Today it is not enough to just have a good educational background when you are looking for your dream job in Asia. Have you ever thought of the skills you need for your dream job? In this competitive job market, you need to have a combination of education, experience, and other (soft) skills to stand out from the crowd. Why is this so important and how can you make your profile more attractive to employers? A few tips from Gemini Personnel!
1. Get cross-cultural experience
Various studies show that people who have lived abroad are more likely to have a greater ‘sense of self’, which leads to being in a better position to understand what you want from your career and only applying for roles you’re specifically interested in. This is great for employers. Working or studying
abroad creates broader horizons and living in a foreign culture makes you more adaptable and creative in how you solve problems and approach unexpected situations. These skills are essential in today’s job market.
2. Improve your language skills
Learning a new language is an impressive addition to your CV. It not only demonstrates that you’re curious about the world, but it also shows your commitment to self-improvement and expanding your skills set. A high level of English is a must in Asia, but to show employers your added value consider learning Mandarin or Vietnamese.
3. Get relevant work experience
Employers often prefer candidates with relevant working experience over fresh graduates. Of course, because hiring someone who has performed similar tasks before is much easier than someone who needs to learn everything from scratch. Besides that, you should have a better idea which career path is right for you before you commit to a permanent job. Every job requires skills and knowledge, so how do you get your first job? Work experience or internships make a difference on your CV. So get yourself a side job or a summer internship and start building that experience! You might have to work your way to the top, but getting coffee, answering the phone, taking minutes or running the social media channels are all first steps into organisational life.
4. Education and personal development
There are still a lot of industries and functions where a university degree is necessary in order to be considered for a position. Most people choose their major at a young age, but throughout your studies, you can complement this with (a) minor(s). There are still lots of companies, specifically in the banking, financial, legal and consulting industries that hire fresh graduates.
It’s not your major necessarily that they will be interested in, but the fact that you’ve proven that to be persistent, able to solve problems and think independently. If you already have a university degree, learning doesn’t have to end here. Participating in courses or trainings, online or in person, is a
great way to continue your personal and professional development.
5. It’s all about your network
Networking is an essential part of growing your contact list. Some people say ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. Of course, good education, work experience and skills have an impact, but when it comes to finding the right job opportunity, it’s all about who you know. That’s the reason why it is important to attend networking evenings and make people aware of your availability.
Remember to stay in touch, even if you’re not looking for a new job right now. You never know who might think you’re right for a certain job and puts your name forward, or who might be able to offer you work experience. A good thing to remember, recruiters join network events as well, so don’t forget to swap business cards (if you don’t have a personal business card, create one with your name and profession!) and get in touch with them.
Good luck!
