At MedCerts, we understand the challenges your clients face in today’s job market. According to recent LinkedIn data, approximately half of job-seekers feel the search process has become more difficult in the past year, and more than one in five of all 2024 job-seekers are still looking for new opportunities.
To stand out and land a job, your clients must understand what works in today’s market. Here are five must-have skills to work on together.
1. Map Skills to Career Possibilities
Among recruiters who responded to LinkedIn’s survey, 73% said that more than half of the applications they receive don’t meet all criteria. If your client knows what jobs they’re qualified to apply for, they have a better chance of landing an interview.
Start by working with the client to list their hard and soft skills. If they struggle to name skills, have them list the positions they’ve held or courses they’ve taken. Prompt them to discuss their responsibilities and help them translate their actions into skills, then brainstorm career paths that use those skills.
2. Review and Update Resumes
Resume and LinkedIn best practices change rapidly, and your clients need to stay current. Before your clients apply for jobs, look over their resumes and ensure they meet all of the following criteria:
- Use a simple format with clearly labeled skills, experience and education sections.
- Customize their resume for each job, using as many skill words from the job posting as possible.
- Start bullet points with power verbs like “generated,” “mobilized,” “engineered” and “transformed.”
Encourage clients to use simple formatting and avoid graphics, which can confuse applicant tracking systems. If your clients have completed a MedCerts program, ensure their resume highlights their certifications and the hands-on skills gained through our training.
3. Practice Interview Techniques
Job interviews allow candidates to discuss their skills and highlight why they’re a perfect fit. Clients should know how to present themselves professionally and give answers demonstrating their value.
Teach candidates how to answer behavioral and experience-focused questions using the STAR method:
- Situation: The problem that needed solving
- Task: What the candidate had to accomplish
- Action: How the candidate chose to approach the task
- Result: The outcome and what the candidate learned
Encourage your clients to practice their answers until they feel confident.
4. Develop Networking Strategy
Personal connections are more important than ever in a challenging and crowded job market. Talk to your clients about the benefits of networking and the many ways they can do it, from LinkedIn messaging to local events.
Remind them that they don’t have to start from scratch. Even if they’re new to their target industry, everyone has friends and acquaintances, usually in multiple industries.
5. Identify Certification Opportunities
Networking helps you find opportunities and applications can show someone in their best light. In the end, however, qualifications set a candidate apart.
Encourage your clients to pursue industry certifications, especially if they’re changing careers or have minimal experience. Widely recognized credentials inspire confidence and show hiring managers that someone has the hands-on skills to do the job.
Industry certifications can be the key to unlocking better job opportunities, especially for career changers or those with limited experience. MedCerts offers fully online, workforce-funded training programs designed to equip job seekers with the skills employers demand. Our Partner Solutions team collaborates with agencies and job centers nationwide to provide accessible, career-focused education. Connect with us to explore how we can support your clients’ success.
MedCerts programs accept workforce funding, and our team is committed to your clients’ success. Talk to a Workforce Account Manager today to learn more.
