Looking for a job has always been challenging, but COVID-19 has brought the current job hunting landscape to an all-new difficulty. Thanks to the pandemic, thousands of businesses have shuttered, which has significantly impacted the economy. Even though you have an array of academic accomplishments on your résumé, you might run into some challenges when looking for a job, especially since you’re competing with equally accomplished people your age.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get ahead and secure the job you’ve always wanted. Although your academic career does have its importance, companies prioritize specific skills in their employees. Here are four skills that will boost your résumé while making you job-ready:

• Digital Literacy

The world is becoming increasingly reliant on digital, and you’ll have to know the ins and outs of technology to keep up. Many industries have shifted to an online work arrangement to comply with safety regulations during COVID-19, so becoming an expert in the digital landscape will help you leap ahead of your competitors.

Companies prioritize young people fluent in technology and the Internet, so being well-versed in this will help you land a great job. If you know how to create compelling online content, manage social media pages, and design collaterals, you’ll be an asset to any company. If you think your digital literacy could use an upgrade, consider our digital transformation online course! 

• Networking

Learning to connect with other people and establish relationships is something they don’t teach you in school. It’s something you have to cultivate by yourself and at your own initiative, which makes it an even more valuable skill. When you connect with like-minded professionals and establish meaningful relationships with them, you’ve found people who can be your potential partners, investors, or even mentors.

A fresh graduate may find it challenging or intimidating to approach a total stranger, but networking is necessary in the business world. Learning how to build a strong network will help you find more opportunities to advance your career while increasing your confidence. If you want to become a good networker, you’ll want to make sure your listening skills are top-tier. Consider our active listening online course, which will help you do just that!

• Entrepreneurship

Having entrepreneurship as a skill means you are self-sufficient. You can start a business out of your talents and knowledge, which is incredibly vital in a time of massive unemployment and a lack of job opportunities. With this skill, you’ll have the responsibility to create new ideas and see them to fruition. Although it sounds simple, this requires a subset of skills to make it happen: you’ll need a self-driven work attitude, plenty of motivation to get the job done, a risk appetite, and many more.

All these require initiative and leadership that could do wonders for growing individually or contributing to a company. You’ll also become more independent, which is invaluable. If you think you need a little help in taking charge, you’ll want to take our leadership online course.

• Curiosity

Young people are known for their innate curiosity, which older adults tend to lose as they get accustomed to systems and methods. However, having the unquenchable thirst for exploring and learning is vital to success. Fortunately, people have unlimited access to all types of information these days thanks to the Internet, which will be at your advantage. Anything you learn can be transferable as you develop it, making you open to even more remote work opportunities.

The journey to seek more knowledge will get you far in both your life and career. The more you learn, the more you accumulate skills and knowledge to help you in various situations. Consider taking an environmental sustainability online course or social responsibility in a business course to expand your curiosity. These are two niches that every business will find useful, and you’ll make yourself even more job-ready.

Conclusion

Looking for a job has always been challenging, and current circumstances have made it even more challenging. However, don’t lose hope just yet—these four skills are sure to land you an exciting job. Continue to expand and work on these skills while you’re job hunting, and you’ll become even more job-ready by the minute! 

Are you looking for a resume online course to beef up your portfolio? Check out our online course catalog at Skill Builder Pro! We are a job skills and personal development training platform with over 300 online courses. There are no entry requirements to take these courses, which will offer you an easy way to get ahead of your competitors and land your dream job. Sign up today!