Are you basing your identity and your job search on your job title?
The problem is, job titles vary from one organization to another. While there are similarities — teaching doesn’t vary much from one school district to another, for example — when using titles, the role is the focus, not the skills involved. Teaching is a skill you acquire, and it differentiates you from other job candidates.
When your job search becomes focused on the value you bring an employer — the combination of experiences and transferable skills you have — opportunities appear that may have been overlooked.
In order to prepare for a job-search strategy built on value, answer these questions:
What makes you want to change careers?
What are some specific areas of interest you could contribute to immediately?
What are your qualifications?
What to do you want to do?
The next time you attend a networking event or other gathering, try to introduce yourself by describing your interests, value and enthusiasm for helping employers solve their problems.
Titles describe corporate structure and are used as a compensation benchmark. The problem with relying on titles is they’re tied to a specific job. Competing in today’s marketplace requires that job seekers identify themselves with more than a title. Give it a try.
