Gen Z Depop Sellers Gain Business Skills Over College Degrees

Gen Z and millennial graduates are increasingly expressing dissatisfaction with their college degrees, deeming them insufficient for preparing them for the professional world. This sentiment is echoed by employers who find that traditional education often falls short in equipping graduates with essential workforce skills. New research, exclusively shared with Fortune by the secondhand fashion marketplace Depop, indicates that a significant majority of young people believe they have acquired more valuable business acumen from selling items on online resale platforms, such as Vinted and Depop, than they did during their formal academic careers. Specifically, 71% of Gen Z sellers reported that their experience with online resale has provided them with more practical business knowledge than their formal education.

Hiring managers are also acknowledging the practical skills gained through online reselling. A substantial 85% of hiring managers surveyed stated that candidates should include their resale experience on their resumes. Furthermore, they indicated a preference for interviewing candidates with resale experience over equally qualified candidates who lack it. The research highlights that running an online reselling business is perceived as more impressive by hiring managers than a traditional internship. When asked about the experience that would most impress them in an entry-level candidate, 65% of hiring managers pointed to resale experience. This contrasts with other forms of experience, where only 46% favored internships, 39% preferred retail or hospitality work, and 35% valued social media management.

The skills being cultivated through reselling unwanted clothing and other items include crucial business competencies such as pricing strategy, sales techniques, and customer service. For many Gen Z individuals, engaging in reselling started as a means to generate supplementary income amidst a challenging entry-level job market. However, this entrepreneurial activity is proving to be a significant differentiator in a competitive landscape where many young people are submitting generic, AI-generated resumes. Max Hunt, identified by Depop as a top seller on the platform, shared that his reselling activities not only helped him cover personal expenses like gas and college costs but also fostered the development of skills in branding, marketing, customer service, and entrepreneurship. These sellers are, often unknowingly, participating in a comprehensive masterclass in business operations.

The research underscores a growing disconnect between traditional academic offerings and the practical demands of the modern business environment. As young professionals navigate their early careers, experiences like online reselling are providing tangible, hands-on learning opportunities that are highly valued by employers. This trend suggests a potential shift in how practical skills are acquired and recognized, with informal entrepreneurial ventures gaining prominence over conventional educational pathways. The data from Depop's research provides a compelling argument for the efficacy of peer-to-peer marketplaces as informal business education hubs for the younger generation, equipping them with skills that directly translate to workplace success and potentially offering a competitive edge in the job market.