Believe in Yourself
We need to believe in ourselves. If you have read the requirements
for a position and think you are suited, go for it.
Carry yourself with confidence and determination; your results will
reflect this attitude. Don’t allow setbacks to knock your confidence.
Easier said than done sometimes, I know, but the point still stands.
Always Be Learning
It’s all too easy to become complacent and let our skill sets plateau.
If you have been working in the same job for a number of years,
it’s likely you are not learning a lot of new skills or engaging in
self-development on a regular basis.
Schedule some time each day to learn something new.
If you don’t schedule the time, there is less chance of you keeping true
to the commitment. Some people start by putting one hour aside in
the morning or the evening. Look into a hobby or a pastime you enjoy
and start studying.
Brush Up on Your IT Skills
Even if you don’t work in IT, having IT skills will always give you
an advantage. You can’t be expected to know all the different types of
systems that prospective companies may use, but being sharp with general
IT skills is an absolute must.
Always be true to your own skill set, however. Adding the names of
systems you may have used only once to your list of qualifications is not
a good idea. Employers may put you on the spot with a brief test,
quickly debunking your credentials (and credibility). Even worse,
you may find yourself hired and expected to use a complex system that
you haven’t used in years — if ever.
Keep Your Resume Up-to-Date
Whenever you complete a training course or take on more responsibilities
at your current role, add them to your resume. It can feel overwhelming
to write up your whole resume from scratch, and you may forget certain
key details. Better to simply add to your resume as your career progresses.
Some tips for modern-day resume best practices:
include links to your social media profiles;make sure you use your most
up-to-date email address;and create a .pdf version for use in
email — it looks much better than a Word document.
Get Busy on Social Media
Love it or hate it, social media has a huge presence in the employment
and recruitment sector. If you are savvy on social media platforms and
build a strong profile, you will greatly increase your chances of landing
a job or moving up the ranks at your current organization.
Having an up-to-date profile on a platform like LinkedIn will improve
your employment prospects. Even if you are currently working, you will
get notifications from recruitment agencies looking for prospective
candidates that fit their criteria.
Be Proactive
You have probably heard the saying “the early bird catches the worm.”
It may be a cliche, but it’s absolutely true. Those who are proactive
and make things happen early get the jump on great opportunities.
Don’t wait for employment opportunities to find you: look around and
make inquiries.
A proactive attitude can help promote a positive work ethic, and it
shows employers that you are the kind of person who takes initiative.
Network
If there is an industry or profession you are interested in,
start networking. This is easily done online by joining forums or groups
dedicated to the industry.
Start offering help to others, asking and answering questions, and
making contact with people.
You will be one of the first to hear of any jobs coming up in the industry,
and will have people to use as references or mentors when necessary.
If you feel like the industry is not represented well, you can start
your own blog or forum and establish yourself as an industry expert.