6 Skills Vets Can Learn To Stand Out In The Job Market

Looking for a new career path can be a difficult issue, even when you have particular skills that can, to an extent, help you to separate yourself from other prospective candidates.

If you’re looking for a change in direction, then the most important thing is to be able to stand out. There is no job market that isn’t competitive at this point, so having something that puts you a step above the competition is vital.

With online courses available from numerous sources, and various ways to improve your skills from home, it’s never been easier to add strings to your bow. Here are five ways to separate yourself from the pack and make an impact on the job market.

(1) Social Media Skills

Social media has taken on a life of its own at this point, The days when the likes of Facebook and Twitter were just ways to keep up with family and friends are long behind us, and social media is not an important tool for any business, from the two-person start-up to the major corporation.

Larger companies have social media teams, whereas smaller organizations may rely on one or two people who have social media included in their jobs. Either way, knowing your way around social media pages can really set you apart.

From knowing what to post and how to phrase it, to understanding statistics for post interactions and the various advertising options available, an understanding of social media is a strong tool for the modern world.

(2) Computer Programming

Social media’s power is an offshoot of a much larger trendy technology. Technology runs almost everything we do on a daily basis at this point, and computer programming is a skill that can really help when it comes to finding work.

Computer programmers and coders of a high standard tend to make good money, whether employed by a company or working freelance.

Coding is not just for those who want to create software, in fact, coding can help with various job opportunities, from iGaming to web design, to heading up projects in numerous industries.

With a variety of online courses offering the chance to learn to code, this is one of the best skills you can develop when it comes to making yourself an ideal candidate for prospective job opportunities.

(3) Public Speaking

While technology stands tall at the top of the industry, there will always be a necessity for human interaction, and public speaking, from the ability to present projects, to teaching valuable lessons based on your own experience, is a valuable asset to have.

For vets especially, the ability to talk in an accessible and confident manner of your experiences, and the lessons that can be learned from them in day to day life and in business, can open up opportunities for self-employment.

Even for other job possibilities, public speaking ability is of the utmost importance. Many people are uncomfortable with speaking in front of an audience, so proving your ability to do that can make all the difference.

The best way of training yourself for public speaking is through practice, but there are also a number of excellent resources available to aid with hints and tips for informative and interesting presentations.

(4) Language Skills

If you’re looking for a change of career, it is possible that you may also be open to, or even keen on the idea of relocation. The world is getting smaller, and there is a veritable myriad of English speaking companies based around the world in various industries.

If relocating to another country is something that tempts you, then learning a new language can really set you apart. Even if you are planning on working for an English speaking company in another country, the ability to speak the local language will always be a bonus for potential employers, and something that it is more than worth focusing on.

Even if you plan to stay where you are, an extra language will always be a benefit when it comes to your job search.

(5) Be Proactive

Back to technology for this last point, but this time focusing on the opportunities it presents you to set yourself apart.

With the various blog and vlog platforms available, the opportunity is there for you to get your story and your personality into the public sphere. This is a good place to prove your ability for public speaking (even if it’s just talking to a camera) and can also aid in developing those important social media skills mentioned above.

If you have self-produced material in the internet world that has a provably strong following, it will help to show you as proactive, and capable of working on your initiative, as well as giving you a public profile that may well be attractive to prospective employers.

(6) Being Clear Headed Under Pressure

This is a skill not many people have and one that is highly valued in the job market. We’re not saying that you have to be the next card counting Ben Campbell from the Movie 21, but it sure helps if you’re able to keep calm when the pressure is high.

This will prove useful in many niches where you’ll be able to earn an above-average salary. Including trading, project management and just about anything that involves managing a team of people.