In the post-Covid, digital-first world, self-taught learning methods have grown to unprecedented levels of popularity.
Self‑taught learning is “exploding,” according to Express Employment Professionals, “and it’s beginning to reshape resumes across the country.”
But not all employers are prepared for the rapid rise in upskilling and its cascade of influence on how people job hunt and develop careers.
Newly released data from a Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Express showed that more than half of job seekers, as well as a majority of hiring managers, agree that skills learned through informal online platforms can be credible.
However, legitimizing self-taught skills for hiring purposes presents a new challenge for recruiters.
“Employers say evaluating a candidate’s skills is becoming more challenging than ever,” Express reports.
And the trend is only strengthening. While just 12% of boomers upskill on their own, and only 19% of Gen X do so, more than one-third of millennials self-train. As for Gen Z? It’s a strong majority; the new normal.
This is causing some friction, it seems. Because while 28% of hiring managers value formal and self-taught skills equally, over 60% still prefer formal education.
Jobseekers are also unsure of the effects, according to the data, with a roughly equal amount believing that self-taught skills can help them stand out versus harming their chances when compared to traditionally educated peers.
“Self‑learning is opening doors for workers everywhere,” posits Express chief executive officer Bob Funk, “but it also raises the bar.”
Clarity will come as the dust eventually settles. As Gen Z become hiring managers, for example, there may emerge a new breed of recruiter. Already, 11% of hirers actually favour self-taught learning over conventional credentials.
All in all, it appears that self-taught skills may be legit. The problem, then, could be with the resume itself—an increasingly unhelpful tool for recruiters. Indeed, nearly 90% of hiring managers say that observing a candidate demonstrate a skill is more effective than reviewing a resume.
“Job seekers must be ready to demonstrate their abilities right away,” suggests Funk.
Employers are adapting to the changes, albeit somewhat slowly.
Currently, fewer than one-quarter of companies have updated hiring processes to recognize and verify self-taught skills, according to data from Express. And more than one-third have no plans to update.
But another 41% do plan to update their processes, which would eventually tilt upskill recognition into the majority—and perhaps the final third of employers would then relent.
“Employers should update their hiring practices to evaluate the skills people gain on their own,” argues Funk. “As self-taught learning becomes more common, refining how to assess these skills will help employers make better, more confident decisions about the talent they bring on board.”
