5 Steps to Become a Skills-Based Worker in 2025 

This blog originally appeared on Baha’s Linkedin. 

Get ready for the workforce to shift in 2025.

Degrees are no longer the default path to success. Instead, employers are increasingly focused on what you can do, not just credentials or what’s on your resume.

For underemployed individuals looking to break into tech or other high-paying fields like advanced manufacturing, there is no better time than now to pursue a future-proof career path.

Through apprenticeships, paid IT training programs, and skills-based hiring, you can learn in-demand skills, gain hands-on experience, and start a rewarding career—all without the financial stress or time-bound rigidity of traditional education.

We’ve compiled a detailed, 5 step guide (with links and resources) to help you navigate the process and take actionable steps toward becoming a skills-based worker.

Step 1: Understand Skills-Based Careers

What Is Skills-Based Hiring?

Skills-based hiring focuses on evaluating a candidate’s abilities and competencies rather than relying solely on degrees or traditional credentials. Employers prioritize practical skills, hands-on experience, and problem-solving capabilities to identify the best fit for the role.

This hiring approach is gaining popularity across industries like tech, healthcare, and manufacturing due to its benefits:

• Expands the talent pool: Welcomes candidates with non-traditional backgrounds or alternative learning paths.
• Increases diversity: Focuses on what candidates can do, reducing bias tied to formal education.
• Fills skills gaps: Ensures candidates are prepared for specific tasks and responsibilities.

Examples of Skills-Based Hiring:

• Coding assessments for software development roles.
• Apprenticeships in IT and advanced manufacturing.
• Employer-sponsored training programs, like Smoothstack’s Hire, Train, Deploy model, which trains candidates on specific tech stacks before placing them in roles.

Skills-based hiring is ideal for companies seeking practical talent and individuals eager to showcase their abilities without traditional barriers like a four-year degree.

It’s reshaping the workforce by emphasizing what matters most: real-world results.

Key Industries Offering Skills-Based Roles:

• Tech: Software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, IT support.
• Advanced Manufacturing: Advanced robotics, CNC programming, process engineering, data centers, and semiconductor FABs
• Healthcare IT: Data management, systems integration, and support roles.

Why This Matters:

Traditional degree programs often miss the mark in preparing candidates for hands-on work. Companies that embrace skills-based hiring want team members who can deliver from day one, and many offer training programs to ensure you’re ready.

Quick Tip: Explore real-world stories of workers transitioning to tech careers with companies like Smoothstack, which combines structured training with career placement.

Step 2: Research Apprenticeships and Paid Training Programs

Apprenticeships and paid training programs are among the best options for underemployed individuals. These programs give you the dual benefit of learning while earning.

How to Find An Apprenticeship:

• Apprenticeships.gov: Start here to search for registered programs. Look for fields like IT support, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.
• Apprenti: Focused on connecting people to apprenticeships in software development, cloud computing, and IT.

Paid Training Programs That Lead to Jobs:

• Smoothstack: Their Hire-Train-Deploy model connects individuals with job opportunities in tech. You’re trained on client-specific tech stacks and placed in real-world roles.
• Google Apprenticeships: Specialize in IT support and data analysis.
• Microsoft LEAP Program: Designed for individuals transitioning to tech roles from unrelated fields.

How to Stand Out:

These programs value aptitude over prior experience. Focus on highlighting your curiosity, ability to learn quickly, and work ethic during the application process.

Quick Tip: If you’re unsure where to start, contact your local workforce development center. Many offer free guidance and access to training resources.

Step 3: Identify Earn and Learn Opportunities

Many companies now invest in training employees for specific roles, particularly in tech and advanced manufacturing.

These programs are typically referred to as hire, train, deploy programs, and they are designed for individuals with potential but without formal tech experience.

How Hire, Train, Deploy Programs Work:

1. Recruitment: Companies select candidates based on their aptitude and drive.
2. Training: You receive tailored instruction on skills like coding, cybersecurity, or cloud computing.
3. Deployment: Once trained, you work in a specific role, often as part of a client project.

Examples:

• Smoothstack: A leader in hire, train, deploy programs, they specialize in bridging the gap between underemployed individuals and high-demand roles in software development, data engineering, and IT.
• Amazon Career Choice: Amazon trains employees in high-demand skills for jobs both within and outside the company.
• Salesforce Talent Alliance: Helps individuals gain Salesforce certifications and connects them to job opportunities.

Step 4: Network and Seek Mentorship

Mentorship is a powerful tool for career growth, especially for those transitioning into a skills-based role. A mentor can provide insights into industry expectations, guide you through challenges, and help you set realistic, actionable goals.

They also serve as a sounding board for your ideas and a source of encouragement as you navigate new opportunities.

Why Mentorship Matters:

Mentors help you avoid common mistakes by sharing their own experiences. They can introduce you to valuable professional networks, offer personalized advice, and support you in building confidence as you develop your skills.

How to Build Your Network:

• LinkedIn: Join groups focused on tech training or apprenticeship opportunities. Start by following companies like Smoothstack to see when they’re hiring.
• Meetups: Tech communities often host events where you can meet mentors and learn from professionals.
• Online Communities: Platforms like Reddit (r/learnprogramming) and Slack communities often share resources and job leads.

Step 5: Take the Leap!

As the year comes to a close, it’s natural to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re headed.

Sometimes, the hardest part of moving forward is breaking free from the patterns that keep you feeling stuck. It’s not always easy, but growth never comes from staying comfortable.

The new year is a blank canvas—an opportunity to channel this momentum into bold decisions that redefine what’s possible.

Let this moment be the start of something transformative. Take the leap toward the resources, partnerships, and solutions that will propel you forward, even if it feels uncertain. Growth is waiting on the other side.

Quick Tip: Stay consistent in your search. Many opportunities require persistence, so set aside time each week to apply, network, and build your skills.

Why Smoothstack?

Smoothstack bridges the gap between potential and opportunity, offering underemployed individuals a clear path to high-paying careers in tech. Their Hire-Train-Deploy model ensures you gain the skills you need to succeed while earning a paycheck.

What Smoothstack Offers:

• Paid training programs tailored to industry needs.
• Job placement with top-tier clients.
• Mentorship and career guidance every step of the way.

By taking these steps, you can transform your potential into a fulfilling, skills-based career. Don’t wait—opportunities are waiting for you to seize them.