Employability is a concept that encompasses so many different criteria that the meaning often becomes unclear. This can lead to misunderstandings between employers and applicants where neither one is sure what the other expects of them. In order to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, employability depends on the development of skills and field training. And in order to build a mutually beneficial relationship with your employer, you’ll need to keep the proof of your skills and training all in one place. Could this be made easier with digital tools (i.e. the birth of a resume 4.0)?
What is Employability?
Let’s start at the beginning! Employability is a person’s capacity to be productive and competitive in the job market. This is precisely where the fateful question comes in… The one that keeps applicants up at night and gives employers chronic headaches.
Here it is:
What exactly makes a person productive and competitive in the marketplace?
Some people will say, “diplomas, skills, and experience,” end of the story. But that’s not the whole picture. While these criteria are important, they aren’t as significant as we may think.
Notably, apart from ultra-specialized sectors such as healthcare or engineering, it would be a shame to miss out on applicants with self-taught backgrounds because of an obsession with diplomas.
A baker who makes the best bread doesn’t have a PhD in baking. And yet, they know how to execute precise actions, possibly passed down for generations or repeated since they were a teenager, and all this starting at 4 a.m. every day. Are they employable? Of course, they are!
Therefore, productivity boils down to being able to perform a task correctly, without the supervision of a third party. That’s the key to employability!
What About A Lack of Experience?
Some of you who are new to the job search might be discouraged by the previous example, thinking that since you didn’t have the opportunity to be trained, you’re too late. Don’t count yourselves out yet!
Today, even more than in the past, the job market requires a great deal of versatility. It’s not uncommon for a person to have several careers during their lifetime, and the good news is that there are now more mechanisms in place to do so. This means more opportunities for all types of employees and a chance for companies not to miss out on unconventional talent.
Existing Tools to Build Your Employability
- Your career path is unique to you. So why not find some courses to build up your skills? Look for what interests you and what may help you get ahead in the career you want to build.
- Training doesn’t have to mean going back to school and studying hours upon hours of theory. There’s another option: mentorship. Participating in an apprenticeship or finding a mentor is a great way to acquire skills in your field of interest. For employers, it is first and foremost a way to train potential employees to internal specifications and integrate them into the company’s culture. It’s also an opportunity to build loyalty and develop a company’s brand image. It’s a win-win! If you want to learn more about mentoring, this article is great !
What Are These Tools?
In addition to tailor-made training courses, there are also custom-made tools. Talking about efficient and attractive tools in 2021 pretty much excludes paper files and old-fashioned brochures. We offer our condolences to the purists and fans of the paper format, but they can rest assured that we have something much better to offer them. You guessed it, it’s time to go digital! But not just any digital. In fact, it’s not a question of using digital at all costs. Excel, for example, is less dusty than paper, but it still has its problems.
Let’s make room for the next generation of digital! Versatile and mobile tools, like the Alex app, exist for this purpose and provide the following benefits:
- Less paperwork, more efficiency.
- No more going back and forth between the workstation and the training room; everything you need is right in your pocket or hand.
- In a few clicks, see your calendar, track your training plan and follow-up, and be synchronized in real-time with all your colleagues.
Key Takeaways
Employability is what you can do + your ability to prove it. Now, it’s easier than ever to track and prove the practical skills you’ve acquired from various courses and employers with digital tools like Alex. What are your thoughts regarding this? Share your thoughts here.
To get started on your resume 4.0, request a demo!
See you out there!
