BUSINESS
Each job that you have taken has helped you grow
During a conversation, he said, “Please, I need your help. I haven't searched for a job change in the last 15 years, and now I feel frustrated about the process of job search. My CV does not match any skill mentioned in the job description and I even don't have any idea how to fit every word of it.” Ujjawal Shukla works as senior vice-president, marketing in a big company in Abu Dhabi. “Being away from India for so long has contributed to that fear of me,” he concluded his huffed conversation. I waited for his next sentence and realised that he was quiet now. So I asked him why he feels the need to fit every word of a given description, and that means with every advertised job he would be changing the CV multiple times.
Are you also looking for a change and are in the dilemma of a similar kind? Read on to find out the do's and don'ts: Skills needed on the job mean technical knowledge or your subject knowledge. The rest are behavioural competencies. It is not possible to match each of them. If you tweak your CV accordingly, then either you are applying for the next Avenger's job as a superhero or upfront lying. Let your CV reflect clearly as what kind of career you are making. Whether it is moving on from a job after two years or 15 years, it is the same.
Your career is a mix of each job you have taken and it has helped you grow from there. The skills you acquire are the contributing factors to each demand, the job description talks about. Do not confuse switching jobs with switching careers. Often they are two different entities. You may have worked as a trainee engineer to begin with, and grew as a technical manager in the same field of operations. You have not switched careers. But if you joined as a trainee engineer on the shop floor of any manufacturing unit, but moved on to become a process trainer of any I-T organisation, then that is switching careers. You will have to justify each such switch in the interview.
As you climb the ladder, interviews are more focused on what you know, the previous job and mainly your contribution to its growth and the value you would bring in from those. The job description may demand “a mentor and change agent”. Look through your career and see how you helped change peers or colleagues as better individuals and as a team. Understand the job description, floral language can be deterrent here. Once I had received a call to come and train “the path navigators and the pilots”. The truck manufacturing company meant truck drivers and helpers. Look for familiar terms matching your experience and responsibilities. Look at the job title clearly. In some telecom organisations, COO is circle operation officer. The title, cluster head may mean a big cluster of people or just a small group, since it is in employers control as what would be the size of the cluster.
Are you applying to jobs beyond your regular and known expertise? It may be a good idea to stretch yourself, sometimes, for a new position. Most people after a certain age and experience are expected to hit the ground running when they land up a new job. If that looks like a lot of effort to fit in the new job by its description, take it. That is how your next promotion in the same organisation or in the next move will come in. Most people look very confident in any new role they walk into. That comes from a basic, innate ability to seek and fulfill challenges. Remember, each one of us has a first day and the last day on any job. Make it a point to match your CV with skills, which are technical and subject matter expertise and cannot be acquired overnight. Do try to justify the behavioural competencies as they are easy to learn and show. Being a team leader needs a mindset which can be worked upon.
The writer is a strategic advisor and premium educator with Harvard Business Publishing
Meet woman, who plays key role in Rs 33661 crore company, daughter of billionaire
Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna didn't talk to each other on the Chhaava sets because...
Nita Ambani, Nick Jonas share candid moments at Siddharth Chopra's wedding, WATCH viral video
UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2025 registration date extended by 7 days; apply at upsc.gov.in
'Fight for progress of Delhi will continue', says LoP Rahul Gandhi after Congress's Delhi debacle
Namma Metro Fare Update: Travel rides get costlier by 50 per cent from THIS date; check details
'AAP-Da Mukt Delhi': PM Modi hails BJP's resounding victory in assembly polls 2025
'He is fit to...': India batting coach shares BIG update on Virat Kohli ahead of IND vs ENG 2nd ODI
IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma on cusp of breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record in elite openers list
NASA confirms Sunita Williams' return date, denies US President Trump’s ‘stranded’ claim
Meet man whose airline went bankrupt, still has Rs 43894 crore net worth, he is...
Ranji Trophy: Suryakumar Yadav's horror show with bat continues, India star clean bowled for just...
Chocolate Day 2025: 5 easy homemade chocolate recipes to impress your partner
Mass layoffs at Infosys as company terminates 700 freshers over...
Priyanka Chopra wears 62-emerald bead Bvlgari necklace at her brother's wedding
Chocolate Day 2025: Date, significance, history and celebration ideas
Meet Swati Singh, wife of BJP's Parvesh Verma, who defeated Arvind Kejriwal by 4089 votes
Meet man, son of world’s richest woman, he is set to take over Rs 1642000 crore empire as...
SHOCKING! Bride's family cancels wedding at last moment over groom's low...
Nita Ambani, Shloka Mehta stun in gorgeous sarees at Priyanka Chopra's brother's wedding
Meet Trisha and Sanidhi, daughters of BJP's Parvesh Verma, who defeated Arvind Kejriwal
New entrant in grocery quick-commerce, ready to compete with industry giants
Transforming the news and media industry with Generative AI: Expert insights by Sanjay Jain
Dr Tanvi Tijoriwala, ND shedsputs light on balancing skin barrier during rising temperatures
How PM Modi's magic shattered Arvind Kejriwal and his third-term hope in Delhi?
Ahmedabad: Fire breaks out at Sabarmati bullet train station, check details
Meet Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwals's wife, who was former IRS officer, met him during...
BIG blow for Meta employees, Mark Zuckerberg's company to layoff employees from..., reason is...
Amitabh Bachchan sparks major concern among fans with cryptic post, writes 'time to go'
Taylor Swift 'feels used' by Blake Lively, wishes she didn't drag her into Justin Baldoni case
Meet IAS officer who failed five times before cracking UPSC exam, cleared in 6th attempt with AIR...
Delhi Election Result 2025 Live Updates: Check full list of winners and losers in Delhi elections
Who is Kabir Bahia, Kriti Sanon's rumoured boyfriend who hid his face from paps
Delhi Election Result 2025: AAP's Arvind Kejriwal vs BJP's Parvesh Verma; key contests to watch out
Bank holidays in February 2025: Check if banks are open or closed on February 8?
Cristiano Ronaldo sends heartfelt retirement message to former Real Madrid teammate Marcelo Viera
Jeet Adani, Diva Shah are now married! Here's why their wedding was more than a mere celebration
IIT-BHU student gets highest package of Rs..., average package in 2025 is...
Music composer Anu Malik sells two Mumbai flats in Santacruz West for Rs..., co-owner is...
Jeet Adani and Diva Shah are now married; video of varmala ceremony goes viral, WATCH
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding: Gautam Adani shares first pics of son's wedding, see here