Competition in the job market is stiffer than ever. The pool of qualified candidates continues to grow while opportunities at top compa
nies can be difficult to come by. When you do land the all-important job interview, etiquette and experience are musts, but you also need to set yourself apart from the equally qualified applicants up for your dream role. So how can you stand out when everyone is a standout contender?
Differentiate yourself with digital badges, or credentials. Fast and affordable credentials from the University Learning Store help you learn, and showcase the core competencies that employers are looking for today. Weave your badges into the story you tell about your professional development, or use them as examples when answering tough job interview questions to prove that you’re the ideal hire.
Tell a Compelling Story
The “So, tell me about yourself,” question is a given in job interviews, and yet many professionals haven’t prepared a thoughtful answer. By earning a digital badge for an important skill, you can more clearly demonstrate how you shifted your career focus or rose to a new challenge. While most applicants have education and experience, not everyone has credentials that show their mastery of everyday essentials like public speaking and project management. Your badges offer real examples and your winning response will set the tone for the rest of the interview.
Show Off Key Power Skills
Employers expect industry-specific qualifications, but you can impress even the toughest interviewer by demonstrating broad power skills. Relevant in almost any industry, skills like communication, critical thinking and project management are what employers look for when selecting a candidate—but aren’t always easy to convey in a one-page resume. You know you’ve got them, so how do you prove it? Digital badges. Designed for savvy professionals, online badges and certificates from the University Learning Store will help you prove your mastery of in-demand skills. Earn a badge to validate a key skill like public speaking, or pick a power skill and earn multiple badges to make up a more in-depth certificate. Most classes can be completed in days or a few weeks, so you can share your new badges at your next interview.
Perform Under Pressure
Job interview questions test a candidate’s ability to perform under pressure. An interviewer may ask you to reflect on a moment of weakness or work through a real-life problem on the fly. Your energy in the room during a tough question can be as important as your qualifications, so how can you keep your cool when the stakes are high? Interview prep is key, but knowing how to prepare for an interview isn’t always easy. Fortunately the University Learning Store offers a suite of digital badges specific to job search training. Learn how to respond thoughtfully to challenging job interview questions with Succeeding in the Job Interview through Active Listening, or develop the confidence to sell yourself through Thinking Like an Entrepreneur. Plenty of people crack under the pressure of an important interview, but with badges you have a secret weapon for success.
Turn a Weakness into Strength
One of the most difficult job interview questions is, “What’s your biggest weakness?” Employers ask it time and time again because the answer reveals valuable insights about an applicant. Your answer to this tricky question needs to send the right message: You’re aware of a personal limitation, but you are proactively improving on it. Turn your weakness into strength by earning a digital badge. Then, when your prospective employer asks, you can highlight the progress you made while earning your badge instead of dwelling on your shortcomings. Badges are fast, so you can quickly boost a skill before a big interview, or you can work toward a full certificate if you want to fill a gap in your experience.
Digital badges can help set you apart when it matters most. Where your competition falls flat, you will stay strong because you have proof of your superior performance. Learn more about how digital badges can be secret weapons for job candidates from entry to upper level.