Expert Tips On How To Land A Job

Using your time to pick up new skills will help you stand out in the job market.

For the Class of 2020, graduating amidst a pandemic can be challenging. While having to hold online graduation ceremonies they are also met with uncertainty in the job market as the economy struggles to recover. But this doesn't mean that landing a job is impossible. Steven Chong, Career Consultant, at IN Transition, tells us ways in which fresh graduates or even professionals with years of experience, can stand out in a highly competitive job market.

#Stay Ready
Planning for your career, understanding the job market and equipping yourself with career skills are things you should do before landing a job. The unemployment rate among Singapore citizens is at 3.5% at the moment, and there are 20,000 local graduates looking for employment this year. However, there are still plenty of graduates that get employed. If you have yet to employed, you need to be employment-ready at a short notice. Attend an online workshop on career skills, take up short courses to equip yourself with important skills for the workplace. Do relevant and constructive things for your job hunt.  Being ready takes time, so you need to be prepared to get that job offer you have been waiting for!

#Broaden Your Professional Network
Establishing connections and developing relationships are very important. Make that effort to connect with people. When you do, do it without a motive. Form genuine relationships as the value of the relationship is the relationship. When you meet someone, take an extra step to make that call or send an email. Talk to others at networking events. Use social media wisely to establish your connections. Be open to different ways of connecting with others as you will never know which path or person will lead you to your next opportunity!

#Be Kind And Use Emotional Intelligence
Some would think that showing a little assertiveness, being a little aggressive, will help you land that job at a time like this. On the contrary, showing consideration, being a little kinder is a mark of a worthy person, especially when times are difficult. When an employer has yet to get back to you, it could mean that they are busy. Avoid sending emails repeatedly when you do not hear from them. Use your emotional intelligence to determine when the right time would be to speak about a subject matter or send that email. Look around you and always be willing to lend a hand. Kindness is an attractive asset to have and it just might open doors for you to the right opportunities.

#Be Agile
It could be a risky decision for you to decide to wait for an opportunity to come as you may think your situation is not dire. No one knows the width or depth of this current crisis, how long it will last or how bad its impact will be. Rather than passing up on an opportunity, it may be better to settle for one when it comes while you continue to look for better options. Any experience that you gain will be valuable in a volatile job market. While this pandemic may be unpredictable, you can better survive this by staying positive, being agile, keeping safe, and shortening your learning curve by picking up relevant skills. Finding employment in this crisis is possible if you do the right things and do not give up. Find out more about how you can develop your career skills at upcoming workshops conducted by Mr Steven Chong for SIM students by registering here.