How to make yourself marketable in the job market

With unemployment on the rise, the job market is a tough place to be in right now. Many people find themselves competing for the same jobs. So, how can you distinguish yourself in a job market filled with so many applicants? You can increase your chance for success in this tough job market by sharpening your skills and making yourself a more attractive applicant.

It’s time to make yourself stand out from the crowd and make potential future employers take notice of you (in a good way).

5 ways to make yourself more marketable:

Create your own “brand”. You are a hot commodity, and therefore need to be marketed as such. Create a website to market your talents, showcase your work, and provide information on your background and experience. This can be an inventive way to display your portfolio to potential employers and provide them with additional material to judge your ability for the position.

Volunteer in your spare time. Volunteering is another great way to network and meet other professionals. Find something that you are interested in or an area that is related to your industry and pitch in a few hours a month. Not only is it a great way to give back to the community, it also builds character and shows that you are involved in local or state projects.

Get a certification. If you are still in school, you can often combine your undergraduate or graduate degree with a certification in a particular area. Most certifications can be obtained by taking certain courses. Completing a certification can help you stand out from other candidates with a similar degree and may allow you to specialize in a certain area.

Design your own CV template. Over the years I have seen (and submitted) many resumes and the resumes that are most memorable are those with a unique design. Create your own personal resume template to enhance your “brand” and pique the interest of potential employers.

Stand out. Standing out among other qualified candidates is a necessity when it comes to getting the job. Instead of pulling out that wacky tie or making a bad attempt at office humour, use these 5 tips to make yourself more marketable to employers.

Practice Your Interview Skills
With so many employees entering the job market, more employers are using telephone interviews to sift through potential candidates. Surviving the phone interview is the first step to securing a face-to-face interview.

4 quick tips for the phone interview:

Dress up. I know it seems pointless, but most people speak differently based on what they are wearing. Dressing professionally will help you talk more appropriately.

Pay attention. Be energetic and enthusiastic. Listen closely. Respond without cutting off the interviewer. You can gauge if an interviewer is losing interest in you as a candidate. Listen for words like “great” and “uh-huh”.

Be proactive. Be prepared with answers to potential interview questions. Always answer questions with action words such as can, have, and will. Make a list of questions about the job that you would like to ask the interviewer.

Practice. There may be companies that contact you about a position that you’re not excited about. Even if you know you’ll never take the job, still take advantage of the opportunity to interview and hone your skills. This will really come in handy for that interview you do really care about. Also, if you have a family member or friend willing to help out, have them give you a mock interview.

Finding a job in this economy is not the easiest thing in the world. But with persistence, dedication, and hard work you can improve your chances of finding employment.