Digitability

Prioritization of Activities

3.1 Introduction

Continuous learning and skill improvement are necessary to stay relevant in today’s dynamic job market. Functional, self-management, and specialized knowledge skills are critical in enhancing professional expertise and positioning individuals for career advancement. Methods like on-the-job training, skills workshops, formal courses, and self-directed learning offer avenues to enhance knowledge and skills, empowering individuals to tackle challenges and seize new opportunities.

3.2 Empowerment and Employees Preparation

3.2.1 Self Awareness

In the realm of business, self-awareness, as defined by organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich, is the capability to perceive ourselves comprehensively grasping our identity, recognizing our values, reactions, and influence on others, and understanding our place in the world. The comprehension of self-awareness necessitates an examination of its internal and external facets. Internally, it involves the clarity with which we perceive our own values, reactions, and the effects we have on those around us. Conversely, external self-awareness involves comprehending how others perceive us, completing the holistic understanding crucial for navigating the dynamics of the business environment (Castrillon, n.d.).

What is self-awareness?

Focusing on positive aspects and understanding emotional triggers exemplify everyday manifestations of self-awareness. External factors beyond one’s control often influence mood, and self-awareness becomes a tool to manage how one perceives their life. This involves the interpretation of both mental and emotional states, giving rise to two overarching types of self-awareness:

  1. Public self-awareness: This entails being cognizant of how one appears to others, facilitating adherence to social norms and the demonstration of socially acceptable behaviour.
  2. Private self-awareness: This involves reflecting on and recognizing one’s internal state of mind. Individuals with private self-awareness engage in self-reflection, cultivating an awareness of their emotions and reactions. Such awareness is crucial in professional settings for fostering effective interpersonal dynamics and decision-making.

Exploring oneself and fostering self-awareness can yield numerous benefits that significantly contribute to achieving success in one’s career.

How it can actively foster professional development:

  • Empathy -> According to research published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, the better you know and understand yourself, the more effectively you can interpret the mental states of others around you. Consequently, cultivating self-awareness enables individuals to perceive situations from the perspective of their colleagues, ultimately enhancing their communication skills in the workplace.
  • Enhance communication skills -> Understanding your communication style makes it simpler to adjust it for different audiences, a crucial skill in diverse team settings. Improved self-awareness also enhances active listening, fostering better engagement and facilitating the building of trust and loyalty with your team.
  • Stress management -> Engaging in self-awareness allows you to recognize emotions and behaviours that serve as indicators of your overall well-being. This awareness enables you to take proactive measures if you sense irritability or burnout. For instance, if you observe that excessive coffee consumption contributes to anxiety and disrupts your sleep, being aware of this allows you to make lifestyle adjustments that positively impact your mental and physical health.
  • Time management -> Self-awareness plays a crucial role in effective time management. Consider identifying your peak performance hours—those times when you are most productive. If you find yourself most energized in the early morning, allocate that time for analytical tasks. Conversely, if you typically experience a dip in energy during the late afternoon, it’s an opportune moment to concentrate on less demanding administrative duties.
  • Decision making -> When a person is self-aware and aware of their emotions, they act logically and wisely in the decision-making process, aware of potential conflicts and biases in the workplace.

Self-awareness for career exploration

Engaging in self-reflection through thoughtful questioning is a pivotal practice for both career and character exploration. By posing questions to oneself, individuals embark on a journey of introspection, gaining insights into their values, interests, and aspirations. This process not only fosters a deeper understanding of personal motivations but also aids in identifying potential career paths aligned with one’s passions. Moreover, it contributes to character development by promoting self-awareness and resilience. In essence, making inquiries to oneself is a powerful tool for navigating the complexities of career choices and building a strong foundation for personal growth and fulfilment (Career Exploration, 2021).

A table of self-awareness questions is set out below:

Interests, Preferences, and DislikesValues
What topics or subjects captivate your curiosity?Which problems or challenges are you enthusiastic about addressing?What activities bring you joy?Can you recall experiences that you found unfavorable?What principles guide your lifestyle choices?What values are fundamental to your decision-making?Is there a characteristic about yourself that you are committed to preserving?
Personal AttributesExperience and Bias
How would you characterize your personality?In which areas do you excel, and what are your strengths?What is your collaborative working style?When do you resist acquiring new knowledge or skills?Describe your social circle—does it encompass diverse perspectives?Reflect on assumptions you’ve made and how you plan to challenge them in the future.How do you expose yourself to fresh experiences and viewpoints?
SkillsEnergy
Identify your current skills and highlight those you enjoy using.What new skills would you like to acquire?What activities invigorate or drain your energy?Recall instances when you were highly engaged or lost track of time due to intense focus.
StressWork View
How do you recognize stress?Identify situations when you feel most uncomfortable.What strategies do you use to cope with stress?Why do you pursue work?Define what constitutes meaningful and fulfilling work for you.Envision your ideal work environment.What role do you want work to play in your life?
MindsetDecision Making
Identify areas in your life where you embrace a learning and adaptable mindset.In which aspects do you feel resistant to change?Reflect on past decision-making processes.What factors weigh heavily in your decision-making?
Managing Transitions, Risk AversionPurpose, Mission, and Vision
How do you navigate change?What is essential to you when adapting to new plans?Assess your openness to new experiences and opportunities.How do you handle setbacks?Define your core values and motivations.What propels you forward?Outline your path to achieving your goals.What impact do you aspire to make?

3.2.2 Skills Development

Investing in skills development is paramount for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of one’s career. Continuous learning and honing of skills not only enhance professional expertise but also open doors to new opportunities. In today’s dynamic job market, staying relevant requires adapting to emerging trends and technologies. Whether acquiring technical proficiencies or refining soft skills such as communication and leadership, ongoing skills development ensures a competitive edge. It empowers individuals to take on diverse challenges, contribute meaningfully to their work, and position themselves for career advancement.

Three Essential Business Skills

In the business world, three crucial skills stand out: functional, self-management, and special knowledge skills. Functional skills are the technical capabilities required to perform specific job tasks, like coding languages for a web developer. These skills are typically gained through formal education or training, but they can also be developed on the job. Self-management skills, such as time and stress management, are essential for professional and personal effectiveness. While some may naturally possess these skills, many acquire them through experience or training. Special knowledge skills, on the other hand, encompass unique abilities that make an individual valuable to a company, such as multilingualism or in-depth industry knowledge. While harder to acquire, these skills provide a significant competitive advantage in a business career (Career Advancement, 2022).

There are ways for one person to enhance their knowledge. Some of them are:

On-the-Job Training: On-the-job training is a hands-on approach where employees acquire new skills while actively performing their work responsibilities. This method seamlessly integrates learning into the daily work routine, providing practical experience and immediate application of acquired skills. For example, a graphic designer learning new software tools while working on a project or a sales associate refining negotiation skill through real customer interactions.

Skills Workshops: Skills workshops are organized events, often by businesses, aimed at enhancing specific competencies among participants. These workshops offer a focused and structured environment for skill development, allowing participants to learn from experts, engage in interactive activities, and network with peers. For example, a marketing team attending a workshop on social media strategies or a leadership workshop focusing on effective communication for managers.

Formal Courses and Qualifications: Formal courses involve structured educational programs provided by institutions, leading to recognized qualifications or certifications. This method provides in-depth knowledge, often through a curriculum designed by experts in the field, and results in a formal acknowledgment of the acquired skills, which can enhance career prospects. For example, enrolling in a coding bootcamp to learn programming languages or pursuing a project management certification for career advancement.

Self-Directed Learning: Self-directed learning is an independent exploration of resources such as books, online courses, and platforms like YouTube and Udemy. This approach offers flexibility, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace and tailor their learning experience to suit their specific needs and interests. For extutorials orng a new language through online language courses, acquiring coding skills through self-paced tutorials, or gaining marketing insights by reading industry-related books.

3.2.3 Resume and Interview Preparation

A resume serves as a representation of an individual’s identity, encompassing personal and professional details. It emphasizes attributes such as skills and proficiency in various technologies. A well-crafted and professional resume allows interviewers to discern the skills relevant to a specific job.

A resume serves as an introduction to the relevance of skills, experience, qualifications, and accomplishments for a recruiter or potential employer. Considering that a recruiter or employer may allocate only a brief time for reviewing resumes, it’s essential to concisely communicate the most relevant achievements. If the document effectively conveys suitability for the role, the resume accomplishes its purpose – an invitation for an interview. Demonstrating skills, experience, and future potential is imperative. While a one-page presentation is commendable, the average resume length usually extends to around two pages (Career Advice Hays, n.d.).

Guide for a comprehensive CV

To create an impressive resume, you should follow the structure outlined below. Clean and clear formatting should be used for optimal presentation.

  1. Contact information: Initially, there should be basic information such as name, phone number, email address (business email) and perhaps, if available, a LinkedIn profile.
  2. Professional Summary: Creation of a paragraph of 50 to 150 words outlining the potential employee’s relevant experience and skills. Tailor each time possible to coincide with the specific position being applied for, incorporating keywords from the job description.
  3. Skills Summary: Creation of a summary list of relevant systems, skills and competencies that need immediate attention. Use keywords from the job description, providing a summary of relevant competencies.
  4. Achievements: Presentation of major career/school/university achievements supported by facts, statistics or links.
  5. Professional Experience: Presentation of a detailed work history in reverse chronological order, emphasizing recent positions.
  6. Include positions and main responsibilities.: Address any gaps in the CV in a positive manner, highlighting experience gained from previous work or through seminars.
  7. Education and qualifications: Indicate academic qualifications, the year of completion, the name of the institution and a summary of the course of study.

-> Can AI write the perfect resume or CV?

AI proves beneficial as a tool for crafting well-structured and formatted resumes, but it does have limitations.

The ultimate goal of a resume is to convey to the reader that the candidate is suitable for an interview. This requires aligning unique skills and experiences with the specific job applied for.

AI-generated resumes often lack the necessary customization to stand out; they tend to be generic and may not effectively align with the specific job’s requirements. Thus, it is crucial to personalize an AI-generated resume, showcasing how skills and experiences precisely match the role’s demands.

Furthermore, it’s important to review an AI-generated resume for accuracy. The content may not always capture the most up-to-date or industry-specific terminology, leading to inaccuracies in presenting skills, experiences, achievements, and qualifications. Thorough scrutiny and editing are essential to ensure an accurate representation of the candidate’s profile.

Interviewing Tips

A well-crafted resume serves as an introduction, opening doors to opportunities. However, the interview becomes a crucial moment where compatibility with the University and alignment with its values come into play. Consider the following theoretical insights to elevate interview skills:

1. Preparation Through Practice

Whether for a first interview or the 51st, involves exploring common questions posed by interviewers. Theoretical application of the SOAR method (situation, obstacle, actions, results) aids in articulating experiences and skills that add value.

2. Emphasizing Positivity

In a theoretical interview context, emphasizing strengths and providing examples of past successes becomes crucial.

3. Timely Arrival

Theoretical planning of the route, anticipating potential issues, and arriving early for the interview signify professionalism.

4. Maintaining Composure

Techniques for maintaining composure during the interview include minimizing distractions, maintaining eye contact, and actively listening to each question for precise responses.

5. Interviewer Interaction

Theoretical interaction with the interviewer involves asking questions about the position, management style, and overall university dynamics. Seeking feedback on qualifications and addressing areas needing clarification is a crucial aspect.

6. Post-Interview Courtesy

Sending a thank-you note within 24 hours after the interview, referencing shared discussions, and briefly reiterating valuable skills signify professionalism.

7. Emphasizing Cultural Fit

In a theoretical framework, understanding that cultural fit is as critical as skills becomes important. Discussions center around how “soft” skills complement “hard” skills and positively influence the university’s culture.

3.2.4 Networking

Establishing a solid professional network can greatly contribute to one’s career advancement. Having the right referral increases the likelihood of securing a job. If someone’s contemplating a career shift, their professional network becomes a valuable resource for connecting with individuals in the industry they aspire to enter. (weesiang, 2020)

Why for a person to network?

  1. Access to job opportunities
    It increases the likelihood of receiving introductions to potentially relevant people or even a referral.
  2. Career advice & support
    Discussing common challenges and opportunities opens the door to valuable suggestions and advice.
  3. Long lasting relationships
    The point of networking is to develop and nurture professional relationships.

Elevating your networking skills in the business realm demands dedicated effort and practical application. Here’s an extensive guide on enhancing one’s networking proficiency (Nallalingham, 2023):

  • Define networking goals: Establish clear goals before attending a networking event to maintain focus and maximize your time by steering clear of conversations that are not pertinent to your objectives.
  • Preparation of Elevator pitch: Write a concise, convincing introduction that presents your skills, experience and career ambitions. A well-prepared presentation creates a positive first impression and facilitates meaningful discussions.
  • Attend networking events (physical or online):

Physical: Participate in industry-relevant events like conferences and workshops to expand your professional network and gain insights from experts. Research attendees in advance, connect with organizers or speakers, be open to new connections, ask open-ended questions, and actively listen.

Online: Utilize platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with professionals. Engage in online groups and discussions relevant to your interests. Create a professional profile, connect with purpose, personalize messages, share valuable content, participate in discussions, and maintain professionalism.

Networking is a crucial element for career success. By setting goals, perfecting your pitch, actively participating in events, engaging online, following up, and helping, you can elevate your networking skills. Authenticity, respect, and generosity are key. With dedication, you can become a confident and effective networker, unlocking new opportunities for career growth.

3.2.5 Job Search Strategies

There are three distinct job-search strategies: exploratory, focused, and haphazard (Stevens & Beach, 1996; Stevens & Turban, 2001). Jobseekers employing an exploratory strategy demonstrate dedication and a motivation to thoroughly explore their options. This strategy inherently involves openness to emerging opportunities, with individuals actively gathering job-related information from diverse sources like friends, family, and former employers. Those adopting a focused strategy identify their top choices early in their search, establishing clear employment goals. They concentrate their efforts on a small number of carefully screened employers, applying only for positions that align with their needs, qualifications, and interests. On the other hand, individuals utilizing a haphazard strategy follow a trial-and-error approach during their job search, changing tactics without a clear rationale and passively collecting information from both within and outside their educational or professional background.

In contrast, both exploratory and haphazard job-search strategies exhibit less direction toward specific goals compared to a focused job-search strategy. However, both exploratory and focused job-search strategies share the common aim of securing a satisfying and fitting job, whereas a haphazard strategy is oriented toward obtaining any job, irrespective of its nature (Koen et al., 2010).

By employing the strategies outlined below, one can recognize the various approaches available for navigating the job search process. Seeking assistance from sources like former colleagues and one’s professional network can be a valuable step. With strong connections and relationships, numerous opportunities can present themselves. Implementing 3 to 5 job strategies is crucial to enhance the chances of securing employment (Chan, Diana, 2020).

1). Apply Online

In the current virtual landscape, the predominant method for job applications involves submitting them online. Many individuals rely solely on platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn, patiently awaiting a response. Surprisingly, despite the widespread use of this approach by over 90% of job seekers, it results in less than a 3% chance of securing an interview. Clearly, this method alone proves to be less effective. To enhance the efficacy of online applications, individuals should explore alternative avenues, such as the “back door” approach, which emphasizes establishing a more personal connection. This entails identifying key figures, such as higher managers or recruiters, and seeking ways to bolster their chances of securing an interview. The strategies outlined below can aid in implementing this approach.

2). Asking for Referrals

A proactive step an individual can take is seeking referrals. This involves reaching out to friends or individuals within their desired industry, posing questions and making statements that express their career preferences and interests. Those who engage in this practice stand to gain significantly, as research indicates a higher likelihood of securing employment through second-level connections. Studies further highlight that job seekers are five times more likely to receive a job offer when recommended by someone within their network. Therefore, it is beneficial to reconnect with people who know and have worked with you, as this can undoubtedly open numerous doors.

3). Connection with Agency recruiters or executives

This approach proves advantageous for professionals at mid to senior levels due to their extensive industry experience, enabling them to connect with external recruiters and present various opportunities to jobseekers. Jobseekers can explore collaborations with renowned recruiting firms, midsize entities, and independent recruiters. Building strong relationships with these recruiters is crucial. It’s imperative to reach out to the right recruiters who have the authority to hire in the desired industry and profession. A targeted search on platforms like LinkedIn or Google can help identify suitable recruiters for networking purposes. It’s important to note that recruiters serve the interests of employers, not jobseekers; their primary role is to identify the best candidates for specific roles. Consequently, jobseekers may not always find immediate opportunities upon reaching out, but nurturing the relationship remains valuable.

All of these strategies can be into consideration, and the difference will be noticeable on job research, on the attitude and self-confidence of jobseekers.

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