Help to get on the job

Jeremy Tauri.

It's become really common to hear about businesses struggling to find good workers.

And it's not only those that are skilled that employers are trying to find, but those keen to stick with a job.

Here are some quick tips to help make yourself more employable.

- Get some experience. If you do not have experience in a particular field you are interested in, offer to work for a set period at a business to build some. This will be invaluable on your CV and, if you make an impression, you may be able to turn work experience into something permanent or get insight to that career.

- Get some qualifications. Are you able to study part-time or extramurally, if a full-time course is not an option? The key is to get a useful qualification. You sometimes see people who have got the most basic qualifications, equivalent to high school level across a hugely wide range of subjects. That might make employers think you do not know what you want, or you are just trying to fill time. Work out where you want to be, what you need to get there and work back from there.

- Check your CV for mistakes. If you are not confident about your written communication ability, get someone to help you. It is off-putting to be handed a CV that is full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

- Do what you say you will. If you say you will meet an employer at a certain time, do it. If you've booked an interview, turn up. If you have to change the date or time, do so with as much notice as possible. Turn up and be reliable.

- Call or turn up in person. Don't rely on texts when you are inquiring about a job.

- Don't give up. If you do not get a particular role, think what you could improve in your next application.

Find inspiration Look at what others have achieved, how they did it and what motivates them.

- Jeremy Tauri is an associate at Plus Chartered Accountants.