2 Surefire Ways to Stay Relevant in a Changing Job Market

2 Surefire Ways to Stay Relevant in a Changing Job Market2 Surefire Ways to Stay Relevant in a Changing Job MarketRegardless of whether youre looking for a new job or are content in your current role, the only constant in your career (and life) is change. Professionals may wonder how to increase their value and stay relevant in the increasingly competitive employment market. This interest is certainly warranted. The workplace is rapidly evolving, as previously unheard of skills become job requirements and the gig economy gains momentum. While its quite exciting, it may feel daunting, too. But it doesnt have to. Youre in charge of the way you market yourself and can make upgrades to your resume that reflect industry changes at any time. Read How Job Hunting Has Changed In the Last Decade. Of course, unterstellung changes are confined to language face-lifts that reflect your actual experiences and skills. You cant pretend to have had a job you didnt and you cant make gaps on your resu me disappear. When I worked in corporate recruiting, I always asked about gaps on candidates resumes and how they spent their time. Whether they traveled, volunteered or learned how to code, what mattered is that they didnt do absolutely nothing. That said, the choice to refresh your knowledge by learning a skill like coding is more likely to help open new doors in your career. Of course, knowledge is power, but gaining these skills has more value than a simple bullet point on your resume. Even more so, its always a wise move for professionals to make continuous investments in themselves, both in the short- and long-term. By valuing never-ending self-improvement, you demonstrate a hunger and desire to learn in the competitive jobs landscape. As the market gets more crowded with candidates who have probably already accomplished (or are well on their way to accomplishing) everything from earning a masters degree to traveling to the moon, here are two critical ways you can stay releva nt in your profession.Read How to Start Making Progress on Long-Term Career Goals. 1. Further your education.Your education is your foundation and can also be a powerful tool for staying relevant. It is pivotal to staying sharp and opening new doors. And whether you earned your undergraduate degree 20 or two years ago, its something nobody can ever take away from you. But its also something you can add to. Whether that upgrade is a masters degree, certificate program or ongoing massive open online course, when you invest in continuing education as an essential part of your career vitality, youre literally investing in your continued relevancy within your profession. Plus, it was one of the key ways I saw candidates leap from one career path to another when I was a recruiter. A specific course or degree program helps demonstrate to employers that a candidate is not only expressing interest in making a change, theyve already taken the initiative to learn about it on their own time (a nd most likely on their own dime). Read How to Impress Employers With Online Courses. 2. Sharpen your cognitive and emotional skills.Yes, an education is literally an investment in yourself, but it doesnt completely recession-proof your resume or guarantee a job with the employer of your choice. Other elements of your human capital matter as well emotional intelligence, soft skills, tact and your ability to think critically and outside of the box. A formal education and credentials are critically important whether you become a certified public account, chartered financial analyst or earn another professional designation. But even if you have all the functional and technical capabilities, additional skills are an absolute necessity in order to thrive in todays workplace. Consider the vorstellungsgesprch process. Sure, there are technical aspects, such as resume reviews and scheduling phone interviews, but one of the most important elements of success in an office interview is a ca ndidates social acumen. They must be able to not only possess the entailed skills, but also demonstrate their abilities to understand the companys role in terms of the industry as a whole, adapt to constantly changing situations, create meaning out of chaos and have a self-starter attitude toward owning their career growth. Being able to demonstrate these valuable skills during an interview is critical. When interviewers ask behavioral-based questions, job seekers should answer with specific anecdotes that demonstrate their ability to think creatively and collaboratively. Yes, possessing these skills is vital to success on the interview, and subsequently the job, but the ability to properly market them during the interview is key. And leadership skills count as well. The combination of leadership development along with demonstrated cognitive skills gives a leg up to job seekers looking to advance their careers. Above all, remember that all skills and functional and technical skil ls in particular evolve over time, so possessing that coveted degree and earning a professional designation wont necessarily guarantee employment. But your drive, ambition and emotional intelligence will speak volumes for your well-rounded candidacy.