How to make yourself marketable

In this article: The jobs market is a challenging place, and 2020 has made it even more difficult, but there are things you can do to give yourself a better chance. Here are five tips to give you a head start in the market.

If you’re looking for work, the market can seem challenging at the moment. The pandemic has shifted the market, making it more competitive. Many businesses with large overheads and fewer customers are looking to cutback the number of staff and have stopped taking on apprentices and interns

Which means for those firms that are hiring, competition for positions is fierce and only likely to become more so – in the short-term at least. So, if you’re looking for your next step in the jobs market you need to stand out from the crowd and give yourself the best chance possible of landing that dream job.

These are my five tips to make sure you’re first in line when you see the job you want.

1. Showcase smart working 

Times have changed so as a potential employee you need to be able to prove you have all the skills needed to do the job in a changing world, that’s everything, including the ability to work from home effectively if necessary, good communication via a variety of methods on point with your organisation, time management, as well as the ability to work independently.

2. Get social

More roles now require people to at least be able to have a basic understanding of social media, and an ever-growing number of roles also look for digital marketing knowledge. So, get yourself up-to-date and prove you can do these things.

3. Big yourself up

Half the battle is convincing a potential employer that you’re capable, so think about how you can demonstrate what you can bring to the organisation moving forward, don’t simply focus  on what you have done in the past.

4. Show your skills

Candidates who can demonstrate attributes such as resilience, flexibility and adaptability will hold the advantage over those who can’t, so when you’re speaking with employers go in prepared with examples of when you’ve shown these skills.

5. Understand where you’re applying

We’ve all been there, we’ve applied for numerous jobs, with numerous companies, without really considering much else. But if you really want to get ahead you need to understand your potential employer’s philosophy, culture and importantly, why you’re applying to work with them. If you can show a genuine passion for the company and its mission and values, you’ll have the edge over others.

For the latest information, advice and support please visit the IMI’s dedicated COVID-19 pages.