One definition of ‘employability’ is “a set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy”.
However, because the workplace is becoming increasingly globalised and complex, a university degree alone can no longer be considered the golden ticket for employment.
There are of course many ways for you to improve your employability, and below are some that we thought you could give a try right away.
Learn and develop skill sets
On a fundamental level, these skill sets range from hard skills such as computer literacy, numeracy, writing skills, language skills, to soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, creativity and innovation, self-management and teamwork.
These skills are transferable, and can be acquired and developed during and after your university years, and they will enable you to adapt better in various job roles.
Improve your English
When JobStreet.com asked employers why fresh graduates couldn’t get hired in a survey last year, 64 per cent of respondents cited poor command of the English language as one of the reasons.
Fresh graduate or not, you need to keep improving your command of the language, both written and oral, for many companies conduct their businesses in what is known as the world’s lingua franca.
It also doesn’t hurt to learn or brush up on other languages too because these are skills that could prove to be assets for your organisation as well.
Keep track of market trends
Being aware of current job market trends will allow you to strategise better in gaining or keeping a good job; determine relevant experience to obtain; and even plan long-term career growth.
If you are a fresh graduate, you may be able to discover what the industry benchmarks are for starting salaries.
And the earlier you start keeping track, the more likely you are to avoid a mismatch between industry requirements and your qualification.
Gain work experience
Ultimately, employers these days are searching for candidates who are ‘work-ready’ as soon as they join the organisation.
Thus, experiencing a work environment as early as possible will give you a better idea on how knowledge and skills are applied in real-world situations.
You can gain such experience by going through internships, where you can utilise your abilities and learn new things.
Also beneficial for you are extracurricular activities, where you make use of your soft skills and take on leadership roles.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, visit this link: http://bit.ly/2crjpnY
