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Six Routes to Widening Your Skill Set When in the Job Search Process

Six Routes to Widening Your Skill Set When in the Job Search Process

In today’s competitive job landscape, a diverse skill set is paramount for standing out and securing your ideal job. Employers seek candidates who bring versatility and adaptability to their teams, traits that can only be honed through a broad array of skills. As you navigate the job search process, dedicating time to expanding your skill set is an investment in your future. We’ll delve into the significance of skill diversification and outline six effective pathways to achieve it. By embracing these routes, you’ll increase your employability and position yourself as a candidate poised for continuous growth and success in any professional endeavor.

The Significance of Widening Your Skill Set

1. Enhanced Employability: A Versatile Edge

The appeal of a diversified skill set to potential employers cannot be underestimated. Having an array of skills makes you a more attractive candidate and positions you as a versatile asset capable of adapting to a wide range of roles within an organization. This adaptability serves as a potent edge in a competitive job landscape.

2. Navigating Change: The Power of Adaptability

The professional sphere is characterized by rapid transformation propelled by technological advancements and evolving business dynamics. Elevating your skill set is a testament to your agility in confronting novel challenges and swiftly acquiring new proficiencies.

3. Fueling Long-Term Career Growth

Beyond immediate employability, a diversified skill set lays the foundation for continuous career advancement. It unlocks pathways for growth and progression, highlighting your competence as a multifaceted employee. By showcasing proficiency across various domains, you position yourself as an indispensable resource primed to take on diverse responsibilities, propelling you toward higher success.

Routes to Widening Your Skill Set

1. Immersive Workshops and Retreats

Seek immersive workshops or retreats providing hands-on experiences and in-depth skill development. These unique learning environments often offer intense training over a short period, allowing for rapid skill acquisition.

2. Hackathons and Competitions

Participating in hackathons, coding competitions, design challenges, or innovation contests can help you acquire new skills in a competitive and collaborative setting while showcasing your problem-solving abilities to potential employers.

3. Crossover Learning

Explore skills from seemingly unrelated fields and find ways to apply them to your desired industry. For instance, incorporating principles from art and design into a technical role or applying psychology insights to marketing strategies can make you stand out.

4. Job Shadowing and Informational Interviews

Connect with professionals in the roles you’re targeting and request opportunities for job shadowing or informational interviews. This firsthand exposure can provide unique insights into responsibilities and required skills.

5. Global Experiences

Pursue experiences that expose you to different cultures, work environments, and perspectives. Whether through travel, virtual internships with international companies, or participating in global projects, these experiences can enhance your adaptability and global awareness.

6. Innovative Online Platforms

Explore emerging online platforms that offer unconventional learning methods. For example, some platforms use gamification, virtual reality, or AI-driven personalized learning paths to help you acquire skills in engaging and novel ways.

Additional Steps to Boost Your Job Search Process

1. Tailored Resumes and Cover Letters

Customize your application materials to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific job you’re applying for. This demonstrates your understanding of the role and how you can contribute.

2. Interview Preparation

Before interviews, research the company’s needs and values. Be ready to discuss how your expanded skill set aligns with their requirements and can contribute to their success.

3. Soft Skills Emphasis

Don’t underestimate the power of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These highly transferable skills can make you stand out in a crowded job market.

4. Portfolio Development

Create a portfolio showcasing your work, projects, and accomplishments. This tangible evidence of your skills can leave a lasting impression on potential employers.

Expanding Your Skill Set for Success

Expanding your skill set while navigating the job search journey is a strategic maneuver that can greatly amplify your chances of securing your coveted position. Employers are increasingly drawn to candidates who exhibit adaptability, versatility, and a commitment to perpetual learning. By delving into online courses, networking events, hands-on experiences, and other growth avenues, you broaden your proficiency and supercharge your overall career potential. It’s important to recognize that investing in self-enhancement is a direct investment in your future triumphs. So, seize the opportunity to enrich your skill set and stand prepared to embrace the promising horizons of diversified expertise.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Bright

SEE ALSO: How Multilingual Skills Can Boost Career Opportunities After Graduation

Apply for an Internship

Apply for an Internship

There are all sorts of ways to apply for an internship. The best way to stand out is to do what everyone else around you aren’t doing. The search for the right opportunity is time consuming enough but learning how to stand out to potential employers, thankfully, goes hand-in-hand with all the time you’re investing in your search.

Internships are slightly different to regular jobs. Typically, an internship has a set duration contract—this can be anything from two weeks to three months and up to a year. Sometimes you may not be compensated for your time spent interning. Of course a young student is looking to make money, but one reason why a pay cut may be worth the risk is because job experience is the main objective. The goal is to walk away with hands-on experience that a newcomer applying for an entry level permanent position may not have.

Use skills gained at college

A great way to set yourself apart from your competitors is to pull any experiences you have gained from your classes at college that could be tailored to your field of interest. For example, this may be writing and research skills that you have obtained from your studies that you can apply to a writing internship. Being in a space that you share with fellow like-minded classmates can create some dialogue or scenarios that may be relevant to landing an internship. The first thing people typically do in the application process is try to pull from past work environments at former jobs. You’re trying to grab your potential employers’ attention in a way that others aren’t, so just referencing old jobs won’t entirely work.

Your field of study should be a passion of yours. Going over your accomplishments and what you’ve individually taken from each course at college and putting it on your CV for when you apply for an internship can be a nice addition to any work experience you have.

Writing your resume

In an article for CV-Library, content writer for Rate My Placement and Rate My Apprenticeship Conor Reilley says that employers may not get to thoroughly read each application. Reilley goes on to say, “The general rule is that an employer will look at the top half of every CV, putting the best in one pile, and the rest in the trash with their half-eaten tuna sandwich. If you want to avoid the tuna sandwich focus on key employable skills, like organization, verbal and written communication. You can look at the information provided in job vacancies for inspiration.”

Use your interests

One other thing that will give you the upper hand when you apply for an internship is letting the employer know somewhere on your CV your interests outside of interning and school. If your hobbies and interests relate to the opportunity that’s being offered—such as reading and writing, if the job you’re applying for is editorial-driven—that’s an even better way to get noticed in the most organic way possible. Being a member of a university’s societies and extra-curricular activities show you are sociable, willing and comfortable in a team setting.

Think about your references

Finally, references can be that extra shot of vitamins that your CV needs for when you apply for an internship. References to back-up your employment history are great because it reinforces to potential employers that you have already laid a lot of ground work for the role. The last thing you need is a former employer contradicting information you’ve already stated. Have a conversation with past and current instructors and employers who you believe are in your corner and wouldn’t mind helping out if needed. Three references are plenty and you don’t need to list them when first sending in your CV. Writing “References provided upon the request” at the end of your resume will suffice. Hold on to them because if they are mesmerized by your application for employment, they will reach out to you for further details.

Interview Mistakes

Avoid These Interview Mistakes

Spring time is around the corner which means new jobs are almost ripe for the picking, however the interview process does all the choosing. Being a fresh face in the work force or even if you’re a seasoned veteran can have its intimidating moments when you’re looking for that perfect new job. It’s understandable that an interview isn’t as easy as one, two, three, but with a few easy reminder tips, that looming interview will be a simple stroll through the park.

1. Not doing your research

Doing your homework on an establishment before even applying for the role is imperative as it will save everyone’s time. Knowing the hours of operation, what some customer reviews say, or even asking an employee what a typical day is like at the prospective company is nothing to be ashamed of. Everything mentioned down to not knowing what you’re interviewing for can lead to a failed interview. Always remember that your time is as valuable as a potential employer’s.

2. Not knowing what you want

After investigating your potential opportunity always remember firstly what it is you want out of this job and second what you want out of this interview. As much as you’re walking in to the interview and hoping the employer chooses you, keep in mind that you should also be in a position to walk away from the meeting knowing more about this new venture than before you walked in. Generally not knowing the job spec could backfire and be a waste of time for both parties.

3. Don’t rely on your comfort zone

A group setting-style interview may mean that you will be interviewed alongside other potential candidates or interviewed by multiple senior staff members. Both scenarios are uncomfortable and not very appealing but both require your full attention and both need you to leave a lasting impression regardless. Don’t rely on your comfort zone during a make-or-break conversation.

4. Remember! Try and always give an answer

Whether you’re about to take on your first interview or your fifth interview, it’s key to always answer the questions. During a “get-to-know-each-other” conversation, there’s not too may wrong answers you can give when the interview is all about you as a candidate for employment. Over-thinking questions can lead to a mind blank for answers but taking a few seconds to gather your thoughts isn’t something to shy away from.

5. Not having examples ready for behavioral interview questions

This one ties in with point number four, however, this can tend to be a bit trickier for those with not much work experience and those with plenty. In her 5 Biggest Job Interview Mistakes article on Linkedin, career coach Lori Bumgarner writes “Behavioral questions are asked not to see how you would potentially handle a certain situation, but instead to see how you’ve handled that situation in the past. This is because past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.” This is a great question because it’s an opportunity to paint a picture of how you handle situations.

6. Do Not answer in generalities

Specific and definitive answers are the best and only way to go in to any kind of interview. You should be able to walk away from a talk knowing what answers you gave and what questions were being asked of you. Your personality shouldn’t be forgotten when it comes to a question regarding your interest in applying for the job.

7. Being distracted

The last thing you want is to be distracted—or distract your interviewer­—during an interview. Avoid fiddling with something in your hands, rambling, slouching, chewing gum, and not make eye contact. These things can make you come off as being uninterested because all of these things are, in one way or another, a distraction. A straight posture, a focused yet relaxed demeanor, and an on-topic discussion about why you’re there is the best path to stay on.

8. Not having questions or notes prepared

Lastly, a common mistake potential candidates make is to arrive to an interview empty-handed. A great and easy way to stand out and give you a better understanding of what you’re signing up for is to have a few questions of your own prepared. If needed, also be ready to take notes. Think of questions that no one is probably asking like what the company’s work ethics are or what opportunities will you be given to climb the career ladder. This is an effective way to get a genuine interest going in you as a possible new employee.

Further reading: Free Courses to Boost Your Resume

Free Courses to Boost Your Resume

Free Courses to Boost Your Resume

Job searching with a skeletal resume is hard. We’ve searched the web for some highly reputable and FREE courses that will give you the up-to-date and relevant skills you need to navigate today’s job market. Not only this, these courses will boost your resume, making you a valuable asset to companies on the lookout for grads.

Coding

Know your HTML from your Java? If you are looking to work in an industry that is tech-driven, then coding is a valuable asset to add to your resume. Codecademy.com offers a free course for beginners looking to get a basic understanding of coding and web development using HTML and CSS language. Alongside 4.5 million online students, you can crack the fundamentals of coding over 12 sessions.

Social Media

Businesses use social media to connect and communicate with their customer base. It’s also how they advertise, market their product or service and increase website traffic; nowadays, professional experience with social media is becoming increasingly important to hiring managers. While we all tinker around on our personal social media platforms every day, using it in a business environment is slightly different. Buffer.com offers a free email course that gives 25 daily “lessons” in under 10 minutes. Understand social media algorithms, brand-building and content creation to attract audiences.

SEO

SEO—or search engine optimization—is the act of optimizing website content to increase traffic and visibility. This competancy is vital for a wide range of industries from publishing to retail and it’s a nifty skill to help you brand yourself, too. Boost your resume and learn SEO with udemy.com in their free online course SEO Tutorial for Beginners. In this introduction you will learn keyword research, on page and off page optimization and you’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end.

Learn German

Knowing multiple languages comes high on an employer’s list of desirable skills, and is especially valuable in international businesses. For example, did you know that Germany is one of the largest trading partners with the US? The ability to communicate effectively with your prospective employer’s partners may just push you ahead in the resume que. Learn German with duolingo.com for free in just five minutes a day with their fun and accessible game-like lessons. The website also offers bite-size lessons covering a wide range of other languages including Spanish, Italian and Dutch.

Photoshop

For most creative industries, basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop is vital. Thankfully, the creators of Photoshop (and other useful design applications including InDesign and Illustrator) teach beginners the rudimentary principles of the software with useful videos and (you guessed it) it doesn’t cost a penny. This free course to boost your resume can be completed in little over five hours over at adobeknowhow.com.

Further reading: How to Land a Job after College