Looking to build a little more confidence before it’s time to fill out work applications 24/7? Your search ends here because we at the School of Careers offer students the opportunity to enter the work field equipped with better knowledge, guidance, and employability tools. Today we’ll talk about preparing yourself a little before presenting yourself career-wise, be it for an internship, an apprenticeship, a part-time job, or a full-time work opportunity. This blog (backed by Talentbank’s own survey) emphasizes the importance of being confident and having a good attitude because that is what a majority of employers consider while also taking into account your academic/professional merits. 

We already offer a diverse set of industry-level courses to prepare you for the next step in your career. Let’s dive a little deeper into how to use those skills and your educational background to your advantage!

1. Know your strengths and weaknesses: 

This may sound like a no-brainer but it’s important to know what you’re fairly good at and what you aren’t so good at – it gives you the ability to reflect and improve upon your own unique set of skills and can help you honestly evaluate yourself when asked to speak about your past/current experiences. There are the usual soft skills (flexible and universal like creativity) and hard skills (specific to the job details like data analysis), but your own skillset is specific to you. It’s always good to have an honest conversation with yourself to see which skill areas are lacking and what you’re already great at. 

2. Brush up your profile and CV on LinkedIn:

Or any other professional network that you’ve set up an account on, like JobsDB, Jobstreet, Glassdoor, etc. Having a “cleaner” profile means that employers can have an easier time vetting you as a potential candidate. It leaves a better impression when you’re brief and to-the-point instead of presenting colourful vocabulary that lacks substance. Once you’re all set, go ahead and apply!

Do check out our comprehensive guide on the top places to go to when applying for work experiences, you’ll be surprised to see how applicants can overlook these. 

3. Build your contacts, expand your network:

No matter where you go professionally, you will be required to work with a team, you could be reporting to more than one supervisor, or you could be liaising with other companies/teams. This means having strong communication skills, you’ll need to be confident and clear.

The first few times, it will seem like a daunting task to have to put yourself out there and reach out to others for help or for work-related reports, et cetera. This will change as you understand that every beginner has been in the same situation as yourself, and such people can assist you. They help you grow if you help them recognize the areas you need improvement on. 

4. Get involved in projects related to your interests:

Societies and clubs are well and good, as they give you the opportunity to build relationships with friends and possibly with future colleagues, at the same time helping you shape yourself.

But it’s also a great idea to work on something independently. For example, a writing portfolio, an open-source coding project, digital/physical art portfolios, whatever it may be that you can use to showcase your skills and passions to your potential employers or even your social groups. 

Earning online certificates by completing courses and modules is also a significant achievement that’s bound to impress anybody who comes across your profile! Our top in-house courses are available for you to browse through here.

5. Lastly, keep a positive attitude and start learning to maintain a work-life balance:

It can be an exhausting experience overall but it is important to know when you need a break from endless applications and work commitments. Although it is primarily an individual effort, it helps to connect with like-minded young professionals. Share with them, and learn about their career journeys as well to gain more perspective, because it’s a great way to improve your approach towards career-planning.  

All the best in your endeavours!