Whether you work with computer databases or on a construction site, the job market over the past five years has been more than challenging. Having to trawl through hundreds of job listings, applying for positions that thousands of other applicants have applied for and never getting a response, it can be soul destroying. But don’t be disheartened, the job market is really starting to look alive, and there are proactive steps you can take to make yourself more employable.
Check out the top ten things you can do to make yourself more employable.
#1 Improve your knowledge
The wisest people are those that never stop learning – those that are never too arrogant to believe they know it all. If you’re in the market for a job but are still on the shelf then it’s time to go back to school, whether it’s a short course, an apprenticeship or part-time education, it all counts towards making you more awesome and more employable. All new skills tend to have the ability to open doors in your chosen career path.
#2 Get more experience
You could have tens of years’ experience in your field or be new to the game but either way, more experience is always going to be better than less. So think outside the box, if you’re new to the job market, seek out for junior positions and internships, if you’re a veteran then gain experience that’s outside your comfort zone. It shows that you’re proactive and willing to go above and beyond.
#3 Attitude
This may sound simple but attitude is everything. Positive things happen to positive people. Whether you’re speaking with potential employers on the phone, in person or just sending an email, you attitude, if positive will shine through. Having an attitude bright like a diamond will also set you apart from other candidates, ensuring your potential employers remember you. You may not be the most experienced candidate for the role, but if you go to the interview with a ‘can do’ attitude and a willingness to learn, this may just win you the job.
#4 Learn a new skill
It doesn’t really matter which skill you choose, it could be horse riding, scuba diving, cross stich or card making, it shows you are able to learn new things, invest your time and have interests outside of your working life. New skills look excellent on your CV and these are something you can continuously build up. They also provide an excellent talking point in interviews, and will definitely work in your favour if you have something in common with the interviewer. What you will learn from developing new skills can be applied in your work life as well, transferable skills are all the rage!
#5 Get IT smart
It’s getting harder and harder to escape the online world, so why not embrace it? If you’re a technophobe, it’s time to get with it. There are plenty of courses to help you improve your IT skills, and IT skills are now essential if you want to be completely awesome and get that job. If you have basic IT skills but feel you could be a little more savvy, then why not ask a younger family member to sit down and talk you through the latest in computers, trust me, kids today can type before they can talk, so they’ll be able to help you brush up.
#6 Get social
By getting social I don’t mean head down to your local pub and having a nice chat with your friends. I mean it is time to get social online. Sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter are great for job prospecting, networking and building up relationships with peers. But remember to be careful, sites such as Facebook and Instagram are a little more personal, and you don’t want your potential employers seeing something you want to keep private. These sites have privacy settings, make sure you use them.
#7 Be productive
If you are out of work for a while use your time wisely. You have a long list (above) of activities to be carrying out, so make sure you do these things while you can. Work experience, classes, new skills, working on your attitude, it all counts to making you a better person. So use your unemployment wisely. It will pay off in the end.
#8 Have a killer CV
Take a fresh look at your CV, is it screaming out how amazing you are? Or does it look a little outdated? Take this time out to go through your CV thoroughly. Update your resume to include all your new experience, knowledge and skills.
#9 Practise your interview techniques
All your hard work has paid off and you’ve got the interview; you don’t want to crumble under pressure, so make sure you’re prepared. Making a list of the possible interview questions you may be asked and practicing your answers will ensure you’re not left tripping over your tongue in the interview. It can be hard to think up answers during a job interview, practice will allow you to wow them with your well thought out answers and calmness under pressure.
#10 Dress to impress
We’ve all heard the old saying, ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’, and it couldn’t be more true for interview situations. This could be the only time you ever see these people (if you don’t get the job) so make sure you’re dressed to impress!
Best of luck.
Author: James Baker is the Senior Communications Consultant and writes career and job search content for Vivid Resourcing.
Check out the top ten things you can do to make yourself more employable.
#1 Improve your knowledge
The wisest people are those that never stop learning – those that are never too arrogant to believe they know it all. If you’re in the market for a job but are still on the shelf then it’s time to go back to school, whether it’s a short course, an apprenticeship or part-time education, it all counts towards making you more awesome and more employable. All new skills tend to have the ability to open doors in your chosen career path.
#2 Get more experience
You could have tens of years’ experience in your field or be new to the game but either way, more experience is always going to be better than less. So think outside the box, if you’re new to the job market, seek out for junior positions and internships, if you’re a veteran then gain experience that’s outside your comfort zone. It shows that you’re proactive and willing to go above and beyond.
#3 Attitude
This may sound simple but attitude is everything. Positive things happen to positive people. Whether you’re speaking with potential employers on the phone, in person or just sending an email, you attitude, if positive will shine through. Having an attitude bright like a diamond will also set you apart from other candidates, ensuring your potential employers remember you. You may not be the most experienced candidate for the role, but if you go to the interview with a ‘can do’ attitude and a willingness to learn, this may just win you the job.
#4 Learn a new skill
It doesn’t really matter which skill you choose, it could be horse riding, scuba diving, cross stich or card making, it shows you are able to learn new things, invest your time and have interests outside of your working life. New skills look excellent on your CV and these are something you can continuously build up. They also provide an excellent talking point in interviews, and will definitely work in your favour if you have something in common with the interviewer. What you will learn from developing new skills can be applied in your work life as well, transferable skills are all the rage!
#5 Get IT smart
It’s getting harder and harder to escape the online world, so why not embrace it? If you’re a technophobe, it’s time to get with it. There are plenty of courses to help you improve your IT skills, and IT skills are now essential if you want to be completely awesome and get that job. If you have basic IT skills but feel you could be a little more savvy, then why not ask a younger family member to sit down and talk you through the latest in computers, trust me, kids today can type before they can talk, so they’ll be able to help you brush up.
#6 Get social
By getting social I don’t mean head down to your local pub and having a nice chat with your friends. I mean it is time to get social online. Sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter are great for job prospecting, networking and building up relationships with peers. But remember to be careful, sites such as Facebook and Instagram are a little more personal, and you don’t want your potential employers seeing something you want to keep private. These sites have privacy settings, make sure you use them.
#7 Be productive
If you are out of work for a while use your time wisely. You have a long list (above) of activities to be carrying out, so make sure you do these things while you can. Work experience, classes, new skills, working on your attitude, it all counts to making you a better person. So use your unemployment wisely. It will pay off in the end.
#8 Have a killer CV
Take a fresh look at your CV, is it screaming out how amazing you are? Or does it look a little outdated? Take this time out to go through your CV thoroughly. Update your resume to include all your new experience, knowledge and skills.
#9 Practise your interview techniques
All your hard work has paid off and you’ve got the interview; you don’t want to crumble under pressure, so make sure you’re prepared. Making a list of the possible interview questions you may be asked and practicing your answers will ensure you’re not left tripping over your tongue in the interview. It can be hard to think up answers during a job interview, practice will allow you to wow them with your well thought out answers and calmness under pressure.
#10 Dress to impress
We’ve all heard the old saying, ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’, and it couldn’t be more true for interview situations. This could be the only time you ever see these people (if you don’t get the job) so make sure you’re dressed to impress!
Best of luck.
Author: James Baker is the Senior Communications Consultant and writes career and job search content for Vivid Resourcing.