Evaluating Personal Skills for Job Application Success

The assignment delves into strategic approaches that both job seekers and recruiters can employ to improve outcomes in the hiring process. For job seekers, it emphasizes the importance of refining communication skills, effectively managing stress during job searches, and continually developing personal and professional competencies through feedback and self-assessment tools like SWOT analysis. The essay highlights how leveraging technology for networking and online presence management on platforms such as LinkedIn can significantly impact employment opportunities. For recruiters, understanding these dynamics allows them to better assess candidates' potentials beyond traditional metrics. The document includes a comprehensive analysis of personal skill audits and recommendations for both parties to navigate the competitive job market successfully.

Running head: EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

1EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Executive Summary
The aim of this study is to understand and identify the key elements required while searching for
a job, the recruitment points including recruitment agencies and job portals, identifying the
personal responsibilities, objectives and personal analysis related to the provided job description.
It provides an accurate depiction of the key strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement that
need to be considered by the applicant. The study explains why it is important to possess and
implement certain skills to ensure that a candidate stands out from the crowd during the selection
process. The study is concluded with the providing of a personal skills SWOT chart and a skills
audit.

2EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1:.............................................................................................................................................3
1. Essential elements required for job search techniques:...............................................................3
2. Identifying recruitment point.......................................................................................................5
Task 2:.............................................................................................................................................7
3. Personal Responsibilities.............................................................................................................7
4. Performance Objectives...............................................................................................................8
5. Own learning and development for work..................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
Reference.......................................................................................................................................13
Appendix........................................................................................................................................15
Figure 1-Personal skills SWOT.................................................................................................15
Figure 2- Skills Audit Chart......................................................................................................16

3EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
The rate of participation in higher education has been experiencing a steep growth over
the years. This has resulted in making the employment market more competitive for new
graduates. The employers favor candidates who possess a set of skills required for their job
specific role (Elnaga and Imran 2013). The presence of good communication skills, awareness
about current commercial news, comfortable in teamwork and collaborations, problem solving
skills and time management skills are expected from all employees that want to be recruited
(Cottrell 2015). Most of the recruitment today, takes place via the recruitment agencies and job
portals. The presence of a LinkedIn profile is considered to be almost mandatory in present times
due to the vast networking opportunities it provides (Dustmann et al. 2015). With the changes in
the styles and techniques of recruitment, the candidates need to be aware of the various methods
that need to be practiced to increase chances of being selected.
This study aims to discuss and state the key factors that should be considered while
conducting a job search, the identification of recruitment points and self-evaluation of personal
responsibilities, objectives and key points of strength and weakness.
Task 1:
1. Essential elements required for job search techniques:
In a world of competition, when searching for a job one needs to keep in mind certain
guidelines that are to be followed. They are as follows:-

4EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 Personal evaluation – A personal evaluation is necessary by the candidate. It would
allow him to understand his key strengths, weaknesses and unique skills. A candidate
should also be clear about what his specifications are regarding the job he is looking for
and his preferences. This would allow proper search of potential job opportunities (The
University of Sydney 2018).
 A brief and well expressed CV – A Curriculum Vitae (CV) or a resume is important till
this date when it comes to job searches. The resume needs to clearly state the name,
qualifications and training received in detail. It should use keywords and mention the
unique skills possessed by the candidate (Forbes.com 2018). The presence of one e-mail
id, a contact number and the link to the LinkedIn profile of the candidate is essential. The
resume should be short and detailed. Most recruiters spend only a few seconds in viewing
the CV and therefore it is important to list the most important information only. The use
of key words is crucial so that the CV is generated in search results during the
recruitment process.
 LinkedIn profile – Maintaining a LinkedIn profile is important in present times. The
usage of LinkedIn to look for jobs has gone from being a good idea to a necessary one.
Most people fail to make proper utilization of the benefits of LinkedIn mainly due to the
errors and faults in their profile or the way they set it up (Forbes.com 2018). The URL in
a LinkedIn profile should be customized in a way that it comes in the top in search
results. A concise and detailed summary of the educational background and qualifications
should be stated in the description. Previous experiences of working on group projects or
internships should be mentioned along with the skills possessed. Getting more
recommendations is always important. The candidate should also mention any website or

5EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
blog that contains information written by him or contains his work. Most importantly,
LinkedIn should be used to connect with organizations and people whom the candidate is
interested in working with. Good networking and connections help in opening potential
recruitment prospects.
 Developing interview skills – Interview skills need to be developed and practiced by the
candidate (Hooft, Wanberg and Hoye 2013). Some of the important necessities of good
interview skills is to be well researched and informed about the company. This would
help the candidate to provide accurate answers. The candidate should be on time, look
enthusiastic and be dressed in an appropriate manner. The candidate should be a good
listener and answer the questions asked directly. Providing suitable examples of
experiences gained by the candidate is important and recommended.
 Follow up – Conducting a follow up is always important. It provides the candidate one
last chance to remind the employer of his unique skills and qualifications. A follow up
helps to be informed about the potential chances of being selected or about new job
openings in the market (Hargittai and Litt 2013).
2. Identifying recruitment point
The identification of a proper recruitment point is necessary. It would allow the candidate
a proper and reliable medium to search for jobs (Stanton and Thomas 2015). Recruitment point
includes recruitment agencies and job portals. The features and benefits of which are discussed
below.
 Recruitment Agencies – Recruitment agencies provide a lot of benefits when it comes to
the job search process. They allow the candidate to get specific search results regarding

6EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
his job criteria. The recruitment agencies are aware of the employer’s needs and
preferences. This allows them to help prepare the candidate in the essential skills that are
required. In some cases they even make the interview and selection process easy for the
candidate. The job search process changes from tedious to manageable for the candidate
by recruitment agencies, since they inform the client which job offers he should follow
up on. Constructive feedback is also provided to a candidate in case he is rejected and he
is then informed about his main limitations and areas that need to improve.
 Job Portals – The job portals have turned into a revolutionary form of recruitment in
recent times. It is the primary source for both hob seekers and employers. It is considered
to be the most fastest and convenient platform for the recruitment process (Teoh, Tan and
Chong 2013). It is authentic, provides a wide area for search and keeps private
information of the candidates confidential. Some of the most famous job portals are:-
1. Indeed - Indeed.com is often considered to be a ‘job search engine’ mainly
because it not only displays jobs posted on its site but also from various other
sources. It has a presence in 50 countries with an approximate of almost 3.5
billion job searches (Khan, Awang and Ghouri 2013). The advanced search
techniques used, the job alerts system and the research process is quite renowned
in case of indeed.com.
2. Monster – The job portal Monster.com is considered to be one of the most
trafficked site of America. It is similar to indeed.com in terms of its functions as a
job search engine (Moghaddam, Rezaei and Amin 2015). However, the website’s
controversies regarding the leakage of personal data by hackers and other
circumstances rank monster.com below indeed.com.

7EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3. Reed – The website, Reed.co.uk is a United Kingdom based job portal. It is
ranked as the largest and number one recruiting site of the UK. The website is
popular for its rate of success in providing booth full time and part time jobs. The
website allows candidates to apply for jobs without a CV, just by using the
information provided in their website profile only (Council 2018). Due to its
advantages of providing better job recommendations and an increase chance of
getting hired, reed stands out as one of the most important job portals at present.
Task 2:
3. Personal Responsibilities
The given job description states its need for a fresher looking for a startup in sales. It
requires the candidate to be an expert in the sales and marketing process, should be trained and
comfortable in the use of different forms of technology and should be an effective team player.
Considering the requirement points in the job and the main activities, it reveals the set of
responsibilities that are to be followed while working in the organization.
Firstly, the organization has stated its main objective to be the development of a new
business where the products are sold directly to consumers via the use of various social media
forms. Being an educated and qualified professional of marketing process, it can be said that the
establishment of a new business is a long and tedious process that needs to be dealt with close
supervision. As an individual applying for the company, the applicant should be aware of the
importance of finishing the assignments and achieving the objectives in given time. Time
management needs to be crucial since the conditions of the market are constantly changing and

8EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
failing to meet objectives in time could lead to a setback (Anitha 2014). Having an interest in
technology, this can be used as an effective tool to utilize the numerous forms of social media
available since the business is social selling based. Being an effective team player, this skill
should be utilized by the applicant in managing work objectives with the entire team and at the
same time maintaining good mutual relationships and an effective flow of communication. The
job activities require the applicant to be proactive in his role as an entrepreneurial starter. The
applicant needs to possess good communication skills since he would be constantly promoting
products online, answering requests and feedbacks from customers and close business deals. The
applicant needs to maintain good communication with both the sales and marketing teams in
order to achieve periodic objectives and provide successful results. Maintaining mutual respect
with other co-employers and team members, being punctual and being accountable for one’s own
actions are some of the most important individual responsibilities that should be possessed by the
applicant (Wellin 2016).
4. Performance Objectives
The given job description requires for the formation of a set of performance objectives by
the applicant. They are as mentioned below:-
 Formation of an effective strategy – The job is concerned with the growth and
development of a online business. Therefore, setting clear strategies regarding the social
media forms to be used, the marketing and promotional activities as well as customer
services, is essential. The presence of a well formed strategy ensures that the employees
and team members are in line and aware of the various methods that are to be adopted

9EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
and the mediums to be utilized, leading to the success of the business (Costa, Keane
Torrens and Corry 2013).
 Setting goals – The job requires the applicant to set personal goals as well as periodic
and long term goals. The setting of goals and achieving them within a given time period
would help the applicant to analyze and review the outcomes and increase the rate of
success.
 Effective flow of communication – The applicant must maintain good communication
with all levels of hierarchy as well as the sales and marketing teams of the business
organization (Stone and Stone 2013). A good flow of communication would help
decrease doubts and motivate the employees, increasing productivity.
 Emphasis on research – Being a new business, extensive research needs to be conducted
to understand the key areas of strength and improvements. Conducting a proper research
by the applicant would help in identifying and targeting the potential consumers,
understanding the needs of the consumers and making necessary changes and also
providing a clear picture regarding the competition (Cherian and Jacob 2013).
 Customer oriented objectives – The satisfaction of customers and providing an
effective customer service is important for any business form (EK and Mukuru 2013).
The applicant should therefore, lay stress on catering to the customer feedbacks, address
the grievances, remove doubts and maintain an effective communication channel for the
customers.
 Financial objectives – The applicant should carefully analyze the costs that are incurred
and keep a track of the revenue earned. Maintaining financial objectives would help in
evaluating the financial progress of the business.

10EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
5. Own learning and development for work
It is important for the applicant to assess his personal skills since it provides a clear
picture regarding the strengths and weaknesses possessed by the applicant. The assessment of
personal skills also allows the applicant to identify the key areas that require attention and
improvement on his behalf.
In regards to the given job description, the key strengths and weaknesses of the applicant
are stated as follows (refer to appendices figure 1):-
 Strengths – The main strengths of the applicant are as follows:-
1. Has a presence of good communication skills.
2. Is an effective team player who can be expected to make positive contributions to
the team.
3. Is open to learning from the experiences of other team members.
4. Has a positive attitude towards feedback and criticism.
5. Is hard working in nature.
6. Is responsible and reliable in completing the task given.
7. Is quick in learning the technological aspects of a software or product.
 Weakness – The main points of weakness of the applicant are as follows:-
1. The applicant is impatient in nature.
2. The applicant considers himself to be insensitive in certain situations.
 Opportunities – The key opportunities for the applicant can be said to be as follows:-
1. Being open to feedbacks and criticism may help the candidate to focus more on
the skills requiring development.

11EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2. Being a hard working and responsible person, the chances of receiving promotion
is high.
3. New technological developments taking place in the market create a scope for the
applicant to learn more about new technology.
 Threats – The personal analysis of the applicant reveals the following threats:-
1. Stress management – The stress factor for the given job description is high and if
not controlled, may affect the performance of the applicant.
2. Insensitive remarks may have a negative impact on the work relations between
other co-workers and the applicant.
3. Time management – The job description requires careful management of time.
All forms of marketing activities need to be conducted in a given time period
failing to meet which may prove costly for the business. The applicant also needs
to make sure that he provides quality work rather than rushing to meet the time
frame and providing an incomplete and dissatisfactory work.
Conclusion
Thus, the conclusion can be drawn that the current scenario of high competition in the
recruitment of employees, makes it essential for candidates to possess their own unique set of
skills that make them distinguishable from the pool of applicants. One must be aware of one’s
job preferences and should assess if he is up to the mark or qualified for the job criteria. Proper
utilization of the available recruitment points along with the presence of the necessary skills
would add to the increased chances of being selected and may turn out to be beneficial in future
job searches as well.

12EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Reference
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Cherian, J. and Jacob, J., 2013. Impact of self efficacy on motivation and performance of
employees. International Journal of Business and Management, 8(14), p.80.
Costa, A., Keane, M.M., Torrens, J.I. and Corry, E., 2013. Building operation and energy
performance: Monitoring, analysis and optimisation toolkit. Applied Energy, 101, pp.310-316.
Cottrell, S., 2015. Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Palgrave
Macmillan.
Council, T.R.D., 2018. Business support and advice. Hand.
Dustmann, C., Glitz, A., Schönberg, U. and Brücker, H., 2015. Referral-based job search
networks. The Review of Economic Studies, 83(2), pp.514-546.
EK, K. and Mukuru, E., 2013. Effect of motivation on employee performance in public middle
level Technical Training Institutions in Kenya. International Journal of Advances in
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/04/22/7-keys-to-a-successful-job-search/
#51baa4f63021 [Accessed 7 Mar. 2018].

13EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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14EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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15EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Appendix
Figure 1-Personal skills SWOT
STRENGTHS
 Good communication skills
 Hard working
 Effective team player
 Open to criticism
 Open to learn from co-
workers
 Responsible and reliable
 Fast learner in terms of
technology
WEAKNESS
 Impatient in nature
 May be insensitive at times
OPPORTUNITIES
 Constructive feedback and
criticism may help in
developing skills
 Higher chances of receiving
promotion due to hard
working and responsible
nature
 Technological advancements
create scope for learning more
about new forms of
THREATS
 Stress
 Shortage of time
 Insensitive nature may harm
work relations

16EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Applicant Name: Personal Rating
Professional and research skills None Basic Competen
t
Proficient
Trained and qualified as a sales and marketing
person
Comfortable with use of various forms of
technology
Can perform the task alone
Has good communication skills
Ability to cope with stress
Ability to learn from others and criticism
Figure 2- Skills Audit Chart