9 Things You Must Do to Be Hirable

Posted on August 14, 2018August 14, 2018 by Katie Evans

Jarell and I were invited to participate in a career fair for college students in California last week. We were asked to create a 2-minute video explaining something about careers. Do you know how hard it is to explain something as complicated as careers in two minutes? Let me tell you: It’s very hard!

As instructional designers, we’ve made videos using instructional software, like Camtasia, but we’ve usually shied away from the more professional stuff like Adobe’s Premiere Pro. Now that we’re running our own company, we decided it was time to let go of our old learning developer training wheels and see what we could do.

Video Challenges

Of course, my computer didn’t have enough hard drive space (or RAM) to make a video, so the first thing we had to do was replace it. This meant buying and returning three Macbook Pros over four days before finding the right one for the job! Then, we had to source footage, write a script (and rewrite it 20 times), record voiceover (and re-record it four times), and ask for newbie clarifications on minutiae like “how long does the fade at the beginning need to be?”

Trying new things is important, though. We tell you all the time how important it is to keep your skills fresh and become a lifelong learner—it’s the only way to stay relevant in the job market. So, try not to judge us too harshly as you watch our first Perfectly Employed video: 9 Things You Must do to Be Hirable.

Just in case you missed something, we created this handy infographic:

9 Things You Must do to be Hirable #career #getajob #findajob #behirable

4 Ways Senior Employees can Stay Relevant in the Job Market

Posted on August 14, 2018August 14, 2018 by Edna Crane

When senior employees lose their jobs, the struggle they face to find a new position is very real. There is, unfortunately, a form of age discrimination that can affect their chances to land an exciting role. It is difficult for people over 45 and 50 to convince an employer that they are the right person for the role. Indeed, the older you are, the more difficult it will be for a recruiter to ignore your age. But what does it actually mean to be ‘too old’ for a role? The truth is that employers can’t discriminate against you on the basis of your age. However, more often than not, the discrimination occurs naturally and without the knowledge of a recruiter. Consequently, it is essential to learn effective methods to boost your CV and place it on top of the pile.

1. Start Blogging

Blogging is not new. Blogs have been around since the mid-1990s. However, in recent years, professionals have started measuring the importance of blogging to promote their careers. Indeed, writing a blog can make you more visible in your expert niche. You need to define your area of expertise clearly as this will help to catch your audience. Don’t aim to attract everyone. As a senior, writing regularly about your professional skills and keeping an active social media presence with your readers will make more appealing to an employer. To use a cliché, blogging makes you appear younger and more dynamic, which helps to tackle some of the worries of recruiters.

2. Boost your IT knowledge

It’s never too late to go back to school. However, you need to choose wisely, as you are not in a position to start a new career at an entry level. But, your professional skills might be transferable to a new sector. You could boost your IT management knowledge with the Deakin University to become relevant for project management and IT team leadership positions. Indeed, this kind of IT roles requires someone who has an understanding of modern tech and a long experience of management within a company.

3. Develop games

It would be preposterous to assume that game developers can only be under 30. In reality, the best game developers have over 20 years of experience, meaning that they are the gray-haired IT professionals in the team. Consequently, programmers, designers and system administrators who feel left out in their company because of their ages could move their skills to the gaming sector. Additionally, storytellers are also precious in the world of games! You don’t need to be an IT wiz to make it work.

4. Sell your experience

Freelancing is a term that is often associated with young professionals. But the freelancing industry doesn’t care about your age. In fact, someone who has a lot of experience is preferred to a young graduate. Your business knowledge can become a useful selling tool on the market. And you can be sure that freelancing will make your resume appear more youthful!

Being relevant in the employment market is challenging when you get older. However, you can demonstrate your youthful thinking and your professional dynamism through your online presence, IT projects and freelancing side hustle.

4 Ways Senior Employees Can Stay Relevant in the Job Market #keeplearning #career #seniorcitizens

4 Ways to Stand Out at Work without Being a Brown-noser

Posted on August 14, 2018August 14, 2018 by Edna Crane

Those who are most successful in their careers always have their endgame top of mind. For most people, the end game is becoming the boss, making big bucks, and retiring to a tropical paradise at an age young enough to enjoy it.

Reaching your end game can be a problem, mainly because there aren’t many positions at the top. You have to find ways to stand out from the crowd, and it can be challenging. Many people resort to brown-nosing, but it’s a short-term solution. Most bosses see through it. Besides, when you do reach the top, you’ll want your peers and subordinates to respect you, and no one respects a brown-noser.

To stand out at work, craft your image as someone helpful, responsible, respectable, and community-minded. Here are four tips to get you started:

1. Speak Face-To-Face

Emails and instant messages are quicker and more efficient during a busy day. But, they lack the personality of speaking to a person’s face. It’s hard to convey your message when the reader has to take in the text via a computer screen. Unless you’re an unbelievable scribe, then it will seem as generic as every other email they get during the day. Plus, stopping by a boss’ desk encourages both of you to build a relationship. It may not be substantial, yet it can be the difference when there is a discussion about a promotion and your name pops up mid-conversation.

2. Fix Something

Employees are naïve and assume everything is the way it is for a reason. The truth is nobody has taken the time to figure out a resolution, or they don’t have the ability. Your boss would love to find a fix but doesn’t have the time or inclination. Yvonne Yancy recommends mending the problem because that’s how you stand out. It may not happen instantly, and you shouldn’t promote the fact, yet someone will realize your contribution. When they do, they’ll appreciate the work ethic and the humility.

Every office has processes that slow productivity. Identify those processes in your office, and instead of complaining about them, find a solution and propose it to your boss. Your reputation will be set!

3. Cultivate Connections

You should do this both internally and externally. There are many reasons for this, the main one being you will need favors in the future. The more people in your little black book, the easier it is to find a solution to a problem. Secondly, they’ll need to rely on someone at some point too. Doing a person a solid, especially if they are in a position of power, is a very good place to be regarding office politics. Oh, and the fact everyone knows you will showcase your management qualities, says Carina Wolff.

4. Volunteer

Businesses love people who volunteer because it fills a gap and it’s free of charge. From your perspective, there is more to it than adding to your resume. Not only will you be seen doing something philanthropic, but you’ll get to see things too. For example, there may be bosses at the events who say things they would not in the office. As well as listening to them, you can bond on a level which isn’t possible at work.

Wouldn’t you be impressed by someone who works hard and makes helpful connections?

Create the Career of Your Dreams