How to Pinpoint Your Talent and Unique Value Proposition When Searching for a Job
by Adelina Stefan (Switzerland)
Before applying for a job, know yourself! This is one piece of advice that I have received years ago from my mentors, and as a Certified Professional Career Coach, I encourage my clients first to have a good understanding of who they are as professionals and individuals in order to identify how their experiences and skills will match the potential job opportunities.
When you know your strengths and use your talents, you are happier and perform at your best, which means that there is a higher chance that this will direct you to opportunities that align with and own criteria for getting an offer and finding fulfilment in your career.
Feeling lost due to a change in your work environment, career, or job loss is not uncommon, at the same time, remember that this is something temporary.
Many job seekers are unsure about how start looking for a new role, while others are even devastated from the layoff, feel exhausted, burned out, mobbed, or panic and would take the first job that comes to them. At the same time, it may happen that you may have applied for several jobs, perhaps you even had some interviews, but still you have not received a job.
This situation is stressful and you feel demotivated. Your self-confidence may be also low, and you keep telling yourself ‘What am I doing wrong? That job seemed perfect for me!’
When searching for a job, first, it is important to get clarity on what really matters to you, to search for what you love, and not only for what you can do. Being passionate about your role and, at the same time, having the necessary competencies required for that position will help you secure your employment.
To start with, you need to establish your job search criteria. Answering these questions will allow and inspire you to get a better idea and understanding about the job search criteria that you should pay attention to:
- What did you dislike about your last job?
- What was missing from your last role or company?
- What would be your ’wish list’ of things you’d like to have in your next job?
- What industry would you like to work in or not?
- What job title would you like to have?
- Company culture: how is it aligned to your values and work type?
- Teamwork: what makes a team effective in this role?
- What kind of salary and benefits do you need the job to provide?
- Are you comfortable with commuting to work?
- What is your ideal work schedule?
Source: iCN Issue 39 (Career Coaching); pages 32-34
About Adelina Stefan
Adelina Stefan is a Professional Certified Coach (ICF PCC) and ICF Training Facilitator with 13+ years’ experience as an Intercultural Trainer, Expat Career & Leadership Coach, and Mentor. She has catalysed the success of individuals and organizations across cultures, unleashing work-life possibilities for expats from mid- to senior to C-suite level executives. With her intuitive and agile coaching style, Adelina seeks to inspire ambitious professionals to create and implement their unique career blueprint. She supports organizations in building a corporate coaching culture by highlighting individuals’ maximum potential so that they become dedicated and highly successful employees.
Connect with Adelina:
Founder of Advanced Talent LLC
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/adelinastefan
