CAREER BUILDING ONE SEMINAR AT A TIME
As the job market continues to look bleak, many recent graduates look for ways to sharpen their resume for the job search. With fewer available jobs, it becomes harder to make your resume stand out. Those odds can seem daunting, but you can use that time to continue learning new skills and networking by attending conferences, seminars, and workshops remotely.
Industry events are an excellent opportunity for those looking to sharpen their skills while they continue looking for a job. In the past many of these events required travel and time off from work as well as traveling expenses. Now, many conferences and other industry events have moved online, which opens doors for many who couldn't have attended before.
But it is not as easy as attending a conference and listing it on your resume. Here are some ways to make the events and workshops you attend work for you.
1
Get more out of your resume by creating a section dedicated to continuing education that shows your certifications, workshops, seminars, and conferences you have attended post-graduation. This shows your potential employer that you are engaged in your industry enough to continue seeking knowledge and involvement even if you don't have direct work experience.
2
Take extensive notes during the event about what you learned, your questions, and any new insights and inspirations you have drawn from the seminar. When it comes to adding this to your resume, use what you have learned to craft a description of why and how this seminar offered you information or experience that may be relevant to the positions you are looking for.
3
Keep proof of your attendance by getting the offered certificates for completing courses or workshops. These are important in building your portfolio and are a way to show your commitment to your industry and your continued pursuit of knowledge. Be sure also to note the name of the speakers or workshop leaders whose courses you attended as they may be a well-known and credible force in your industry. That information can help determine the credibility of the event and the information presented.
4
Lastly, consider other ways to showcase the knowledge you've gained as you continue on your job search. Consider doing independent projects related to your field of interest. These projects are not only a great way for you to keep working on your skills, but they also make a great addition to your portfolio. These projects also show your future employer that you not only have the education and the skills; you are capable of taking the initiative during tough times.
Best of luck out there!
