Have you wondered why you never received that interview call or the promotion you thought you deserved? The answer may have something to do with your ’employability’ – a set of skills, knowledge and personal attributes that you must have in order to progress.
Factor in the following to increase your employability:
Identify your accomplishments:
One of the most common mistakes people make when putting together their CV is not mentioning their accomplishments.
Similarly, people currently working at an organization tend to not single out what they have accomplished or highlight the projects they have overseen. This results in their contributions not standing out.
One of the oldest tricks in the book (and one commonly overlooked), networking has several benefits, and platforms such as Linked in have made networking easier than ever.
Connecting with the right people will improve the chances of the right opportunities coming your way. Networking is also an effective way to find mentors who can guide you.
Understand the marketplace:
Effective sellers know which buyers they are catering to and pitch their services to them accordingly.
This marketing theory applies to employability and this means that you need to make sure that you market and highlight your relevant skills according to your potential employer’s requirements.
Update your skill set:
You may think thatyour current degree is enough to provide you with all the skills you need to find or stay in a job.
However, this no longer holds true because in a dynamic work environment you constantly need to `up skill’ by gaining certifications, proficiency in the latest software and acquiring the latest knowledge relevant to your field of work your current degree is enough to provide you with all the skills you need to find or stay in a job.
However, this no longer holds true because in a dynamic work environment you constantly need to `unskilled by gaining certifications, proficiency in the latest software and acquiring the latest knowledge relevant to your field of work.
Soft skills:
Never underestimate the importance of soft skills – personal attributes that enable effective communication. Modern day hiring practices place greater emphasis on soft skills than ever before and include negotiation, communication and presentation skills.
By Muntazir Haider. The writer is a senior business consultant, corporate trainer and entrepreneur. muntazir@thebrandconsultants.net