Thanks to Kevin Makra and Workopolis.com for the original article.
In this article, the author discusses ideas & strategies that will help you come out as the top candidate in your job-search. Contrary to the popular belief, companies are always hiring (for the best candidate anyways). Here are some tips on being that best candidate.
KEY POINTS
HOMEWORK - Know as much as you can about the company you are applying for. Their values, their customers, products, what makes them unique, what type of people they are looking for. With the power of technology and Internet search engines- there is no reason not to have all these answered before applying for the job.
UPGRADE YOUR SKILLS - It is true that as of today, you may not have all the skills that they are looking for, so you may not be the best candidate today. But are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to spend some time learning that skill-set? If you are, and you show your eagerness - it shows your seriousness for your career.
CULTURE FIT - Many times it is easier to find the best technical fit, however finding the person who will work well within the team is a hard. Employers want candidates who can fit into their culture.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS - I think this one does not need any further explaining. No matter what job you do , communication skills are vital.
CALL TO ACTION
If you already know the company/type of company you want to work for - then start learning all the skills & gain all the experience you can get before applying for the job. Check out udemy.com where you can learn practically anything for less than $100.
Make it a priority to sharpen your communication skills.This is not easy- however with the proper application over time- it can be improved.