5 tips to work on your own employability

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Everyone is talking about it: sustainable employability. The nature and content of work are changing faster and faster. In the times we live in, it is no longer enough to only have expert knowledge of your own job. More is expected of you. You have to be able to keep adapting continuously. You have to be resilient and agile while being able to ensure that you can continue to enjoy performing your craft.

Working on your employability will help with this. In this article we have highlighted 5 tips for you so that you can get a good start with this. In this way you will ensure that you maintain happiness and pleasure in your work and in your life.

Tip 1: Work on your productivity

Employees who are sustainably employable are happier and healthier. Scientific research shows that there is a link between work happiness and productivity (Oxford, MIT and Erasmus University Rotterdam). If you do not know how to organize your workday productively, you are likely to have a huge increase in your workload. So try taking certain steps to increase your productivity and see if they work for you. For example, consider the following:

  • Let colleagues know when you think you will complete your tasks. That way you put some pressure on yourself and you can be sure you don't slack off.
  • Check your mail at set times in your day so that you are not constantly interrupted in your own activities. That way you won't be distracted by new appointments either.
  • Keep small breaks between your work. Working for prolonged periods of time will tire you out faster and your productivity will decline. Give yourself space to find inspiration and take a break. For example, take time for a cup of coffee or get some fresh air.

Compare productivity not with "working hard," but with "working smarter. By employing simple steps like those above, you will make a good start in doing so.

Tip 2: Keep your knowledge up to date

Many employees take training or education courses, but they are often focused only on the current position. This is not directly valuable for advancement to another position. Therefore, make sure you work on competencies that have benefits beyond your job. Consider, for example, 21st-century skills.

Indeed, the 21st century is dominated by digitization. Jobs are disappearing, work is changing and new jobs will be created as a result of increasing digitalization. Therefore, we need to focus on skills that precisely cannot be taken over by computers. At SkillsTown we offer more than 500 online courses that you can use to work on your sustainable employability. Think of trainings such as: dealing with conflicts, tips for a successful work future, writing Dutch flawlessly and much more. So you can learn how to keep up with the changes in society.

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Tip 3: Stay mentally strong in the workplace

"You don't have to be sick to get better," says Tinka van Vuuren in the we-learning Working Together on Sustainable Employability' on our online learning platform. You may feel that you function just fine on the job or while working from home. But what can you do to strengthen your mindset even more, so that you feel good about yourself and stay that way? We list some exercises for you that you can start with:'

  • Go outside during your lunch and take a walk. Preferably to a park or forest if possible. This is because a green environment has a positive impact on your mental resilience.
  • Breathe like a baby. Yes, really! Just look at a newborn baby and you'll see its tummy bulge and collapse again as it breathes. This is how relaxed and natural breathing should be.
  • Did a project not go as you had hoped? Seek support from your colleagues. Sympathetic, reliable colleagues and a positive work atmosphere are a good environment to stay mentally strong.
  • Work on your energy levels. Did you know that phone use requires a lot of energy from you? So make sure you take short breaks where you don't use screens. Instead, do something that energizes you. Read a book, play some music or meditate.

Become aware of such actions. After all, when you feel good about yourself, it will also help with all the other factors that fall under sustainable employability.

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Tip 4: Work on your physical health

Vitality and sustainable employability go hand in hand. Therefore, in addition to mental health, you must not forget physical health. It is important that you do everything possible to prevent sick leave. Not only for your sustainable employability, but of course also for your own health. Here you can think about healthy food and intensive exercise, but this quickly sounds very heavy. There are ways to work on this in your daily life.

There are places in the world where people are living longer, healthier and happier lives. Not by going to the gym and running marathons, but by gardening, for example. Pick up hobbies or do daily tasks that require little or no use of mechanical aids. Instead of washing your car at the car wash, wash it yourself. Start picking up your children from school on foot or by bike, instead of by car. By starting with small steps and becoming aware of them, you will soon notice a difference. Perhaps this will also give you motivation to take bigger steps!

Tip 5: Get a healthy dose of job satisfaction

When you experience job satisfaction, you also have more motivation to work on yourself and your employability. Notice that you don't get enough pleasure from your work? Then think of it this way: If I always do what I always did, I'll get what I got. Take action! Do you want more contact with colleagues? Then schedule an online lunch twice a week, for example, to catch up. Do you feel you only get the annoying jobs? Stand up for yourself and raise this with your employer. To do this, you have to have guts, of course, but it's necessary if you want your situation to change.

Of course, there are smaller things that might make your workday more enjoyable. For example, buy a bunch of flowers for your workplace, take some extra time in your break to make a delicious lunch, give a compliment to a colleague or finally finish that job you were dreading. This gives short-term satisfaction and in the meantime you can think about situations you want to change in the long run.

Getting started immediately with sustainable employability?

Get to know more than 500 online courses in professional and personal development. Learn to cope with stress, get started with healthy nutrition or start a digital photography course. However you want to develop yourself, there is always a course that fits.


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