How do I advance from being an average candidate to a great one?
How can I progress with my applications whilst in a role? Or, I have no job and currently feel like my time is being wasted. Read ahead to understand the importance of time management so that you can move from being an average candidate to a great one.
The mammoth task of finding a new job can seem somewhat daunting, especially as these days it is more common to see recruiters asking for a list of skills beyond what seems possible. Considering this, moving from being an average candidate into a great one is a challenging task. The answer to this question comes down to planning and time management. Both equally important for those without a role, or those still in one.
The paradox of time can be unclear in both scenarios, firstly the prospect of applying to a new job whilst already in a role leaves you wondering how to dedicate the precious little time you have for applications. Secondly, if you are currently unemployed; lack of daily preparation in your days can easily turn into weeks then months and beyond. Start now.
For those out of work…
I will start off for those who are out of work, whether through redundancy or choice, it really doesn’t matter. The main criteria is that you have an aspiration to improve and move forwards. The following steps require action, and there is going to be very little time to be feeling sorry for yourself, or worry that you have no job. This apprehension will decrease your confidence and can easily come across in prospective interviews, so be ready to shift your mindset. This is of course easier said than done, however once it is achieved your progress will be vast.
A great help for me was that I shifted from applying to jobs now and then (some would call this flitting), to allowing the job search to be its own full time role. I don’t mean spend 10 hours a day searching and applying for jobs as likely that will lead to frustration and burnout. You need to structure your day as if you are working in a new role, only the new role is yourself (without getting too deep about it).
For those in work…
The fact you still have a job is excellent, and you can leverage any areas which support the careers you are applying to. The challenging aspect will be with the applications and the skill improvements you need to make over time. However, there are plenty of hours in the day, including some extra at the weekend. I wouldn’t burn yourself out, as for potential interviews, you need to be on top form. Everything comes with moderation so ensure you are not going overboard. The following plan will significantly help you not only with productively utilising your time, but goal setting is important for your motivation and building habits.
Where did I begin? Begin with looking at the key areas you want to improve, this could be learning SQL, Python or less technical such as communication with stakeholders. However this list of skills can end be being very ‘bitty’, this calls for a plan. This mysterious plan outlines your key areas of weakness and clearly focusses where you need to improve.
The best way to create this plan, is start with the job title you wish to achieve. This could be the title of the role you are currently in if you are simply transitioning, or this could be something more ambitious — either way, the aim is that it will be aspirational because every time you look at this plan you will know exactly what steps to achieve to get that dream job (as long as you have written the plan properly!). Following this, you should conduct considerable research on the role, you need to be sifting through job specifications and highlighting the common themes for what potential employers are asking. After conducting research and reading about the role you should be well practised on the job requirements.
The next part is crucial, break down the job title into technical and non-technical branches. Then have a very good think about where you are currently at and where your skills lie, what are your strengths and weaknesses ? From previous employer feedback or from interviews what did they advise you to improve on?
Following this, use job specs to help you outline the key skills required from the tangible to less tangible, there are infinite courses and Youtube content which can address really any need you have. I would get detailed and even add the level to which you want to achieve for each skill area.
Below see an example of a rough draft (emphasise the rough draft part). I would also heavily recommend using Miro which is a very intuitive platform for creating the interactive diagrams you need.
The key to this plan, is that you should be critically and completely honest with yourself, for me, I was strong at the soft skills, I had a range of experience working with people and building up these areas. However, I knew that for the roles which I was applying for, my technical knowledge was not good enough, so my areas for opportunity were very much within the technical skills area.
The great advantage of using this method is that you can really measure your progress very easily, and the improvement over time is very real. Not only does it help you improve the areas required but it also provides strong talking points in interviews (if you are out of work), of telling the interviewer what you are doing currently.
Creating this plan takes time, so a good few nights sleep are necessary to digest and understand where you need to be; don’t expect immediate answers. Additionally, creating the plan is the easy part, the challenge comes from following through and creating those habits to build these skills. After a week or 2 of following the plan, you will soon notice your progress.
If you ever feel stuck, constantly look at the job title at the top and remember why it is your goal. Your plan is the shortcut to making that role a reality. Yes you may go through interviews and not succeed for matters outside of your control, however the salient area you can control is the persistence of following this plan — this is how you will achieve results.
