What makes you employable? Dr Ali Khwaja

With increased competition, even students who come out with professional or post-graduate degrees are finding it difficult to get into a meaningful career.

While mediocre jobs are plentiful, those looking to getting on to the fast track get frustrated when they find themselves inadequate to fit into the real world of work and deliver results.

You can make yourself employable and effective if you follow the simple basic steps:

Select the course of your study based on the subjects you like, are good in them, and are going to enjoy your work in that field.

Study to gain knowledge and to apply it effectively, not just mugging up to answer exams. Find out how each subjects connects to real life.

It is not enough to be a graduate in any field. Start identifying and specialising in a specific area of the field. E.g. if you are in marketing, ask yourself if you would be better off in market research, product development, customer support, sales or franchising, etc.

Build up your soft skills such as good manners, pleasing temperament, ability to express well to one or a group of persons. Develop the capacity to interact with and get around difficult people. All careers today require soft skills, and they take years to build up.

Identify what is your USP (unique selling proposition) . What makes you stand out in a crowd, and how you can convince your employers or your clients that you are different from competitors.

Be persistent in what you take up. Do not jump from one field to another just because jobs are being offered. Ensure that additional qualifications you build up or skills you acquire are in congruence with your main course of study.

Keep track of the happenings of the field you are headed towards. Know the latest trends, improve your general knowledge, and keep abreast of the current affairs. Employers always appreciate candidates who have prior knowledge of the world they want to enter.


nLast and not least ….


Be genuine. Never bluff in your resume or in interviews. Do not try to boast or show any traces of arrogance or over-confidence. Respect others without becoming servile or submissive. Take genuine interest in others, and they will take interest in you.