Job Security Follows Job Satisfaction – Personal Qualities in Employment
It is a generally accepted view that the services sector will continue to employ more people at the expense of other industry sectors. And it’s not just the most likely scenario painted for – developed, industrialised countries all over the world are moving towards being service-based economies.
So, from the point of view of job security, the service sector is where anyone planning their next career move really ought to look. However, there is more to career choice than job security. Don’t get me wrong – job security is important, but it shouldn’t be your sole motivator. Finding a vacation you like should be top priority. After all, you spend half of your walking life at work so you may as well enjoy it!
And the clincher is that finding a job you like will actually produce its own job security. How? Well, if you genuinely enjoy your work you are more likely to excel at it than someone who doesn’t – and that’s the best job security you can have. I also believe that people who like their work have a much better than average chance of making good money from it – again, because people who like their work generally do a better job than those who don’t
Personal qualities in employment
Listed below are some fundamental personal qualities that all employers value and will be particularly important in the future employment scene. The more endowed you are with them, the greater your chances of success in whatever area of employment you choose.
- Creativity – the fountainhead of success and the one human characteristic that no amount of brilliant technology will ever be able to replace (at least I pray not!).
- Adaptability – a willingness and ability to learn new skills and to adapt old skills to new situations.
- The ability to communicate well, and to understand easily.
- Commitment and a willingness to work hard.
If you had to distil all this, I think it would ultimately come down to having the right attitude towards the job – one that’s fundamentally and genuinely positive. Employers are more likely to be influenced and impressed by this than by any other attribute you might have.
Step to boost your employment prospects
- Present yourself professionally and be on time for your job interview. First impressions are critical.
- Forget ten-page resumes. Your resume needs to be concise and easy to read, while providing a snapshot of your achievements, not merely a list of all your jobs. It’s also crucial that you adapt your resume to match individual job descriptions and keep it brief, ideally no more than three pages. Be sure to explicitly deal with all selection criteria covered in the advertisement.
- Do your research on the company and the people interviewing you.
- Show prospective employers that you can use technology and send online job applications when email addresses are provided.
- Prepare yourself for any psychological tests that you are required to do. You can research the standard tests on the Internet or at your local library.
- Be prepared to showcase your skills in the interview, to market yourself effectively without lapsing into cheesy self-promotion.
- Persistence brings rewards when job hunting. But remember, there is a fine line between persistence and annoyance, so tread carefully.
- Rehearse for interviews. (Not The Sound of Music!)
- Be proactive and ask questions about the job. This shows that you’ve done your homework and are truly interested in the position.
- Be confident and personable. Make eye contact with the interviewer, offer a firm handshake, smile and speak clearly. Consider the start of an interview. Speak confidently and coherently, listen and resist the impulse to interject, and try to present a self assured, relaxed image.
