How to be successful in today’s job market

We’re living in a time where the job market is more competitive than ever, and it can seem impossible to stand out from the crowd. But it doesn’t have to be! We’ve got some tips that will help you make you stand out from the crowd, get noticed by hiring managers, and land that dream job.

As the job market becomes more competitive and companies become more demanding, it’s important to develop your skills and abilities. In fact, according to a study by LinkedIn, 75% of hiring managers say they look for these skills when hiring new employees.

So what do they want? Here are the top five traits hiring managers say they’re looking for in candidates:

1. Communication Skills

To be successful in today’s job market, a well-crafted resume is just one piece of the puzzle; professional presence and soft skills are just as important.

It’s true that your resume needs to articulate your achievements and experience, but it must also portray you as the right candidate for the job. The most qualified applicant won’t get the position if he doesn’t show up at interviews on time, or fails to make eye contact with interviewers. These interpersonal skills are key factors in getting the job.

A solid resume shows that you have a proven track record of success, but soft skills like communication, teamwork and leadership help move you beyond merely being effective to having an impact. Employers want people who can impress upon coworkers their vision of what needs to be done. People who inspire others will always be valued above those who simply do as they’re told.

Hiring managers value communication skills because they help candidates communicate ideas effectively and efficiently. They also enable candidates to work with others more effectively on a team. This is why it’s important that you develop your communication skills through practice and learning opportunities like public speaking or Toastmasters.

2. Personal Development

Personal development refers to how well you grow as an individual and how well you adapt to change in order to better yourself as a professional. It’s also about being able to self-reflect in order to learn from your mistakes and make changes accordingly so that you can be successful in future endeavours.

AI is a powerful tool for improving communication, especially when it comes to personal development. The coaches at GetMee are real online coaches backed by AI technology. They can help you with all kinds of communication challenges, and they have specific experience helping people improve their lives in the following ways: (1) Providing personalised coaching while building your confidence, (2) Creating accountability and personalised reports, (3) Assisting with strategic long term professional development and general improvement in life.

3. Expand Your Online Profile

Your online presence is more important than ever. Not just social media accounts but also your LinkedIn profile.
  • Use a professional headshot as your photo and keep your header relevant to your profession.
  • Create a keyword-rich headline that’s also an accurate description of what you do.
  • Craft an engaging summary that includes achievements from current and past jobs. Include links to previous projects, blogs posts, or news stories about you and/or your work.
  • Add contact information so potential employers know how to reach you!
  • Use apps like GetMee to ensure your vocabulary, unique words, energy level and emotion all match a professional tone. Finally…make sure any social media accounts follow the same guidelines mentioned above!

Define what makes you different and think about how you will positively impact the company.

Your unique value proposition is what distinguishes you from other candidates and helps you stand out above the rest. For example: “I’m able to generate more sales leads than anyone else on my team” or “I’ve built websites for several clients within the past year.”

4. Boost Your Networking Skills

“It’s all about who you know” still holds true. If you want to succeed in today’s job market, networking is crucial. But what does that mean now? With social distancing guidelines in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of us must find new ways to connect with others and network virtually. Here are some tips:
 
  • To successfully network in a virtual world, start by reconsidering your approach. Instead of thinking of networking as a one-time event, think of it as a process or series of interactions. If English isn’t your first language, GetMee can help sharpen your vocabulary and conversational skills.
  • Consider networking as a skill that can be learned and developed over time—just like any other hard-earned competency.
  • To truly internalise networking as part of your professional identity, think of it in terms of mindset or lifestyle rather than just an isolated task or accomplishment. Set aside time each week for career development activities such as reaching out to new contacts or honing skills that will help you become more successful at work.
  • Finally, make sure to keep up with your newfound habits during tough times when you may feel unmotivated; after all, taking care of yourself is always important!
  • Use apps like Getmee to ensure your vocabulary, unique words, energy level and emotion all match a professional tone. Finally…make sure any social media accounts follow the same guidelines mentioned above!

At the end of the day, it’s human relationships that matter most. Good relationships with your coworkers and supervisors can be leveraged in order to achieve your career goals. Start by identifying who has your best interests at heart and continue to nurture these relationships within company structure.

5. Rehearse for Interview Success.

The interview is a huge part of your job search. It’s where you can shine and prove that you are the best option for the position, but it’s also where you can easily stumble over your words or forget what to say. The worst part is also that if it doesn’t go well, there probably won’t be a second chance.

To avoid this all-or-nothing situation, practice interviewing until you’re comfortable with answering all types of questions. There are lots of common interview questions to prepare for, like “tell me about yourself”, and then there are behavioural questions that ask how you’ve handled certain situations in the past. You should be able to give compelling answers to these without sounding like you’re reciting from a script—which means rehearsing ahead of time will help immensely. Then there are also some questions about your resume—what accomplishments listed on it did you most enjoy? Why should we hire someone with your experience?—and finally some questions about skills like conflict resolution and prioritisation. With all of these categories, practising ahead of time gives you an edge over other candidates who haven’t put in as much work preparing for their interview as they could have! With the GetMee app AI technology, you can rehearse these questions with instant feedback all from your mobile phone.

In summary, it pays off to be thoughtful, considerate, and passionate. Don’t let yourself get lost in a sea of applicants who only submit cover letters that all seem the same. Be the full package, put in the work and reach out for communication and personal development tools. If you can humanise your online presence with a unique personal touch, engaging profile backed by great communication skills, you are more likely to gain that initial interest and give yourself an advantage amongst the many other applicants.