The job market is a volatile, and often highly flooded market. When applying for jobs, and balancing your current work/life commitments, time can seem precious, and opportunities strife. You've got the skills, you know you can demonstrate yourself at interview, but it can be difficult to know what that magic formula is that makes you stand out to an employer.
The secret is, there is no magic formula; and whilst it can often seem a never ending quest, there are, in fact, certain things you can do which do pick you out from the crowd with an employer. And these things can be done by you, rather than leaving things up to the luck of the draw. Whilst you may have pre existing skills, or excellent knowledge, how do you allow that room on your CV to demonstrate that knowledge before you get to interview stage? Think about a home study qualification.
When you're unemployed, although 'spare time' isn't necessarily something you desire when you'd rather be in work, it can also be valuable to your professional and career development. You may already have skills for a job, but undertaking a home study qualification will allow you to gain a qualification, to place on your CV, which will instantly mark you out as someone who already has key and important skills - this is before you even make it to interview. And if you do make it to interview, a home study qualification provides you with a tangible base within which to answer questions. A home study qualification that is nationally recognised will be instantly attractive to employers who will understand the significance of your pre-existing skills without you having to explain or use quite as many examples.
In addition, this 'spare time' no longer looks like an awkward gap on your CV. A home study qualification not only illustrates that your time out of work was directed and purposeful in relation to your career, but also provides you with new found confidence by empowering you to learn, and improve your knowledge, even at a time when your confidence may have been knocked by unemployment or redundancy.
And if you fancy a career change, getting new skills up for a dream job does not have to mean financing a return to university. Home study qualifications are available from a wide variety of nationally recognised and valued awarding bodies in almost all areas; Microsoft, EDEXCEL, OCN, BTEC are just some of the examples of awarding bodies who can accredit you for work at home. You can choose to advance your career prospects or facilitate a whole new career direction by equipping yourself with brand new skills and learning them at a time and pace that suits you. This will enable you to re-enter the job market with a renewed confidence that you have the background skills, demonstrable by your home study qualification, which not only pick you out from the crowd but also allow you to apply for the job you always wanted.
