Employers are Looking for You… But not All of You!

 

That's true. Employers are looking for you. They need you because they need revenue for their business to keep floating. Yet it is rather unfortunate that they are not looking for everyone. Definitely they cannot employ everyone, not just because the company/business is not big enough or they cannot pay, but because, actually not everyone is employable. On the flip side, only a few are employable but ill positioned. It is those few that employers are looking for. Here's how to be part of those few and also position yourself. Continue...

Fulfill All Righteousness

Do what has to be done to get that job you really want. Yes. Do the necessary. Achieve the minimum academic requirement that job. Is it OND, HND, BSc, a degree, a test certificate, a Masters? Just go for it! If that's what the employers want, then don't dull. If you stopped at OND and you know they want more to actually value you, then go for more. Just attain the minimum qualification. For example, to work for the UN, you need a Master’s degree. If UN is your target, then aim for Masters or enroll for one.

Fulfil Special Righteousness

Apart from the normal and mandatory qualifications, employers do give attention to those applicants that have one professional qualification or the other. Moreover it slightly gives you an edge over other candidates. In rare cases employers include in their job ads that you must belong to a professional body or have a personal qualifying ability that is certified.

For the undergraduates, it is an advantage for you if you become a student member of a professional association. Start early (if you can manage it with studies). For the graduates currently serving, we have PMP, PMPI, NIM, CIPM, COREN, ICAN, and ACCA, name them. Enroll for any that suits your profession and get certified before you meet the stronger world. Don't spend 12 months without adding any special certification to your portfolio. You need it.

For those who have concluded NYSC, you can also become part of a professional body. But the challenge may be finance especially if you have no good paying job yet. However you can get some free certifications online. These are not necessarily inclusive as being from a professional body but they add to your skill set and build you up for better performance in your career. And yes, employers recognize them. Visit open2study.com (Open Universities Australia). There are good online courses on Management, Leadership, Sales, and Business etc. And it lasts for a month. Alision.com and HP Life are others that I know. Also, attend seminars, trainings, workshops. They help a lot.

Enrich Your Tea

In this age of machines, why would an employer employ you? There is only one reason: you can do what the machine cannot do as well as manipulate the machine to do what you want. No employer will employ a robot in form of flesh and blood and 'cash-alert' same at the end of the month. You need skills! Forget the buzz words and enrich the unique you!

You need ICT skills. Its one of the basics. Recently our firm organized tests and interviews for an employer and I was surprised to realize that some of the applicants don't know how to handle a computer satisfactorily. I had to guide some to even scroll down the browser. ICT skills includes knowing the internet, how to send emails, some software packages, how to browse etc. All these on a computer and not on BB or android.

More important is getting inclined with ICT as it concerns your profession. If you're an Accountant or an Accounting student, learn how to use accounting software like Sage, Peachtree and the likes. If you're an Engineer (especially Civil Engineers or Architects) learn the AutoCAD software. For other professions, there are basic ICT skills that employers expect that you have, discover and acquire them today. You could also learn special skills like Graphic Design and Programming. Web Development is not left out. For example I can work pretty well with WordPress and blogger. In fact I have designed and still manage four blogs and a website today. Its just a plus for you and they spice up your resume.

Don't forget leadership skills. Employers need those that can work independently after being debriefed on the job. Join associations that can enhance your personal communication and leadership skills. Volunteering is one of them e.g Slum2school. Joining clubs that render free societal services is also good e.g Rotary club. Employers love to know that you can be selfless in service. And you could meet an Alumni of your association in an interview, you may never know.

Win the Rat Race

You're not the only one job hunting. There are thousands of other doing same for limited available positions. You need to be smart and sharp. Presently, I work with a jobs board firm and having over one year of experience, I notice that when I take a job position live on the website I need give it just three minutes and the applications start coming in. Sometimes 10, sometimes 16, depending on the job. Now give it two hours, more than 60 to 80 applications have flooded in. Now let's do the logic. Let's assume all the applicants are qualified or at least up to 40. Except if an aptitude test is to be done, employers cannot call all the applicants are the same time. They make the first 5 or 10 calls for interview. And if they get their candidate(s) no one bothers about the rest qualified candidates that applied. So what's your chance of making it to the interview stage? You have to apply early!

Make a list of the various job boards you know. Monitor how they work and at what time they upload their first set of jobs or if they work round the clock. Some upload twice a day, some three times while some, as they get the positions from employers, they upload immediately until Close of Business (COB). Just know how they work! Register and upload your CV. Pimp your profile. Make it look very professional. Subscribe for email alerts (which is free) but don't wait for them before you apply for a job position else 183 persons would have applied already. I get complaints from people saying 'I applied and applied and applied yet no one called me for interview. Are these jobs for real?' I just smile and start my explanation on why it is so. You see, job boards push (automatically) email notifications of jobs posted the previous day or the previous 3 to 6 hours. So for you who receive an email and you open to apply, you may just be number 203 applicant. And only God can perform a miracle with that for you to be called.

I did an experiment with an applicant who complained to me on the same issue of jobs being real since he has applied several times and has never been called. I took it up to do the applications for him immediately I take a job live to make sure he was amongst the first five and it worked. Within two weeks, he was called for two interviews

So get up early. Visit job sites early and apply early. Some persons practically reload the sites every one hour or 30 minutes. Get newspapers that advertise jobs first thing in the morning (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Network as you can. Take your well-crafted CV in hard copy and send to friends, companies and relatives. Don't depend on the online applications alone. You can do this if you believe. Some may have it the easy way but some have to go the extra miles. Pray and be hopeful. And with a good CV, you'll be the one employers are definitely looking for.