Rethink Qualified: How CareerCircle Champions Workforce Equity & Equality

Connecting Candidates to Careers: How Employee Upskilling Helps Employers Grow Their Workforce

Acing the Modern Workplace: How Upskilling Promotes Personal Career Development