How to Prepare for Future Career Opportunities: Practical Tips

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Many graduates and job hunters are understandably pessimistic about the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has detrimentally impacted vast swathes of the global economy. Unemployment is rising in many countries. Most forecasts about the speed of the recovery once things return to normal are equally bleak.

But does that mean there aren’t any opportunities at all? What about sectors of the job market which have shown growth? How should people prepare to find a fulfilling career in a post-COVID-19 world, and what role will digital skills play?

To discuss these points, we invited Vijay Pravin Maharajan to come and talk to EU students. After graduating from The Technical University of Munich (his background is in engineering), he moved into the telecommunications space and now works for Siemens as a data-analytics expert. He has a wealth of experience with cutting-edge technologies and has worked with many of the world’s top brands to drive innovation and implement market-changing ideas.

This post covers the main points from his presentation, which was aptly titled, “How to Prepare for Future Opportunities.”

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A solid CV is the basis of any successful job search. Vijay suggested putting together a one or two-page CV that won’t overwhelm potential employers with unnecessary information.

While he noted that applicants should ensure all key areas – including contact details, experience, qualifications etc. – are covered, he also emphasized the need for all information to be relevant to the job. Vijay recommended that people thinking about a career should start by picking the fields they are interested in and prepare separate CVs for each one. He also highlighted the relevance of digital skills as most companies have transitioned to cloud infrastructure, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. LinkedIn

After covering CVs, Vijay moved on to discuss LinkedIn and the value of having a solid profile in the modern job market.

He outlined four areas found in a typical LinkedIn profile that require special attention:

Detailed bio – This is the tagline underneath the user’s name.
About You – This is where most viewers usually jump to after landing on a profile page, so it’s good practice to include the most important information here.
Featured – The “Featured” area is an excellent place for showcasing media like photographs and articles that demonstrate your skills and expertise.
Experiences – The key thing that people should remember is to make descriptions associated with past experiences and job positions engaging. Descriptions shouldn’t be filled exclusively with “boring” details about a company.

Vijay also pointed out that individuals who want to enter the tech or information technology (IT) spaces will also benefit from creating a GitHub profile. GitHub allows potential employers to look specifically at a candidate’s technical work. Managers also have the opportunity to showcase related experience and projects in the technical space.

3. Online Courses and E-Training

Vijay was keen to point out that there will be many opportunities in the coming months and years as companies seek to re-establish themselves after the pandemic and take advantage of new market opportunities.

He said that one of the best ways of preparing for a post-COVID-19 world is by learning skills that will likely be in high demand. Popular online platforms like Lynda, Udemy, Coursera, edX and so on are excellent places to do this. He also recommended searching for courses about the same topics on different platforms, and selecting the one best suited to the individual in terms of content and teacher.

Vijay suggested that students who are thinking about their careers for the first time should commit to upskilling (in conjunction with their university degrees) to make themselves more attractive to employers.

He also pointed out that it is useful for individuals in the business space to have at least some understanding of technology, even if their specific specializations are not in this area. Most large companies rely on advanced technological infrastructures, and knowing how to navigate them can be of immense benefit.

Vijay talked about “mastering” an in-trend technology, such as big data, analytics, machine learning and so on, as a way of learning about how technological solutions work generally, and discovering how they impact corporate operations and processes. In this way, applicants will have an edge over other business graduates that have not ventured out of their comfort zones.

4. Books, Blogs, Podcasts and Webinars

Vijay rounded off his presentation by covering the importance of ongoing learning, particularly through books, blogs and other media channels. He is an avid reader and understands the importance of staying up-to-date with industry news, trends and innovations.

For applicants, instilling a habit of regularly consuming industry-specific information has an array of benefits, especially when it comes to job interviews. It can be particularly ingratiating when applicants are familiar with the recent activities of a potential employer.

By finding a mix of blogs, news sources, books, podcasts and content-creators that they connect with, job-hunters can ensure that they are up-to-date with the latest happenings in their field and the broader industry.

Prepare for a Career You Love at EU Business School

If you’re excited by the prospect of a career in the corporate space, a degree from EU Business School will equip you with all the skills, experience and expertise you need to thrive.

We offer a range of courses, including our popular MBA (Master of Business Administration). What’s more, students have the opportunity to study in one of Europe’s business hubs. We have campuses in Barcelona, Geneva, Montreux and Munich, as well as online.