The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

230 / BECOMING SUCCESSFUL

Qualifications These give an indication of your potential and so are

particularly important in more junior jobs. Even working toward

a qualification signals commitment and ambition to your current,

or future, employer. Examine job listings in your area of expertise

and analyze what qualifications employers are seeking; if you don’t

have them, enroll in a suitable course.

Experience There is no substitute for experience, but employers are not

necessarily looking for candidates who have spent long periods in the

same role—two or three years is often adequate. If you have spent less

time in a role, and particularly if you have moved several times, you may

be seen as someone who lacks commitment. If you have held one job for

much longer, you may be perceived to be too set in your ways.

Experience is what you gain from each job and each project you

undertake. If you make a mistake, learn from it. Reflect on everything

you have done and what you have learned. Also, use someone to help

you through a project so you can learn in real time. A mentor, a good

colleague, or even a family member can sometimes fulfill this role.

Skills Many of the basic skills you will need in any job, such as

negotiating, presenting, managing your time, and chairing meetings,

have been covered in this book. To hone your skills, identify your

preferred learning style and choose development experiences that

best suit you:

• Do you learn best from reading books, trade magazines, or online
  training material?


• Do you prefer learning in the classroom, at conferences, or from
  colleagues? Short courses give you the opportunity to develop
  specific skills away from your colleagues, in a safe environment.


• Do you learn best by doing the task? A great way to learn something
  is by teaching it to someone else.

Getting that job

When seeking your next position, make

sure that you consider and address each

of the five qualities that recruiters are

looking for in your application.

Experience is what you gain

from each job and each

project you undertake

Key points for successful job applications

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