25 July 2023
5 Ways To Boost Your Employability
Work experience is a brilliant way to get your foot in the door and show employers what you’ve got. But it’s not the only way. There are plenty of things you can do to make yourself a stand-out candidate, like doing an online course or picking up some new hobbies.
Read on to discover how you can boost your employability.
And leave employers all googly-eyed with your talents.
Find your dream industry
To boost your chances of getting a job, you’ll want to know everything there is to know about your industry and find a role that best suits your interests and skills.
We advertise hundreds of apprenticeships, from healthcare and retail to law, finance, engineering and construction. So before you go full steam ahead and apply, read our industry guides for all the deets on roles, including their entry requirements.
Still unsure? Try asking yourself these questions…
- What do I enjoy?
- What am I good at?
- What are my values?
- What size company do I want to work for?
Once you’ve answered these, the next step is finding an employer that matches your interests.
Get a part-time job
Working a part-time job is a brilliant way to spend your free time. Not only does it boost your bank balance, it lets you try out an industry and see if it’s a good fit.
Employers love candidates with work experience as it shows they’re team players, problem-solvers and capable of taking on large amounts of responsibility.
It doesn’t even need to be a paid job. Volunteering goes a long way too and says a lot about you as a person. Empathy is an important quality to have and volunteering proves you have it.
Here are three charities you could volunteer for…
Take a free online course
Doing a course will help you out massively in getting a role. Competition for jobs is tough. So employers will be looking for that special something that sets you out from the crowd.
As tempting as it is to scroll TikTok for the next big trend, why not spend the afternoon doing a free online course? The more skills you add to your CV, the more you’ll impress employers.
Hubspot runs some great marketing courses, covering all things email, socials and analytics. You can do the modules in your own time. Want to know the best bit? You get a certification too.
If you’re into AI, business, coding and data science, try Simplilearn. As well as courses, you’ll have access to free career masterclasses and be taught by industry experts.
Update your socials
Social media is way more than photos and status updates. It’s your personal brand. Your ticket to greatness and opportunities. Especially when it comes to LinkedIn. So use it well!
Make sure you update your profile regularly. This includes:
- Profile picture – use a plain background and ensure 60% of your face is in the frame
- Background photo – choose a picture that defines you and your career ambitions
- Headline – pick something crafty that’ll grab a recruiter’s attention
- ‘About’ section – write about any major achievements in the first person (e.g. awards)
- Featured content – include any links to websites, articles or portfolios
- Skills / Accomplishments – mention any courses or certifications achieved
- Endorsements – message your network and ask them to endorse your skills
Employers are on the lookout for candidates with updated skill sets. So if you’ve done a course and achieved a couple of qualifications recently, definitely list them. It’ll impress recruiters and boost your chances of employability by a gazillion.
Learn how to craft the perfect CV with our guide and template.
Pursue your hobbies
It’s nice having something fun to look forward to. And hobbies give you just that. Now, imagine if you could turn your hobby into a jobby? You never know – it could happen.
Having a hobby shows employers you’re well-rounded and have other interests outside of work. Besides, if you apply for a company that’s super collaborative and mention your stunt cheerleader seshes in the interview, it *screams* team-playing skills.
And these things blow people’s minds… So get them in!
There you have it. Five handy tips to boost your employability and make yourself a catch to employers. We hope you’ve found them helpful and will be putting them to good use.
Over and out!
