Career advancement is a top priority for today’s workers, but many are finding their aspirations frustrated. Fifty-nine percent of millennials say that opportunities to learn and grow are important when applying for a job, considering this the most desirable job attribute, a Gallup poll found. Eighty-seven percent rate professional and career advancement as important to them at a job. But 70 percent of employees aren’t satisfied with the career advancement opportunities available, according to a CEB survey. A lack of career advancement potential is the top reason workers leave their jobs, the survey revealed.
One way to overcome obstacles to career advancement is by making better use of technology. Today’s technology tools can help you develop career skills, identify job opportunities, and connect with prospective employers. Here are three ways you can use technology to boost your career.
Developing Career Skills
Education is the key to career advancement, and using technology to learn the career skills that employers want can lay a foundation for a better job. The first step is to determine which skills you need to develop to get the type of job you’re seeking. Online resources such as the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook can help you research different career paths and determine what skills and education are required for jobs that interest you.
Once you know what skills and educational requirements employers seek in your career area, the next step is filling in any gaps in your resume. You may need to earn a full degree in some cases, but often, a certification course can be enough to boost you. You can earn certificates and degrees partly or entirely through online courses using resources such as massive open online courses (MOOCs). The Labor Department’s CareerOneStop site can help you identify suitable online and traditional educational resources.
Identifying Job Opportunities
Once you’ve got the qualifications you need for the job you want, the next step is to identify employers seeking workers with the skills you have. LinkedIn is today’s leading job search tool, and using it effectively is one of the best ways to deploy technology in your career quest. Get the most out of LinkedIn by optimizing your profile, building your connections, using the platform’s job search options, utilizing recommendations and referrals, and researching employers.
Another tool you should be using to research employers is Google for Jobs, Google’s new job-seeking tool. Google for Jobs uses artificial intelligence (AI) to match your job search query with results from major job boards such as LinkedIn, Monster Way, Up, and individual company websites. You can access Google’s tool directly through Google’s search engine by adding the word “jobs” to a search term, which will bring up a list of job-related results at the top of the page.
READ MORE :
- Top ten tools to finish your college essay in time
- How to Know It’s Time to Repair or Replace Your AC
- Best Ways to See New York City
- 5 Ways to Prepare for a House Sitter
- Five of the Best Ways to Promote Your New WordPress Blo
As Google for Jobs illustrates, artificial intelligence is emerging as one of the most useful job-hunting technologies. You can make the most of AI’s job search potential using a device designed to support this technology. Qualcomm’s new Artificial Intelligence platform enables you to run AI on your smartphone, positioning you to maximize your ability to use this powerful job-hunting tool on the go.
Connecting with Employers
Once you’ve found some suitable employers, the next step is to submit your job applications. Technology can help you automate this process. Job-hunting chatbots are an emerging tool to help you find prospective employers and submit job applications.
GoBe, for example, integrates with Facebook Messenger to let you text with a virtual assistant who can help you find, view, and apply to jobs, and create a profile to apply to multiple jobs. Job is another chatbot tool that works with Facebook Messenger, providing you with automated alerts when it finds a job that fits your criteria so that you can apply right through the app.
Today’s technological tools can help you develop your career skills, identify job opportunities, and submit your application to prospective employers. Use these tools to maximize your opportunities and launch yourself on a successful career path.
