How to give your career prospects a boost

From a young age, British people are encouraged to think long and hard about their career choices. Students in primary school write about what they want to be when they grow up, for example, while senior schoolchildren take up work experience placements to give them a taste of working life. But when it comes to actually achieving that dream career, the reality is harder than the childhood dreams might suggest. There are, though, some methods that you can use to give your career prospects the lift they need and take your job hunt to the next level – and this article will explore them.

Image and appearance

For some people, the idea of appearance holding any sway over whether or not a person gets the job of their dreams is a ridiculous notion. Sadly, however, it does still matter. Dressing in a smart manner for an interview sends a positive signal, as it shows you take things seriously – and in a client- or customer-facing industry, it indicates that you’re someone who can be trusted to keep the company’s image and reputation intact. Furthermore, as first impressions count, look into the job and whether it requires health checks such respirator fit testing. Do you need to look bright and healthy and strong to look the part? If so, you need to make sure you look fit for the part in the interview from the moment you walk in.

However, it’s not just about looking the part: you should also make sure that your correspondence is properly written and edited, otherwise you run the risk of looking sloppy. That means spell-checking your CV two or three times before you send it off, and ensuring there are no grammar errors in your cover letter. Employers notice this kind of thing, so it’s wise to invest the time in checking.

Get experience

It’s the age-old conundrum: most jobs require work experience, but you can’t get experience until you get a job. Working even for just a month or so on an industry placement can make all the difference in this regard, so you should definitely look into doing that. In some circumstances, it may unfortunately be the case that you need to work for free in order to get that all-important experience boost. Usually, all work should be paid – but if you need to get a foot in the door, doing a week or two of unpaid experience may end up being your only option.

Enhance your qualifications

Depending on the job you’re going for, having the right qualifications in place is something that always gives you an advantage. If you feel you don’t have the qualifications you’re going to need in order to get your dream job, it may well be worth investing in an online learning course like LinkedIn Learning (https://learnacourseonline.com/linkedin-learning-review/) to brush up your skills. These are often 2-6 month courses that are delivered over your computer, followed by an online exam. Though some professional courses can be up to a year long. Needless to say, online learning organizations are often just as prestigious as physical establishments and are often recognized by important companies. For example, LSBF provides training for PWC, while institutions such as the Open University have great graduate employment rates, so there’s no need to worry about low quality. If you need some inspiration, check out these higher education success stories.

When it comes to working out the best steps for developing a top career and getting to the next level at work, there are many options available to you. Whether you decide to add some qualifications to your CV or you prefer to opt for the work experience route, there’s always a way to take the next major step towards your dream career goals.