Fast track to...

/ 01 July 2009

Employability

Employability

Competition has never been fiercer in the jobs market, so standing out from the crowd is a top priority for jobseekers. Whether you’re actively looking for new work or simply want to keep your options open, Edge has some top tips to maximise your employability

Plug your skills gaps
Need to swot up on your strategic thinking or fine tune your feedback skills? Taking a course or gaining a vocational or management qualification not only increases your skills, it also shows potential employers that you’re willing to invest time and money in your career

Keep up to date
When you’re out of work for any length of time, it can be easy to lose touch. Keep up to date with developments in your industry by reading sector-specific magazines and journals and attending networking evenings, and keep working by freelancing or doing temporary posts if possible

Get a mentor
Having a mentor isn’t just for those starting out in their career – it can be beneficial to everyone, from sales staff to CEOs. Mentors can help you to define your direction, boost your confidence, give advice, improve your business networks and even help out with job hunting

Personal development
Many companies offer a personal development plan, but if yours doesn’t, why not create one? It helps to know where you’re heading – what are your career goals, where do you want to be in five years’ time, and how are you going to get there? A plan can give you direction and a sense of purpose

Toot your own horn
Don’t be afraid to celebrate your own success. Keeping track of your achievements shows potential employers you can apply your skills in the workplace and get real results. Document your successful projects, identify the skills you used and decide what you learnt from the experience

Think positive
Positive people get better responses from those around them. Don’t be blindly optimistic, but make an effort to see the good points in everything and find ways to make any situation work for you. Try and get something useful out of every experience, however successful or otherwise

For more top tips on improving your employability, see the latest ILM research