The Smartest Ways to Get Employed
Discover the smartest ways to get employed as a fresh or an experienced Graduate.
As a Fresh Graduate with little or no work experience, it can be frustrating when most job advert you see comes with a spoiler, “must have a minimum of “X” years of work experience”. The question in a fresh graduate’s mind would be, “how do you expect me to have these years of experience when I am not even allowed to work in the first place?” But then, have you wondered why most employers seek to recruit graduates with many years of work experience? It’s majorly because of the “valuable skills” these experienced graduates acquired through their years of work that would be beneficial to the growth of their organization.
In my experience in HR, far from the years of experience that we require from applicants, the best candidate I and my partners consider for employment are those that are able to set themselves apart from other candidates by stating and demonstrating valuable and unique skills they have acquired which makes them better qualified than other candidates. Therefore, in the end, what matters isn’t the number of years you have worked for but the valuable “skills” you have acquired.
Hence, the best way to elude the setbacks of “work experience” required by employers is to show them that you have what they want in an experienced person, “the skills”.
Therefore, the first tip here is to get up-skilled.
When you are up-skilled, you become as valuable as an experienced graduate. For example, if you’re looking for a job in the IT world, enroll in a Digital Literacy Academy and gain every practical knowledge you can. This way, you’ll not only be upgrading your skills, but you will also get a chance to meet and network with a lot of people that have similar career goals as you. Candidates who have gone the extra mile to get up-skilled give employers the impression that they are passionate to work in that particular field.
Now that you are up-skilled and ready to show what you have got, the next smart thing you should do is to connect with the right people.
It’s critical to expand your network because it will open up new doors and opportunities for you. The saying that one needs to have a good connection to obtain a good job is true. However, it doesn’t mean you necessarily have to know the hiring manager or someone that works with the organization. Start with people you know. Someone you know may know another who can help you. When you meet people, create a connection with them through meaningful conversations. When you communicate your skills, qualifications, and job needs with key people, they will get in touch with you when they hear of a hiring opportunity. The more meaningful connections you have, the better.
A good way to build relevant connections and broaden your network is by attending relevant events and volunteering for relevant jobs in your field.
Volunteering to do some works for others in your field will not only give you skills and experiences that will make you more attractive to employers, but it can also introduce you to people representing organizations you want to work for. Your selfless work may get noticed by an employer. The organizations you volunteer for could even decide to hire you.
In addition, it is essential to get your CV reviewed by professionals to ensure its meets with applicant tracking systems of organizations. Utilize relevant job search tools, always be prepared for an interview, and never give up in your job search. You never know which opportunity will be a good catch should you open yourself to it.
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