How to Boost Your Employability in 2024

As generation Z enters the workplace, the cost of living crisis puts pressure on being paid a fair wage and individuals are seek more purpose in the workplace, many have found themselves looking for more opportunities to grow, advance, or even change their careers entirely.

This means that now more than ever, there’s an abundance of professionals entering new talent pools with the drive and intention, all of whom want to find ways to stand out from the crowd.

If you too are one of the many looking to develop your career, here we discuss how to boost your employability in 2024 so you can land your next role with ease.

1) Enhance Your Social Media Presence 

While boosting your employability often comes down to skills and experience, in a world that’s reliant on technology and social media, it could almost be considered irresponsible not to have a well-rounded LinkedIn profile. Think of this as a one stop shop available for current and potential employers to not only find out more about your qualifications, skills and work history, but your character and personality too!

While you may be reading this thinking you’re all set in that department, remember that your LinkedIn should be updated regularly to reflect your current circumstances. If you’re not sure how to improve your LinkedIn, a few suggestions include:

• Making your profile public so you gain more visibility from employers and recruiters.
• Ensuring your profile photo is warm and professional; not necessarily a headshot but make sure it’s not a selfie.
• Creating an engaging headline that briefly says who you are, what you do, and how you benefit others.
• Post relevant content regularly and engage with others on the platform.
• Creating a custom URL so that you stand out from the many others who may share your name.
• Listing your qualifications, even if they’re still in progress (this includes CIPD HR and L&D programmes!) and highlighting your transferable skills.
  
  

2) Update Your CV

Since updating your LinkedIn is so important these days, it makes sense to also ensure your CV is updated, making sure that the information your showcasing about yourself is both cohesive and honest. That being said, when it comes to applying and qualifying for new roles, you should consider reformatting your CV for each new job you're applying for, paying specific attention to the responsibilities and duties listed in the job description. After all, the right CV will attract the right employer.

To this end, we actually don’t recommend enhancing your CV to any major degree, just regularly updating and simplifying it will do the trick. For example:

• Position yourself as an established professional, however, don’t offer an overly detailed explanation of your experience - save that for your interview.
• Use bullet points to demonstrate your work experience; this will allow employers and recruiters to read your CV quickly and help them retain key information.
• Consider implementing the relevant keywords in your CV for each role (as many employers and recruitment agencies conduct keyword searches); so if you’re an HR professional, for instance, list your training specifically with CIPD rather than ‘adult education courses’ to avoid being eliminated.

3) Network, Network and Network

If you’re already a seasoned working professional then you know that networking is critical to your career growth and development, A chance to encourage visibility, networking can often lead to new business relationships, job opportunities and the chance to progress further in your career. Networking is also a great way to help you further identify your skills and strengths, as well as gives you access to an abundance of valuable resources, information, and sometimes even industry mentors.

While some events can be costly to attend and in some cases, not open to the public, there are plenty of free and non exclusive ones available, so it’s a good idea for you to keep an eye out for local networking events relevant to your industry.

If you’re in the people profession, for example, you can check out CIPD’s website for upcoming events near you, giving you the option to attend conferences, meet like-minded professionals, and discuss the subjects that matter to you.

4) Invest In Yourself

A huge thing that recruiters look for in potential candidates these days is those who are invested in their continuing professional development (CPD).

Boosting your employability often comes down to what you’re currently doing to enhance your industry education and skills, so it’s a good idea to reflect on what steps you can take to showcase how you’re committed to your own CPD if you’re not doing so already. Many people choose to partake in additional in-office training or study an in-person or online course that will build on their current skillset.

At DPG, for instance, we offer online and blended courses for those looking to stand out from other people professionals, helping learners enhance their careers as they earn top-tier industry qualifications.

5) Know What You Bring To The Table

Above all else, boosting your employability in 2024 is about having confidence in what you bring to current and potential roles. Silence that inner critic and don’t be afraid to bring your A-game when it comes to phone, virtual, and in-person interviews. Dress the part, make eye contact, and have enough faith in your strengths and abilities to brag about yourself a little (so long as you remember that a little tends to go a very long way).

Remember, if you get to the interview stage with a potential employer, it means that they’re just as interested in acquiring you and your skillset as you are in landing a job in their company.


Learn the flexible way and improve your employability when you enrol on a 100% online CIPD programme with us today.