8 Actions to Become More Employable

8 Actions to Become More Employable 8 Actions to Become More Employable That being said, this  post can offer  some positive benefits to both parties: those who are perfectly happy, and those who would love to change careers, or who are in need of employment. Becoming a more employable prospect  brings a lot of benefits, and increases your self-worth. You never know when you may need to find a new job  or sell yourself to  your current employer for a promotion. Here are some ways you can make yourself more employable by taking action and learning some practical, useful skills: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. Brush Up on Your IT Skills Even if you dont 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 havent used in years if ever. 4. Believe in Yourself I see far too many people doubting themselves, and that always frustrates me. Sure, we all need to be realistic and not set ourselves up for unnecessary falls. But we also 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. 5. 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. 6. Be Proactive You have probably heard the saying the early bird catches the worm. It may be a cliche, but its 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 that  takes initiative. 7. Smarten up First impressions are important, and looking sharp can only help. Dressing smart around your office will set you apart from others around you. Similarly, if you looking sharp when heading to an interview, youll likely leave  a good impression in the interviewers mind. You never get a second opportunity to make a first impression, so you have to make sure it counts. 8. 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.