Every employer is looking for a candidate that stands out from the herd. They are looking for someone with the skills and experience that can help them drive their business forward. It’s essential to know how to position yourself to stand out and be memorable as a candidate. Here’s a look at what you should highlight in your resume and in your interview to make sure you get the attention you deserve.
Leadership
Leadership skills are often acquired talent. Most people are not born with the abilities and communication skills necessary to motivate and lead within a team context. Some people find themselves either looking to move into such positions or even placed in such a situation without developing the necessary skill set to support their duties. These skills include thoughtful delegation, communicating well, and evaluating the best and most efficient use of your team’s time and efforts. Luckily, there are a wide variety of learning opportunities within a leadership context. There are plenty of sources of high quality IT and general leadership material in literature format (such as books by Ries, Maxwell, Covey, Goldsmith, and Patterson, just to name a few).
Leadership training seminars are also widely available. They do generally come at a pretty substantial investment. If you have the cash to put into it, many candidates find that certain training can help motivate and inspire in a way that written material simply can’t.
Philanthropy
Volunteering, or offering up your time and expertise in a not-for-profit manner (such as open-source projects, pro bono work, etc.) can be both personally rewarding and a great example of your leadership skills at work. You are equally able to meet and connect with other industry leaders in such situations, so the value of your donated time creates a solid return on your investment. Listing such projects on your resume provides an opportunity to display your leadership skills, IT abilities, and personal passions in a way that can stand out for hiring managers. Furthermore, if you don’t have solid leadership experience highlighted within your existing CV, volunteer opportunities might be optimal to include. Volunteer opportunities provide real-world challenges and situations that are perfect for testing and further developing your commitment, communication, and team-leading skills.
Expertise
Starting a tech blog or online forum related to your particular area of expertise can set you up as a leader within the online community at relatively limited investment on your part. The trick is to find a niche. A niche is an area where there is considerable need for the support and expertise on a topic that you are in a special place to provide. Start conversations, build a following, and engage readers in a way that creates a position of leadership for yourself. This is a high-quality leadership experience that, again, can help your resume stand out in a crowd.
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