5 Strategies For Enhancing Your Employability

When you’re applying for new employment opportunities because you’ve recently lost a job or you’re interested in moving on from your current job, you have to make a concerted effort to give yourself the best possible chances of landing the job you want. The job market is extremely competitive, and the course of events in 2020 has made the playing field even more competitive due to the dearth of new job creation across many different sectors. Ultimately, applicants need to strategize carefully over how to better position themselves to be hired.

1. Write Thoughtful Cover Letters

Employers will be more likely to call you in for an interview if your resume is accompanied by a great cover letter. It should be written specifically for the position and shouldn’t come off as a one-size-fits-all cover letter that you send out to every potential employer. If possible, find out the name of the hiring manager and address the cover letter to that person. You should explain what interests you about the position and why you think you’d be a good match based on your skills and experience. Close the letter by saying you’d like the opportunity to learn more about the position and meet in person.

2. Prepare For Background Checks

Many employers check applicants’ credit as part of their screening processes or background checks. The rationale for inquiring into applicants’ credit history is assessing their ability to manage money, whether they have defaulted on obligations, or may be considered high-risk hires. When a job role involves managing a company's funds or customer accounts, employers want to see that applicants are able to manage their funds well. In addition, an excessive amount of debt may cause an employer to be concerned about the possibility of financial dishonesty. Good credit is a strong indicator of financial responsibility and trustworthiness. You can find out more on how to check your credit score, if you haven’t already.

3. Practice Your Interview Skills

An employer’s perception of you during an interview is going to be a decisive factor in whether you get hired or not. You need to appear confident, articulate, responsible and likeable. To have a successful interview, you also need to act confident, even if you’re incredibly nervous. Otherwise, you may not appear poised or competent. Show your best self by being direct and engaging. Show confident body language and make eye contact whenever someone is speaking with you. Avoid curt or monosyllabic responses. Rehearse some of what you’d like to say about yourself, and review some of the most commonly asked interview questions so you can work on formulating good responses. Think of some smart questions to ask about the company and the job role to demonstrate your interest. Always follow up a job interview with an email saying thank you and reiterating your interest in the position.

4. Present Yourself Well In Person

When you go to meet a prospective employer, you need to dress to impress. This doesn’t mean you have to get super done-up in really expensive clothing, but you need to dress professionally and look presentable. Clothing should be in relatively new condition, and it has to fit you well. Avoid dressing in clothing that’s too tight or doesn’t make you feel comfortable. If you’re constantly adjusting or tugging at your clothing, you won’t look like you’re at ease. Women need to take extra care to avoid dressing in clothing that’s too revealing because it won’t create an impression of competence. Men also need to take extra care to avoid dressing in clothing that looks too casual or not well-cared-for because it may appear unprofessional. Your hair should be neat, fingernails should be trimmed, and you shouldn’t be wearing any particularly striking jewellery or accessories. Bring a few copies of your resume in case you’ll be meeting more than one person and remember to bring information on your references in case they’re requested when you interview.

5. Get Great References

An employment verification check is another important part of virtually every employer’s screening process. You need to have three employment references that can speak about you positively. Talk to the people who you’d like to use as references in advance to make sure they are comfortable providing references and that they will speak well about you. If possible, tell them of some of the most important attributes of your work that you would like them to convey. Many large corporations have policies prohibiting employment references and will only confirm the length of your employment, job duties and wage information. These policies are somewhat unfair and unreasonable, but they have gained in popularity in recent years, based on legal opinions provided by employment lawyers that companies may be putting themselves at risk by providing recommendations. A negative recommendation could give rise to a legal claim for slander and agreeing to provide a reference for one employee and refusing to provide one for another could give rise to claims of discrimination.

While these scenarios may seem far-fetched, they have found traction with many large employers that don’t manage human resources well. If a substantial part of your work history includes working for a company that won’t provide references, you can explain the problem to a prospective hirer when your references are requested. It could also be helpful if you’re able to provide samples of work you’ve produced, provided you wouldn’t be breaking any company policies.

Applying for jobs can be a little nerve-wracking, especially when your first attempts aren’t successful. Don’t get discouraged, get organized. Some careful planning and a thoughtful approach can help you get your foot in the door. When you walk into an interview, be yourself but add an extra dash of confidence to show off your best self and present yourself as an exceptional candidate.