Career Strategy Tips
Far too often, many of us begin our job search much later and with less preparation than desired. As we throw ourselves into the job market, we find ourselves in a competitive environment without much differentiation from the next person.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The trick, though, is starting out earlier than your competition and working harder than them to achieve your career strategy. I’ve been there, too, and it’s not easy to be the top candidate for your dream job. Instead of despairing and facing stress, take command of the situation and create a skillset and value proposition that is both unique and valuable. Even more, you can count on most of your competitors not doing these things.
Tips and advice for looking for a new job:
✔️Regularly review roles you aspire to well in advance and understand what skills and knowledge are acquired. Then execute a plan to achieve them.
A career strategy should have a 3-5 year time horizon. This leaves plenty of time to identify the skills and credentials you should begin studying for so that you are ready when it’s time to advance. Great strategies are both challenging and realistic. To ensure that you make these plans a reality, start putting the habits and routines in place now to produce results.
✔️Overachieve. Get your resume to the top of the pile by earning more education and credentials than your peers. Apply that knowledge.
Many jobs in accounting and finance call for something like “CMA, MBA, or CPA preferred.” The best way to stand out and earn the job isn’t to have just one from this list but as many as you possibly can. You should aim to have multiple credentials that show you are professional, highly skilled, and curious. Going above and beyond shows that you are passionate about what you do. The key, as well, is to use the knowledge acquired to help your current employer overcome challenges and obstacles that have others stalled. Skills and the ability to use them is a winning combination.
✔️Do things. Solve problems. Lead projects. Have an impact. Then document your achievements.
Unfortunately, many jobs are set up where we maintain the status quo and keep the machine humming along. However, as you likely know, this creates a difficult environment to stand out and get your resume to the top of an employer’s list of candidates. Start small and find ways to make things faster, more automated, or less complex. As you improve more, you will have time savings that you can reinvest. Over time, this behavior will help you stand out and justify a higher compensation package.
✔️Show, don't tell. In a resume or cover letter, embed additional docs that showcase your work and detail what you've done. Go above and beyond. Bring a computer and show off your work portfolio.
Job interviews are notorious for being ambiguous. In a limited amount of time, both parties try and do their best to understand the value of the other party. By only speaking to each other, we are careful not to put too much weight into what someone says- there are lots of BS artists out there.
To stand out, find ways to document and share your work and knowledge in the resume and cover letter. Go to the next level and assemble a work portfolio that you can also pass along. To win the job offer, show that you know what you are talking about and that you are highly capable in making things happen. Document what you’ve achieved, share your lessons learned, and create a unique value proposition.
✔️Derisk yourself. Write about your beliefs and style, share your knowledge, and show that you ARE a perfect fit for the role. Let them know who you are, why you're unique, and why they must hire you.
In the interview process, we have a small window of time to obtain information. We explain who we are, and what we do, and we share what we think the employers might value. However, a big piece of what many candidates miss is crafting a compelling online image. If you have a web presence on a blog, YouTube, or LinkedIn that shows your personal and work characteristics in full light, you will give employers greater comfortability about who you are and your ability to fit in with the new culture. Take a stand on key work issues and use the opportunity to showcase your communication skills.
🔍 Find people who are better than you, then mirror them. Always look for who has better tools, ideas, presentations, and ideas. Absorb as much as you can. Repeat.
No matter where you work, you will always find someone who is smarter and rising faster than you are. Instead of being envious, learn as much as you can from the driven and intelligent people around you. Understand why your employer values you and seek to emulate their skills, knowledge, and influence as much as you can. Always be on the lookout for the latest and greatest tools and techniques that you can learn from others and apply to your work.
Knowing the difference could save you a lot.