September 7, 2021
Do you know how long it takes a person from the moment they decide to look for a job until they find one? Obviously, there isn’t a single answer to this question, as it depends on many different circumstances: the person’s professional profile, the job market they operate in, the occupations they seek, the time they dedicate to it, etc. But what is clear is that certain competencies exist that accelerate the process and improve its results.
What are competencies? They are the set of qualities, capacities, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that a person accumulates throughout their life through training and experience, and which they use to face challenges and achieve their personal and professional goals.
And what are the key competencies for facing a job search process? Below, we list those we consider most relevant, without intending to be exhaustive.
Self-awareness
It is the ability of individuals to define a realistic view of themselves, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. When starting a job search process, the first step is to conduct a personal and professional assessment that allows us to identify what we like and what we are good at, in order to define our professional goals realistically and avoid disappointments.
Goal Setting and Planning
It is the ability of individuals to clearly define what they want to achieve and to determine the necessary strategies to reach their goals. Thus, in a job search process, it is important to clearly define the objectives we pursue: which market we are targeting, which position we are looking for, what working conditions we consider appropriate, etc. Once the objectives are defined, the next step is to determine an action plan to achieve them: which companies we will approach and which job search channels we will use, what competencies we lack and what training we need to undertake, etc.
Initiative and Proactivity
It is the ability of individuals to anticipate events, making decisions and taking action before others. When looking for a job, we must drive the process, take control, actively seeking job offers, sending unsolicited applications, contacting companies to follow up on actions we have taken, etc. It is about avoiding a contemplative attitude, waiting for a job to fall from the sky or being solely reactive, responding only when others make the first move.
Communication
Communication is the ability of individuals to clearly convey a message to their interlocutors. Throughout a job search process, there is constant communication between candidates and companies: from sending an initial curriculum vitae to the final interview. Communication, both written and verbal, as well as non-verbal, must be clear, honest, and persuasive, highlighting the value of our candidacy.
Networking
Networking is the ability of individuals to establish goal-oriented relationships. When facing a job search process, it is essential to activate our entire network of personal and professional contacts, communicating what we are looking for and asking for help. It is also important to grow this network by identifying profiles that can help us achieve our goals. The use of social networks, especially LinkedIn, and participation in alumni associations or professional colleges, as well as various events (fairs, seminars, etc.), is of great help in activating, maintaining, and growing our network of contacts.
Adaptation and Flexibility
It is the ability of individuals to adapt their strategies to the evolving environment, without abandoning their objectives. This means that perhaps the experience of the job search process itself makes us realize that the goals we had set were not realistic, or that the action plan we had defined to achieve them was not the most appropriate. We must be self-critical and flexible to adapt to the reality shown by the market, but without losing sight of our own.
Consistency and Perseverance
It is the ability of individuals to maintain continuous effort over time without giving up when results are not as expected. Throughout a job search process, it is very important to fulfill the commitments we have set in the action plan, and in difficult moments, when things do not go as we had wished, such as not receiving a response from a company or not being selected in a selection process, to maintain our convictions and continue fighting for what we desire, maintaining or increasing effort with a positive attitude.
Digital Competence
It is the ability of individuals to use new information and communication technologies. For years, the job market has operated mainly through the Internet: the most successful job search channels are web platforms, applications are sent by email, many selection interviews are conducted via video conference, etc. The crisis caused by Covid-19 has further accelerated this digitalization process. It is essential to master these technologies to successfully navigate a job search process and to meet the needs of companies in the performance of the job.
A job search process is a job, the job of looking for a job, and individuals who have these competencies more developed take less time to find a job and find a job more similar to what they desire. Critically evaluate your competency level in relation to the abilities described before starting to look for a job, focus on those you need to improve, and set small challenges to develop them. Competencies are learned and trained, and the more you train, the sooner and louder you will be able to say: I am what I want to be!
