Job hunting can be a stressful time, particularly if you have been out of work for a while, and you are struggling to find employment. The good news is that there are always steps that you can take to improve your employability and help you to stand out from the crowd no matter your current experience levels. Just following one of these tips will help, but if you were to combine a few, it should help you to not only secure work but find work that is rewarding and stable. Here are a few tips to use to improve your employability.

Tailor Your Application To Each Job Advert

One of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make when applying for jobs is simply copying the same cover letter and using the same CV for every job advert. Employers will quickly pick up on this, and it does not reflect well on you because you are unlikely to have addressed the key points in the advert. Instead, carefully reach the job advert and tailor both your cover letter and CV to each application.

Create A Professional Website

In today’s internet-driven age, it is worth having a professional website made which can act like an online and more comprehensive CV. The website can contain information on your background, education, experience, and skill set as well as provide links to your portfolio and contain references/quotes from previous employers or clients.

Get Good References

Leading on from this, having good references can make a huge difference. It is easy for someone to say that they should get the job because they have the right skills and characteristics, but it will be much more convincing coming from someone else. Hopefully, you will have a previous employer who can vouch for your employability, but if not, then you could use a tutor from university and a character reference.

Tidy Up Social Media

In addition to your own website, you also need to take the time to tidy up your social media as this is something that employers check in today’s day and age. You can tidy up your social media by going through and making sure that there is no inappropriate and/or unprofessional content, even dating back to when you created your profiles. Alternatively, you can change your privacy settings.

Improve Your Soft Skills

No matter what industry you are trying to enter, having excellent soft skills will always help you to get ahead. Although it is true that some people naturally possess these skills, they can also be developed by reading, practice, and, in some cases, online courses. This will help you to come across better in an interview situation and allow you to excel in an office environment.

Earn Qualifications

You might also find that there are qualifications that you can earn, which will help your application to stand out. This will depend on the industry that you are in and the role that you are going for so be sure to research to see if there is a course that you could take (these can often be taken online nowadays).

Gain Practical Experience

In some cases, you might also be able to gain practical experience in an office environment while you earn a formal qualification. Respected trainee jobs in the form of a year-long on-the-job qualification will provide you with everything that you need to excel and even get paid at the same time.

Network

It is always helpful to grow your network when searching for a new job. You should certainly use the internet to network with people in your industry, but you should also look to attend industry events and meet people face-to-face as this is more memorable and will create a stronger connection to individuals.

Be Presentable & Professional

It is amazing how many people turn up to interviews looking scruffy and barely making eye contact. Taking pride in your appearance and being professional and friendly can make an enormous difference to how you are perceived particularly during interviews, so make sure that you are making the effort for any kind of professional meeting.

Job seeking can be a tough and stressful time. It is important that you remain optimistic and keep plugging away, but hopefully, the above tips will help you to land the job that you are after so that you can find rewarding, secure, and enjoyable work. It can be hard to improve your employability, and it may involve stepping out your comfort zone, but often this is what helps you to stand out and can positively impact other areas of your life too.