2014 is shaping up to be a good year for employees. There are more jobs out there and unemployment is at its lowest since 2008 in the United States. The problem is you may still be struggling to find work. You need to make yourself as employable as possible, and that means improving the way you look. Here are some tips to improve your chances of getting a job.
Update Your Resume
It’s time to give your resume an overhaul. There are a number of old habits and bits of advice that are now completely wrong. For example, don’t list all the jobs you’ve had. Make your resume tailored for the job you’re applying for and only include the most relevant positions and skills. You will soon catch an employer’s attention and he will want to know more.
Do More Between Shifts
Instead of using your free time to just watch TV, start getting out there and do more. Make yourself look great and improve your skills.
Some of the things an employer will look for include volunteering and charity work. They give you skills and you prove that you’re not just in it for the money. At the same time, boost the amount of work you do while at work.
Get Some Work Experience
If this is your first job or you’re looking to change your career, it’s time to focus on work experience. You’ll see that most jobs will say “X year of experience necessary” or something similar.
If you’re fresh out of college, you will struggle unless you find graduate placements. How do you get experience? Start volunteering for positions just to gain the skills.
Behave Professionally Everywhere
Watch out for the stuff you post online, including your “private” social media accounts. Employers are using the internet more and more to research someone’s name, and that is leading to more people losing out on jobs.
The slightest thing can affect how professional you come across. It could be complaining about your current workplace to your friends or writing a post about a person you came across in the street. If you’re writing about those, what’s to stop you from writing about your new place of work?
Be Innovative During the Application Process
You need to show why you should get a job. That means being innovative and unique. You could share your blog that you write about your experiences and skills—as long as there are no rants!—or you could share some computer code that you’ve developed.
Attach these to your resume somehow and you will give your potential employer something new, different and interesting to look at. You’re more likely to be invited to an interview.
Be the Perfect Employee
At your current position start doing more than you need to, without asking for extra.
Show your current boss that you are a valued member of staff, which will help gain a glowing reference when a potential employer calls. You come across as the perfect employee.