EAE News
How can we work on our employability in lockdown?
12 de May de 2020
Key points for boosting our employability from home
What can we do at home to get a job? What strategies should we implement to grab companies’ attention? How can we define a really unique value proposition that sets us apart? The outbreak of the pandemic and the consequent economic crisis is transforming the professional world and, as a result, the way we get and keep our jobs. Therefore, whether or not we have a permanent position, we cannot let our guard down and must keep prepared. To find out how, check out this overview of the session on LinkedIn Live run by the employability expert and lecturer at EAE Business School, Pilar Llácer, entitled “How can we work on our employability in lockdown?”.
Employability Strategy
According to the International Labour Organization, the expert explained that over 24 million people around the world may lose their jobs as a result of the crisis triggered by coronavirus. Moreover, today’s labour market is being dominated by automation. Faced with this reality, what can we do. Worry? No, just the opposite, take action!
- The sector you want to target
We have to evaluate the sector that we want to aim for. Nowadays, in contrast to years ago, we should not only focus on big companies, but all strive to detect new players or startups that can pave the way for us to break into the sector.
As an example, Llácer explained that “the banking sector never imagined that it would have to compete with Facebook, but the social network is now making headway in the sector. Therefore, anybody who wants to work in this field should keep Facebook on their radar”.
- Position
Another key point in any employability strategy is to have a clear idea of the position that we want to get. However, the expert emphasized that it is also important to observe the changes in the market and adapt our profile in response to the competences in the highest demand. “Any aspect related to the digital and virtual worlds and cybersecurity are now qualities in great demand from companies and will continue to be so for many years to come”.
- You job may no longer exist
As she had explained earlier, today’s labour market is characterized by various technological trends, such as automation, which may threaten the job that you want to find. What can we do then? As well as adapting, it is essential that we keep working on our value proposition. How? Carry on reading to find out!
- Entrepreneurship
Any job strategy has to embrace entrepreneurship and, as Llácer explained, nobody is born an entrepreneur. It is something that we learn over time. Therefore, it is important to develop and use innovative skills that help us to position our professional profile on employment networks and enable us to analyse the market in search of business opportunities.
Value proposition
The expert then emphasized that our value proposition is the foundation of employability and any strategy. Therefore, it is important to work on our proposition and define it in a way that really sets our professional profile apart from the competition. One way to do so is to implement IKIGAI, a Japanese approach that consists of integrating our passions with our purposes.
The 10 cardinal rules for employability
To finish off, Professor Llácer listed what she refers to as the 10 cardinal rules for maintaining sustainable employability. However, she emphasized that these points may vary depending on the person their purposes.
- The power of being different Something that sets us apart can always help. We have to think of a hobby or something that we do well, and then try to make the most of it. To illustrate this point, she gave the example of Marie Kondo, who loved to tidy wardrobes and, after she began posting YouTube videos, achieved such recognition that she now makes “more money than most SMEs in this country”.
- All experience matters and, if it has a digital slant, even better: Experience is also fundamental. We should not just include our important experiences in our CVs or LinkedIn profile, but also anything we have done that highlights our human qualities. “An experience, whatever it may be, often tells us more than a whole class, so we have to include them”.
- Stop running after the ball: The expert used this phrase to explain the idea that we must not waste time on fads or whims, but rather spend our time analysing the market and detecting any places where there is a real opportunity of finding a job.
- Creativity: “Now more than ever before is the time to be creative. It is not a matter of trying to be Steve Jobs, but rather to look around, visualize what could work best and dare to get involved”.
- Follow the example of reggaetón: Referring to the musical genre, Llácer emphasized the importance of moving yourself and keeping on doing so. “If you keep moving and attending events, etc., it is more likely that things will happen. Being productive, performing and getting results does not increase possibilities or ensure promotions, but, in contrast, meeting people and networking does”.
- Excel yourself: It is no use complaining, we have to try even harder! To illustrate, the expert referred to the tennis ace Rafael Nadal: “Rafa has lost more times that he has won, but he just kept moving forward, as we have to: promoting our personal brand, developing our networks, uploading quality content”.
- No shame and no fear: Llácer also underlined that this is not a time for shame or fear. “We have to act wilfully and continue moving forward”.
- Shine and shine: your personal brand: Once again on this point, she emphasized the importance of personal branding. “Whether or not you have a job, this is the time to start developing your personal brand seriously”.
- Good people: She then referred to our values and the importance of promoting human qualities. “The best indicator of good employability is being a good person”.
- Think:Last but not least, Llácer asked some questions: What are we going to need after Covid-19? Will we work from home more? Will we consume more online? “Getting ready for what lies ahead, looking at the panorama and trying to lay the groundwork is extremely important for boosting employability nowadays”..