An executive summary of an article published by LHH What gives a candidate the edge over others? Is it a fancy degree? A CV with an endless list of Fortune 500 companies? Experts are now suggesting there may be a shift in hiring, focusing on potential instead of pedigree. Skills are an increasingly crucial indicator of talent according to HR leaders, who say that skills and creativity will be vital to their recruitment efforts over the next 20 years. Skills-based hiring is the next big thing but it’s more than just a trend, it’s a fundamental shift towards better, more equitable hiring that puts the right job opportunities in front of the right people. It’s exactly what it sounds like, prioritizing a candidate’s skills over their qualifications or employment history. A skills-first approach means employers can equitably assess more diverse experiences and hire people who have previously been left out in the cold. Skills-based methods recognize the reality that not everyone has the time or means to pursue education, but it doesn’t invalidate degrees: it makes it easier for everyone to find their perfect job by encouraging employers to look at a greater variety of data points. One way that employers are implementing skills-based hiring is by dropping the requirement for a degree from their job adverts. ...