Employability is, almost by definition, something that all would-be employees yearn for. It’s what makes you desirable to employers, and what will allow you to pick and choose the most rewarding positions.
What determines your employability will depend on the job you’re looking for – but in most cases, candidates for any given position can optimise their prospects by taking a few simple steps.
Improve your CV
Your CV will, in many cases, form the basis on which employers will decide to bring you in for an interview. If your CV isn’t compelling enough, then you won’t get the chance to impress – no matter how impressive you are!
Your CV should be succinct. But it should also get across the most pertinent of your achievements, in both your academic and professional career. It’s often a good idea to tailor your CV according to the position you’re applying for. For example, if the work you’ve done isn’t relevant to the work you’re going to be doing at a given position, you might look to emphasise your education, instead.
So, if you have a degree in botany, you might frontload that at the expense of your short tenure stacking shelves at your local supermarket.
Improve soft skills
Employability, often, is about your career capital. This is the value you’re able to bring to the company in question. Among the most important components of this value are your soft skills, without which you won’t be able to effectively leverage your more concrete skills. Being able to work as part of a team, for example, will make you better at any jobs that involves working alongside others. When you’re coming up with your career plan, you should look at how to develop these skills as much as possible.
Learn to drive
The ability to drive can be a boon in both your personal and professional life. It might throw open doors that would otherwise remain closed. If there’s a position that’s in a remote location that can’t be accessed by train, bus, or foot, then a car might be a necessity.
Of course, learning to drive comes with costs, some of which might be considerable. If you’re driving to and from work, and business events such as client meetings, it’s crucial to ensure you’re being covered by the correct car insurance. Adding up the cost of fuel, road tax, and regular service checks will help you work out if it’s a feasible financial decision for you to make, but in most cases, the investment will pay off handsomely in the long term.
Utilise social media
Social media will often detract from your career prospects, sucking up your attention and your focus, and causing you to obsess over things that ultimately hold back your professional development.
With all of that said you can do a great deal of valuable jobseeking on social media. Make a plan for your use of social media, restrict your time with it, and reach out deliberately in search of opportunities that confer real value to you.