Two-thirds of employers drop experience requirements for early-career jobs – Deel

More than two-thirds of employers have cut years of experience requirements for early-career jobs, with many now focusing on candidates’ learning speed and adaptability, according to data from Deel.

68% of hiring leaders said they have scaled back or removed experience metrics from entry-level adverts, and 12% have removed them entirely. 

Fewer than a quarter said they were keeping the old requirements.

43% said learning speed topped their list, while tenure was the least valued. 

Work ethic, communication skills and artificial intelligence (AI) skills also ranked above prior experience.

Attributes like personal motivation, problem-solving, communication and curiosity were seen as more important than previous experience in similar roles. 

Alan Price, global head of talent acquisition at Deel, said: “Requiring early-career talent to meet arbitrary years-of-experience metrics has long frustrated young workers and graduates. 

“It’s exclusionary – many talented, high-potential people simply don’t get the opportunity to gain work experience before embarking on their careers.