If you are trying to get a job, especially in today's competitive market, you need to stand out. And one way to stand out is to become an expert. Usually, we think of experts as people who have spent years in a particular profession and worked their way to the top of the ladder, often spending years studying and gaining endless professional qualifications before reaching expert status.
But that isn't always necessary. Not everyone has the time or inclination to train for years and many jobs don't require advanced degrees. What they do require is people who can perform certain tasks efficiently. So think speed and efficiency.
Therefore, one technique which will help you get a new job is becoming an expert in one small, but important area of your career or industry, an area in which you can perform more quickly and more efficiently than most. Let's look at a concrete example.
As the world or work becomes more technical, computer skills are in demand but these days just about everyone can use a computer. Being computer literate is accepted as part of basic education in the same way that being able to read and write are. So you need to do something extra.
Ask yourself, what is the most important aspect of using a computer in my current job? It might be speed or the ability to perform certain advanced functions on a specific programme.
If it's speed, practise your typing. Even ten to twenty minutes a day will mount up over time. You can find a touch-typing course online or borrow a course from the library. Depending on your current speed and the amount of time you can afford to spend on it, you could increase your typing speed dramatically over the next three to six months. If everyone else types with two fingers, you'll be the company typing expert.
You can apply this technique to any aspect of your job. Look at what isn't working as efficiently as it might and analyse your own performance. What could you do to improve your results? With many tasks, it's simply a matter of focus and practice. With others you may need a little help,which you could get by asking someone else for tips or training or if necessary, you could enroll in a short course.
And remember that being an expert simply means you are better at something or know more about it than the average person. If no-one in your company speaks French and you have a basic grasp, you are the company expert.
Choose a skill which is important in your job and the workplace in general, aim for a high level of competence and you will become someone employers want to hire.
| Need to find a job? Get free careers advice at http://www.coolercareers.com Your resume or CV is the key to your success. Want to write one which gets the results you want? click here to download your free e-book. Waller Jamison is a careers advisor who understands the difficulties involved in finding a job. She specializes in teaching CV writing. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Waller_Jamison |
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