Becoming job-ready means dealing with the challenges that are holding you back before preparing to demonstrate understanding of scope, the environment and skills needed to potential employers. Developing career awareness – having a career direction and knowing what the employer wants in a candidate – is also an important aspect in job-readiness.

To be job-ready means more than just being on a job search, or applying for all roles that interest you or that you might be a fit for, or indicating that you are available on your Linkedin profile. 

Job-readiness, the state of being job-ready, is a process. At the minimum, you need to be in the right frame of mind in seeking out an industry, scope and type of job that you can deliver value to. As a jobseeker, you have to be prepared with your career communications portfolio, as well as an educated opinion about the industry and organisation that you wish to join. 

Develop the right mindset to be job-ready

Before preparing your portfolio and doing research, it is important that you deal with the following challenges. 

• Moving on from a job

One challenge is dealing with a recent experience of job loss or retrenchment. You might still be processing your emotions and dealing with an identity quake associated with losing comfort, routine and status from your previous role. It is important that you take the time to handle the loss, and make a conscious effort to move on. 

Or perhaps you have decided to move on from your current job because you have outgrown the role, or are looking for scope and workplace conditions that align better with your life goals. This is a good moment to pause and think about your needs, while using the time to relax and recharge. 

A situation to deal with is the emotional and financial stress associated with not earning a regular income for a period of time. You might be feeling pressured to accept the first role or opening you are made aware of, even if instinctively you know it might not be a good fit. Take the time to reflect and make a decision about how or where you want to earn an income from. 

• Understand your comfort zone 

We are creatures of comfort, and mentally we find it easier to deal with situations and environments we are familiar with. Think through what has become routine, and what you are willing to let go in order to find a new job, or embark on a mid-career change.

• Be specific about the job you want

Look back at the role you used to have, and identify highlights that made you happy and proud of your work. Identify and summarise what it is about the industry, the scope, the role, the manager or the team, that will make the new job work for you. 

Becoming job-ready through preparation 

The basics of becoming job-ready include getting your career communications portfolio updated. This means preparing the following items:

1. A detailed resume and cover letter
2. Securing credible and strong references
3. Updating your Linkedin profile to align with your resume
4. Being active on networking platforms and tools by connecting with peers in the industry or organisations you are interested in. 
5. Practicing your interview and presentation skills

Additionally, you should have a clear understanding of your role, and the reason it is needed within your target industry and organisation. This entails understanding the skills required to succeed in your role now and over the next 3-5 years. It means being current with systems, showing proficiency and expertise with both the application and technicality of your skill sets and being aware of how your position fits within the organisation. 

For example, understanding and applying social media is important now, but in a few years, it will be considered part of the overall marketing function. How can you demonstrate that you have skill sets that apply to marketing and not just social media? 

Knowing your industry trends are important. This understanding can help you anticipate the demands on your role now and in the future. In a cover letter and during an interview, these insights can help you demonstrate your awareness of the organisation and the environment it operates in, the interest you have for the industry and highlights your research and analytical skills. The discussion you have during interviews will be of  a higher level, and allows you to offer and comment about the value you can bring to the employer. 

Areas of improvement for jobseekers

A common frustration recruiters have when filtering and interviewing candidates, is the inability for the candidate to describe, and demonstrate their skills, strengths, gaps and areas for improvement. Recruiters use these insights about the candidate to determine how ready they are to transition into a new role, or how the strengths or weaknesses can contribute towards a team.

For example, it is not enough to inform the recruiter that you have 10 years of experience in accounting. What specific areas and methods are you skilled in? Does the organisation you are applying for use these methods? Can you apply these methods immediately, or do you require a refresher course? 

When practicing interview and presentation skills, focus on examples that showcase your understanding of the role, the value you are bringing to the team, as well as your level of professionalism. Use simple language, avoid jargons and acronyms, that allow you to be articulate and clear about what you are presenting. 

Being job-ready for one role can also mean you are still preparing to be job-ready for another one. Not all roles are equal or similar even if they are in the same industry. Each role you are applying for deserves the time and effort to do research, analysis and understanding of  how you will deliver value to the organisation and team; while also determining whether this is the right fit for your personality and talent.