You really don’t have to be an expert to see that the present-day labor market is a mass. On the one hand, the global economy is experiencing a prolonged labor shortage. On the other, the recent crisis has caused massive layoffs and the shutdown of entire industries.
Throw into the mix the lightning development of digital tech, changing job profiles, generational shifts, and gradual transition toward new work models like contingent teams and telecommuting and you will get a pretty hectic environment that offers very few certainties and easily throws aspiring job candidates off the rails.
So, what are the skills that should help you land the job you always wanted, and what you can do to improve your employability in 2022 and beyond? Let us try to find out.
Master the interview techniques
Sure, it’s always good to have a rock-solid and well-put-together CV to back you up. But, if you fail to make a good first impression at the interview your academic accomplishments and previous work experience will be worth very little. With that in mind, we would like to point out that interviewers don’t really want to get practiced answers to generic questions. They will use this short time to assess your communication skills, your ability to stay calm under pressure, your ability to engage in creative thinking and problem solving, and your confidence. So, be sure to give these soft skills a proper workout before applying.
Embrace the attitude of lifelong learning
We are living in a time when the business world moves so fast that the skills you have mastered this morning may become obsolete the very next day. So, instead of trying to nail down any specific part of the business landscape or specific technology so you are able to move on, you should embrace the attitude of lifelong learning and use every new day to try to keep up with everything going on in the world. With that in mind, proper learning, memorization, and time-management techniques will prove to be much more valuable than any bits of knowledge since you will be able to use them on any future task you get.
Develop entrepreneurial mindset
The times of obedient grunts are long gone. Modern employers much prefer workers who are able to demonstrate a bit more initiative and bring more value to the table. And you can’t possibly be more valuable than by thinking like an entrepreneur. If you are, for instance, working in the construction sector you can try to improve the efficiency of your team by using the more comfortable Hi Vis workwear, trying out new construction techniques of adjusting the shifts. The workers who are able of improving the operations that way are not only in higher demand but also climb up the ranks much faster.
Start developing a professional network
For better or for worse, the business world was always built on strong personal and professional relationships. So, if you want to increase your chances of finding a good job. Make sure then to get to know the people that can help you out. Start by creating a website, making a presence on relevant social media platforms, and, why not, even engaging in casual blogging. Also, try attending courses regarding the industry you are most interested in since you will be able to meet a lot of future business leaders and high-value professionals. Eat where successful people eat and hang out where they like to hang out.
Expand your interests and hobbies
Even though this doesn’t look like having anything to do with your career outlook finding an interesting hobby can prove to be of tremendous help here. First, you will find some areas where you can excel and, thus, improve your self-worth and mitigate the pressure of professional accomplishment. Second, you will be able to meet dozens of new, interesting, and possibly even influential people that may not be present in your current social circles. Finally, new hobbies and interests always make you a more worldly and social person, and out of all the soft skills you need to land a job, these are the hardest to acquire.
Set clear and tangible goals
Last but not least, we would like that all the pursuits we have covered above should be driven by clear and very specific objectives. Otherwise, your efforts will soon become very muddled and your career plans wishful thinking. So, break all the ongoing plans into more immediate short-term objectives and then break these objectives into concrete steps you need to make every single day to get to the finish line. While you are doing that make sure your objectives are made SMART, or in other words, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Measurable, and Time-constrained to always get the best possible results.
We hope these few examples gave you a general idea about the strategies you can use to make your pursuit of your next employment, faster, more effortless, and even more fun and engaging. The old times when you would spend whole decades at the same job are now long over. But, this new more dynamic labor market also presents endless opportunities for personal and professional growth if approached correctly. The tips we gave you should definitely nudge you in the right direction.
