Many organizations are dropping degree requirements when hiring, and emphasizing experience and skills instead. As a job candidate, you can use this shift to your advantage. Here’s what you need to know.

• As the emphasis on skill acquisition grows, so do more accessible and affordable learning methods. Among others, methods include online learning platforms that offer industry-specific and skills-based courses, massive open online courses (MOOCs), apprenticeships, microcredentials, simulations, and skill-specific bootcamps.
• You can make it easier for an employer to understand what skills you’re bringing to the table by putting them front and center on your resume. At the top of your resume, include a “Relevant Skills” section with the most role-relevant hard skills put first, and more transferable soft skills placed towards the end.
• Even if you reviewed the job description thoroughly when crafting your resume, study it again, in-depth, before your interview takes place. If your job requires technical skills, hiring managers will likely test you on them — whether that includes a skills assessment or asking your for examples of how you’ve demonstrated those skills in the past.
• Stat on top of the skills required to grow in your particular role or industry and seek out the proper training and development support as your career progresses. This effort will support your growth and help you stay relevant and maintain yourself as a strong, promotable performer.