As much as it’s a job seekers market, companies are still looking for value. When they’re hiring for a new role, one of the most important questions they’re asking of each candidate are: What do you bring to the role? What skills, what knowledge? What expertise?
When applying for a new role, it should be with this in mind for several reasons:
- Determine if you’re the right fit
It may be an opportunity to progress in your career but will you make the impact the company needs? Everyone is under pressure. How can you apply your skills and knowledge to make things better for the business or project? Getting clarity on the value you bring to a role in your mind will help determine if you’re the right person for it.
- Improve your CV
Writing a CV can be hard. Most people don’t like talking about themselves. Say too much and you can come across as boastful. Say too little and you can appear to be inexperienced. If you think about your skills and experience in terms of the value delivered it becomes easier to describe what you’ve achieved. And because it’s framed in terms of how your employer benefitted, it doesn’t sound as arrogant, even when you’re talking impressive figures or impacts.
- Better interview preparation
In an interview you’ll be asked about past experience. When you can frame this in terms of the value you delivered to projects, it makes an impact. Interviewers are able to gain insight that goes beyond what you’re saying. It shows them that you’re thinking about the bigger picture and how to apply your knowledge and skills so that projects and teams’ benefit.
- Career progression
Working through the process of identifying the value you bring can help you get greater clarity on where you’d like to go next. There are so many cross-sector opportunities that you may find you need not stay on the same linear career path. There may be other sectors that are in desperate need of your skills. When you can define your value, it then just becomes about how you can apply your knowledge to specific projects or situations. At a senior level, this is what matters most. If you’re open to learning, cross sector career progression is a great opportunity to broaden your knowledge and career opportunities. Plus you’re able to bring more value.