As another
year is about to conclude, we thought of sharing with you some tips that will
prepare you professionally for the one ahead.
These
ideas are all very simple to put into action. Follow each one of the 4 ways
listed below and you'll have a head-start in becoming a job candidate that
employers simply cannot resist hiring.
1. Start thinking in terms of broad skills, not only fixed roles
Make a
list of every position you've held so far, both paid and unpaid, and break it
down in terms of the skills that were involved. To get you started, think about
skills in these four categories:
- Teaching others
- Managing others
- Managing yourself
- Managing your environment
2. While you're at it, add new skills to your list
And I don't mean only hard skills which you can get qualified in. Recruiters and employers are increasingly looking at soft skills, like public speaking, emotional intelligence, leadership, and intellectual curiosity.3. Master your personal pitch
If someone
asks you why you want this job or what do you want to do in life you MUST have
an answer ready. You really owe it to yourself rather than whoever's asking
you. Pick your top 5 strengths and create a pitch around them. A simple formula
for creating a memorable pitch goes like this:
- Identity (who I am now)
- Training (how I got here)
- Aspiration (who I want to be)
- Action (how I’m getting there)
4. The art of networking
Make a
list of the top 10 people in your chosen field or industry who you feel
"have made it". Look them up on LinkedIn and visit their personal
blog if they have one, then take read any articles they published or summaries
from events they've recently been involved in.
Write a
brief message pointing out 3 things that struck you most and thank them for
sharing this information. Conclude by asking them if they’d be open to
receiving an occasional email with a question about their work. Follow up and
send them an email with an interesting question once every 3 months.
We hope
these 4 tips will encourage you to make the changes you've always wanted in
your life and finally land the dream position that you've been chasing.