Are you career ready for 2021? 5 tips to increase your employability

2020 has really shaken up the world of work. Now, more than ever, it’s important to ensure you have the skills and attributes employers are looking for—whether you are applying for your first job, going for that promotion, returning after a career break, or retraining in a new field. So, get ready to kickstart 2021 with our five tips to increase your employability.

1.    Have a clear and concise CV

Did you know that when employers receive a CV, they spend less than a minute skimming through it? 20 seconds at most, in fact!

Having a clear and concise CV will help employers take in information more effectively. Consistency in formatting is a great first impression in itself, let alone the excellent content you’ll be presenting them with!

Another important note is to make sure you tailor your CV to what you’re applying to. This demonstrates that you have done your research and know what skills they’re looking for. By addressing the criteria they have advertised, they’re then able to tick the boxes against the job description, elevating your application above the rest. Many companies now also use software to scan CVs and cover letters to check for the keywords they are looking for. If yours doesn’t have enough keywords in there, it may be rejected automatically before even being looked at by human eyes! It’s best, then, to fit as many keywords, phrases, and skills from the job description as possible into your CV and/or covering letter.

2.    Unpaid doesn’t mean worthless

Volunteering alongside your job demonstrates excellent time-management skills; assuming you were able to meet deadlines whilst taking on other commitments. Whether you have experience in volunteering or not, non-paid work can be just as valuable as paid work.

If you haven’t experienced the rewarding benefits of volunteering, you can consult the internet to see what opportunities are open to you in your community. Volunteering can be a great opportunity to explore other roles within other industries, if you’re thinking of changing careers or retraining.

3.    Take advantage of the world wide web

There are so many resources online to consume.

Now we’re into our second lockdown, screen time is up again. We consume so much digital content anyway, why not spend some of that time researching the industry that you may want to retrain in? There are excellent questionnaires out there too that help give you an idea of what career would suit you based on your personality and your work style. There are also very helpful guides on writing CVs and example CVs for nearly every job role. Scroll to the bottom of this blog post to find out more.

‘A day in the life’ vlogs have become more popular with various job roles, such as Primary teacher, Graphic designer etc. It allows you to get an insider’s perspective of their day-to-day life, and an insight to their careers. Whether you’re a student dreaming big or whether you’re considering a career change, learning never stops!

4.    Brush up on your digital skills

Employers are on the lookout for digital skills such as being able to use the Microsoft Office tools like Excel, writing blog posts, and being able to navigate the internet for research.

Lockdown has meant that lots of people are having to use new applications specifically for teams management to make sure the communication still flows, such as Slack, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

We run courses that aim to ensure everyone has the basic digital skills required for work and life in today’s world. Our programmes are set at a range of levels so we can cater to your needs, and the topics we cover include the following:

• Handling and organising information, and solving simple technical issues
• Creating and editing written documents, posters and more
• Communicating online and using different types of device
• Buying and selling online
• Using technology safely and securely.

Please get in touch to find out more about how we can help you.

5.    Know what support is available

Our Employability, Training and Skills Centre has a range of courses, training, and resources to help you with all things employability-related. Whether you’re looking for work, want to enhance your CV or change your career, we can help.

Here’s a snippet of what we offer:

Employability projects and courses

• Building Better Opportunities (18 months): for young people not currently engaged in education or adults who have been unemployed long term
• Job entry, targeted support (6 months): for those who have been made unemployed due to COVID-19
• Skills support for the unemployed: to train you for the world of work
• Skills support for the workforce: to upskill or retrain you for a career change
• Work and Health Project (15 months): for those with long-term health conditions to get back to work

Upskilling and retraining courses

• Personal development
• Digital skills
• Forrest school
• Leisure and hospitality
• Leadership, management, and teamwork
• Healthcare and mental health
• Customer service and general business operations
• Fitness instructing
• Bicycle maintenance
• Construction trades
• Horticulture

 Visit our website for more information.

Basic skills: English, maths and digital

We offer part-time, daytime and evening classes at all levels, both face-to-face and with a teacher online. We offer:

• Functional skills English
• GCSE English
• English for non-native speakers
• Functional skills maths
• GCSE maths
• Digital skills

Get in contact with us today or visit our Employability, Training and Skills Centre to prepare for the new year and be career-ready for 2021.

Useful Resources:

• www.activatelearning.ac.uk/study/employability-training-and-skills-centre
• www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
• www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cv
• www.glassdoor.co.uk/index.htm
• www.beta.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
• www.do-it.org