It is well known that merely a good degree cannot ensure one employment.
To land a job in today's competitive market, you need various technical as well
as soft skills that can give you an edge above the rest. Here is what you need
to do to enhance your portfolio and increase your chances of bagging that dream
job:
HONE YOUR PERSONALITY
With institutes churning out graduates in large numbers, the emphasis
today is on soft skills. These skills, which include one's business and
cultural etiquette, dressing sense, body language and coordination skills, make
a huge difference during a job interview.Concurs Sushma Rana, talent director,
MSL group, “Organisations evaluate prospective candidates not only for their
professional skills, but also behavioural traits. This is very often done by
subjecting them to real-life situations that bring out a person's interpersonal
and team management skills along with their ability to handle stress. As the
selection process involves overall personality evaluation, pursuing a programme
on personality development can be of much help.“
Adds Swapnil Kamat, founder, CEO and chief trainer, Work Better, “What
employers actually mean when they say, “Engineer required, MBA preferred,“ is
that they are looking for candidates with a certain set of skills, character
traits and attitudes. These include organisational skills, ability to follow
instructions and meet deadlines, critical thinking skills, writing and
communication skills, research skills, and so forth.“
PURSUE AN INTERNSHIP
Internships are an important stepping stone in the process of enhancing
one's credentials as they provide one an opportunity to apply the theoretical
knowledge gained during a degree programme to real-life industry situations.
They are a platform for students to gain a realistic view of personal growth
objectives and understand their strengths and weaknesses in an organisational
context. Agrees Kamat, “Potential employers look at your experience before your
qualifications to assess your employability. Hence, pursuing a summer
internship during a degree course can hugely increase your employability
prospects.“
LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
Employment mobility has increased as opportunities have expanded across
the globe. Thus, it is not uncommon to come across people who do not mind
moving cities and even countries in search of a better job. Keeping this in
mind, learning a new language can give the much needed boost to your profile.
Additionally, with companies continuously trying to increase the diversity of
their teams, working knowledge of a foreign language is considered an asset by
hiring managers.
CREATE A GOOD ONLINE IMAGE
Employers these days very often use your public profiles as a tool to
assess your personality. Thus, it is crucial to create and maintain a positive
image on social media. Advises Rana, “Appropriately frame and add relevant
details which you want the employers to focus on, on websites that require you
to put up your professional profile. Testimonials from your current as well as
ex-colleagues also matter. Your presence on social media by means of an
interactive resume also helps. Also, joining the right groups and associations
too can improve your chances of employability.“
KEEP LEARNING
Continuous education is important in today's job market. Training and
education show potential employers that you take your professional life
seriously. Opt for weekend courses, enrol for a distance learning, online
programme or a MOOC (massive open online course) to expand your knowledge base
and increase your employability.
VOLUNTEER
Get involved in extra circular activities that offer the platform to
develop various skills and that add to your CV. Learn to work as a team and
help the community. As a student, one can be part of the student council or
volunteer with NGOs and clubs. This will not only highlight your compassionate
nature, but also instil a positive attitude and self confidence within you.
BE WILLING TO MOVE
As businesses expand, mobility is an important factor for companies. So
be open to shifting to another city for a good job. While most people do not
want to move out of their comfort zone, taking a chance on relocation can lead
to unthought-of career growth and new opportunities.
Source: TOI
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