Partner Article

Improving employability

Ron Beadle, Principal Lecturer in HRM at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, gives his perspectives on improving employability in light of the recent unemployment statistics.

The latest Office for National Statics (ONS) results regarding the jobless rate made for a shocking read. Once again youth unemployment amongst 16-24 year olds has hit a record high, totalling 1.027million.

It’s undoubtedly a tough economic environment, so what can you do to improve your chances of securing employment? One starting point is to make sure that your key skills are up to scratch, including numerical, written and IT.

According to the annual Education and Skills Survey 2011, commissioned by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Education Development International (EDI), basic skills are the “single most important consideration” for 82% of employers. Numeracy, literacy and IT skills are frequently tested by employers during the interview stage, so if you’re in any doubt that your skills aren’t up to scratch then it’s worthwhile brushing up.

There is a large amount of information and advice available both off and online. Finding current books on skills development at your local library, joining evening classes or requesting help from a trusted friend or family member can really help to improve your basic skills, confidence and subsequently employability.

Your CV will be the first thing employers see, so make sure it’s strong and distinctive. Think about what makes you stand out from the rest, include information on what you have achieved and tailor your CV to make it relevant to the business you’re applying for. Ask someone reliable to double check it for spelling and grammar mistakes, as presenting a CV that is poorly written will cast doubt in the employers mind about your basic literacy skills.

If you reach interview stage, don’t forget to look the part. Businesses often operate in ‘client-facing’ roles, so they’ll want to be confident that you’ll look presentable in front of their clients. It’s always better to go into an interview ‘over-smart’.

Before the interview, conduct thorough research on the company and prepare your answers to common questions such as: ‘Why should we hire you?’, ‘Why have you applied for this job?’ and ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’. Show that you understand what the business is about and are enthusiastic about the role.

Although it’s a tough climate, try and gain work experience. Employers want to know that you’ve had experience of working in a team, met deadlines and managed your time effectively. Where work experience hasn’t been possible to secure, use other examples to demonstrate your understanding of this. For example, have you run a student newspaper, club or society? Or even organised a personal or group charity event? Whilst this may not seem immediately obvious, it is demonstrating to the employer that you’re passionate, an achiever and have transferable skills and experience.

Finally, and most importantly, don’t give up! It can be a long and arduous task finding employment, but extremely fulfilling once you do – so hang on in there and seek further advice from your educational institution or recruiters if you still feel like you’re struggling.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .