Searching for a new job, for most people, often feels like a new experience, no matter how many times you do it. If you’re in this situation, some advice that can help you is to make yourself more marketable. Try out the five methods below of making yourself more marketable before you start sending out those applications for a better chance at getting the job of your dreams.
Learn More About the Backend of Business
It’s easy enough to know all about the front and common workings of the businesses in your industry, so you can expect that many people do so. To give yourself an edge, learn about the backend and the less common activities that make a business tick. This will make you more efficient at the position you’re applying for, and employers won’t fail to see this.
You will have a higher chance of getting hired than most other people applying for the position with only basic skills. With around 64% of marketers currently investing time in SEO or search engine optimization, this is an example of a learned strategy you could add to your portfolio if you’re seeking a job as a marketer.
Establish a Personal Brand
Establishing a personal brand is going to make you more marketable because it makes you stand out. You could do this by setting up a website around your skills and the services you offer or getting a page on a social media platform on which you can show your accomplishments and capabilities. This will show potential employers that you’re most likely capable of handling a position, as you bring a lot to the table.
Learn a Second Language
With the world becoming more close-knit, it’s becoming more advantageous to learn a second language. Fluency in different languages makes you more employable as you can effectively communicate with more people from different backgrounds. You will be more marketable and have access to more positions, so if you have the chance to learn a second language, don’t hesitate to do so. A study has found that children can learn a second language without an accent and with fluent grammar at the age of seven or eight years. While it gradually gets harder to master a foreign language after this, if you have the right attitude, you will be able to do it successfully.
Create a Portfolio Highlighting Past Work
Employers always appreciate seeing a portfolio of past work, as this is tangible proof of your ability to do what you say you can do. For this reason, follow the advice given by most career coaches and set up a portfolio highlighting things you’ve done in the past. The industry you are in will dictate the type of portfolio you need to create, so research the best practices and get to work building an impressive portfolio.
Don’t Forget About Soft Skills
Soft skills are also crucial for job-seekers to have. For many employers, in fact, soft skills matter more than technical skills, which is why it’s important to make sure you polish up on yours. These include conflict resolution, teamwork, and problem-solving, which you will need to be ready to demonstrate at your interviews with relevant examples. With just 25% of people in the U.S. saying that they don’t expect that they will work after they retire, it’s safe to assume that the job market will stay competitive, so you’ll need to kick it up a few notches!
Follow the advice outlined above and improve your chances of getting positive responses after your interviews by adding more skills to your skillset. Employers will be happy to negotiate good rates with you as they know that with a skilled person on their team, they will be able to get great results.
