Whether you’re out of a job right now or you’re looking for a career change, applying for new jobs can be intimidating and challenging, especially if you haven’t done it in years.
To increase your chances of success, you have to put in the effort. This means getting yourself prepared, even if you’re social distancing at home. Here are some ways you can prepare yourself for your next job and boost your chances of getting hired.
Upskill yourself
If you’re currently unemployed, this is a great opportunity to use your free time to look for education and qualifications you can use to strengthen your resume and learn new things. Many institutions are offering free educational courses, resources and workshops to encourage employment coming out of COVID-19. These include reputable institutions such as Harvard University, MIT and TAFE NSW, so it’s a great time to look for online certifications.
Build a portfolio
One thing that can make you stand out among other job applicants is having a strong, impressive portfolio. How you create your portfolio depends on your career field, but a website portfolio is versatile, customisable and accessible enough that it can be suitable for almost any industry. Key things to include on your website are examples of your best past work, qualifications and certificates, skills and past experience, where you are based and contact details. Adding a link to your website on your resume, LinkedIn profile and social media can increase the attention you get from other professionals in your industry.
Network
Surveys have shown that up to 85% of people ended up in their job positions due to networking. Even if physical networking events have been cancelled, this doesn’t mean that you can’t network online. A popular way to do this is by creating a strong LinkedIn profile that is attractive to your desired employers and building your network by sending invitations to connect with other professionals in the field; you may be surprised at how many employers reach out to you if you have the right profile. You can also join online communities in your work field and be active on them by posting relevant content and commenting on other people’s blogs and posts. Another option is to contact family and friends to see if they know an employer who might be suitable for you.
Do your research
Researching the specific responsibilities, qualifications and skills needed to land your next job can help you narrow down your preparation with important areas to focus on. It can also be helpful to read up on what your desired employers are looking for and how other people have gotten similar jobs.
