With the growing number of job seekers eagerly
looking to start and grow in their careers, job
mismatches have become normalized occurrences
despite being a concerning matter in the job market. A recent study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that 40% of
employed Filipinos have academic credentials
beyond what is needed in their jobs, and that these
Filipinos were only earning 5% more for finishing their
studies despite being relatively overeducated for
their positions. According to the leading online job portal JobStreet, a job mismatch is a growing phenomenon wherein the
skills required to be successful in a certain position and the skills possessed by a certain employee are
not completely aligned with each other, consequently affecting the employee’s work productivity,
motivation, and developmentIdentifying the mismatch
Job or skills mismatches can come in the form of either a horizontal or vertical mismatch. A horizontal
a mismatch is when an employee who has studied in one field works in a completely different one.
Employees considered under this mismatch may have the right level of education but
don’t necessarily have the ideal level of expertise. An example of this mismatch is a person with a journalism degree working in a sales and marketing position. 
On the other hand, a vertical mismatch is when an employee’s level of expertise doesn’t match the level
needed for a job.

The terms over qualification and under qualification would fall under this type of skills
mismatch since both imply an overall discrepancy between the individual’s abilities required by the
position. For example, an engineering graduate is working as a customer support representative, a
place where they may be overqualified. 

Better hiring practices
When a company’s employees aren’t properly matched to their positions, these employees are more likely
to struggle with their assignments, feelings of insecurity and lack of motivation and development, which
may lead to resignation and ultimately nullify the resources that the company has invested in.

“Job mismatches are one of the primary reasons that new hires don’t stay in certain positions long-term,
which translates to high turnover rates for the company,” said JobStreet Country Manager Philip Gioca. 
“Not only will this require employers to invest more to hire and train new employees, but it also reflects
negatively on the employee experience that other jobseekers perceive.”

According to JobStreet, crafting a specific and well-detailed job description is important in minimizing
mismatch. Employers should be clear and concise regarding the skills the position asks for, the requirements a candidate needs to assume the role properly, and what the candidate would be
expected to do.

This helps in targeting qualified talents and avoids misinterpretations among job seekers. 
It’s also advised for hirers to avoid squeezing in the roles and responsibilities of two people under one
position, as this may, later on, lead to job mismatch.

For instance, an employer opened a role for a social
media community manager but would also expect this candidate to be highly skilled in graphic design.
JobStreet also suggests evaluating candidates beyond interviews through skills assessment tests, which
can come from tests or even job simulation activities. Skills assessment tests offer a more
unbiased perspective of what candidates are capable of and help measure their abilities. 

Upskilling goes a long way. The impacts of job mismatches can also negatively affect employees and job seekers, but there are a few things that candidates can do. Apart from ensuring that their academic pursuits are geared towards an
an industry that they are interested in, jobseekers can also choose to develop valuable skills that can help
minimize any skill gaps.

This can help expand their abilities and increase their chances of succeeding in
other jobs across industries.
Other than upskilling, JobStreet advises candidates to read job descriptions carefully to better understand the position. This can help them better comprehend the skills and
requirements that the job might ask for and whether they are suited for the job.

“It’s important for candidates to focus on developing hard skills through their education
and other experiences and soft skills. With a combination of both, candidates can then look at job
listings more critically and decide as to whether they would be the right fit for a position,”
shared Gioca. 

Eliminating job mismatches lead to better hires for employers and help jobseekers find more fulfillment in
their careers—both situations leading to better productivity and employee satisfaction in the workplace
long-term. 

For more career advice for both job seekers and employers, visit https://www.jobstreet.com.ph.