Introduction
Let’s be honest, if you’re early in your career, and you’re officially in the territory of finding jobs, you just know it’s going to be a heavy challenge. Securing a job or an internship as a fresher is the true Hunger Games of the modern professional world.
You’re not just sparring against hundreds of other candidates with similar profiles, but you’re also battling the hindrance of recruiters going for someone with more seniority over freshers. According to a 2023 PwC survey, less than 61% of HR leaders are hiring for entry-level roles and less-specialised positions, down from 79% in 2022. And this trend continues to plummet, with the increasing involvement of AI in everyday business operations.
Although all this might sound too depressing to take the next step in your career as an entry-level professional, there is still a lot of hope out there, with many emerging companies seeking young professionals to adapt and grow with them. Capital Placement has realised the potential in young talent for over a decade and commits to helping aspiring candidates connect with top internship opportunities abroad and remotely.
How exactly do you stay on top? It is quite evident that the trick is to pack more employable qualities as a candidate to attract ambitious recruiters. But there are more ways that you can achieve them, and how you can showcase them to employers.
Soft Skills Make the Hardest Impact
As a newbie or intern, you do not have a lot of cards to play. You cannot flaunt your years of practical experience or on-the-job achievements because you’re not at that stage. Something that becomes pivotal here is the role soft skills play in elevating your profile.
Soft skills are crucial for companies to identify the right talent that fits well with their team and culture, but also simple enough for your profile to address. Here are a few soft skills that create the most buzz:
Communication: This was obvious. Everyone demands a professional who can clearly articulate their questions and actions, especially for a multicultural company. Your entire CV can be your preliminary platform to show your effective communication, but you can take your speaking skills towards the interview.
Adaptability: There is an increasing trend for companies to hire talent first and fit it into a role second. Companies are scrapping rigidity out of job roles to put professionals to work where they excel, and where they are needed the most.
Time Management: Your impact has to be meaningful, but it also has to be timely. Even for entry-level roles, recruiters appreciate candidates who showcase punctuality, right from showing up to your virtual interview on time.
What Matters Most at the Start
In a conversation with Lisa Eaton, CEO of Fabric, on boosting employability and job prospects, Vinay Vimalan, CEO of Capital Placement, identifies the best headstart for entry-level candidates and new interns. He mentions that the pursuit of being employable is a journey rather than a destination, where you keep sharpening your axe to attain better opportunities and job prospects.
According to Vinay, as an aspiring career enthusiast, these are a few areas you should place your focus on:
Scope for Emerging Industries
Like AI has been the watchword in recent times, many innovations are being carried out that are changing the landscape of work. Take a look at some of the most buzzing innovations in tech, finance, marketing, and more to identify a perfect spot that blends your talent, your preference, and a budding industry that you have scoped before it builds on competition.
Leverage Cutting-Edge Free Tools
It is more accessible than ever to elevate your skills and even get upskilled using free tools and resources that are available every day. Right from perfecting your CV, to rehearsing interviews, to finding areas you can master, the tools are there in plain sight.
Build Basic Knowledge on Everything
Although it might sound ambitious, being curious can be your greatest tool to skyrocket towards your first job. Get a working understanding of all subjects that interest you; it could be blockchain, it could be cryptocurrencies, it could be anything. Even if it does not directly correlate to your industry, being knowledgeable can come in handy when you interact with professionals in that industry.
In Conclusion
Even though starting your career today might not feel like just any walk in the park, with the right optimism and the right tricks up your sleeve, you can turn the tide in your favour.
No recruiters want to spend endless hours searching for the right hire; it is up to you to suggest that their search is over with your profile. Establishing clear soft skills and prioritising great starter points are ways in which you can surmount any hiring competition.
If you are looking for internship opportunities as the perfect launchpad into your dream career, Capital Placement can help you land one or help you realise your true potential. Book a free call if you are interested in learning more.
