So what’s your competitive advantage? This is one of the questions that we often encounter in an interview. What can you do to set yourself apart from other qualified candidates? Do you highlight the special attributes that make you a cut above the rest? Job-hunting is getting harder for everyone these days, thus, the unemployment rate is also getting higher so you really have to get creative when applying for a job in order to impress the hiring manager or employer.
How can we achieve a competitive advantage and thrive in today’s highly dynamic world of careers?
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“The greatest competitive advantage in the modern economy is a positive and engaged brain.” “• Shawn Achor |
Ikujiro Nonaka, a Japanese organisational theorist, and business expert agrees that continuous learning and creation of new knowledge is the secret to success. His in-depth background in theoretical management studies allowed him to write about pragmatic frameworks that help solve problems in a balanced way while being innovative, ethical and realistic; and all these elements are usually very difficult to put together.
To be able to achieve a balance between developing a realistic competitive advantage and at the same time, making your career sustainable is going to be your most challenging task. Read more about how to create and manage a sustainable career.
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“In an economy where the only certainty is uncertainty, the one sure source of lasting competitive advantage is knowledge.” “• Ikujiro Nonaka |
Indeed, the emphasis has been directed toward knowledge and consistent engagement as the starting point in forging competitive advantage. However, these essential philosophies do not matter at all if not put into action or carried out properly.
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“There’s no competitive advantage to knowing more than the person next to you. The world doesn’t care what you know. What the world cares about is what you can do with what you know.” “• Tony Wagner |
Here are some tips that you can try in order for you to gain an edge in the job market:
Make your resume stand out!
It’s all about branding – not only products and services can have branding, you can have a personal brand too! Like for instance, Stan Lee is not the only writer who creates great comic books, but because he’s one-of-a-kind, it made him stand out from all the rest. He started out small but when he decided to look into writing professionally, he eventually dominated the comics industry. It’s not an easy process but try your best to harness the power of your brand and do something that can make it better every day.
Use a combination of skills and experiences
Aside from skills, your experiences can also provide you the greatest value so use that to your advantage. Keep in mind that employment is a two-way street. You don’t work just because you need the money to support your needs and lifestyle, but do your job well because you are passionate and you want to help your company grow.
Highlight your achievements
Identifying your achievements is one of the things that you can do to show that you are the right person for the job. But take note that this is not just about your professional accomplishments; you can also mention the things you have done that helped you succeed in many different areas of life to make your resume more interesting. This also lets the hiring manager or employer get to know you on a personal level and truly see if you are a good fit for the company.
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