There are many benefits that come with being a Subject Matter Expert (SME). If you’re a SME, people depend on you for not just your knowledge of a particular area or topic, but your ability to come up with solutions to current problems and potentially stop new ones. Sounds like a great field to be in, and one where you can be valued, but if you aren’t careful, you could jeopardize losing out on other positions that are outside your expertise. Related: 3 Executive Resume Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make In fact, some SMEs can become so good at their job, that sometimes, they are not considered for leadership opportunities, explained the co-founder and CEO of the Authentic Leadership Alliance, Susan Tardanico. “When you’re steeped in your subject matter, sometimes it’s challenging to remember to build your awareness, knowledge, and acumen in other areas and aspects of the organization/company. But this is what you must do if you want to move into a broader executive role,” wrote Tardanico in an e-mail interview. It’s also important that influential people in your organization are aware of your extensive leadership abilities, added Tardanico. In an article titled, How To Make the Leap From Expert To Executive, Tardanico gives some suggestions on how SMEs can expand from being the subject matter go-to person and into a more executive position. Among her suggestions is expanding one’s knowledge about the business to show the people in charge you are strategic. But how does one go about doing this? “Volunteer to help with special projects or organization-wide teams that are assembled to address a major challenge or opportunity,” wrote Tardanico. “If these teams aren’t readily apparent or available, then be proactive and identify something that your boss is struggling with – and think about how you can use that need to showcase your broader capabilities.” One Fast Company article titled, Are You A Star At Work?, notes that having “organizational savvy,” or knowing how your company works, will also let you know what doesn’t work, which can make it easier to strategize and see which projects will work and which ones will not. All in all, the main goal is to identify any opportunities where you can get noticed by your employer, added Tardanico, especially if it’s a skill you don’t get to show off every day. If you’re not already in a leadership role where you can manage a team, the same rule applies. Take some initiative, identify a key problem in the business you would like to address and assemble a team of your own. “What’s the downside? Obviously this means more work, and it could be challenging to recruit a team,” wrote Tardanico. “But if you present a compelling enough case for the project to your boss and other senior leaders, they could assist in naming people to serve on this ad-hoc team.” If you’re looking to grow out of your SME role and into a more executive position you definitely don’t want to stay as an SME for too long, warns Tardanico. “Don’t lobby for a broader role until you’ve done the work to broaden yourself – your leadership skills, your business acumen, etc. Don’t stay focused on execution of tactics.”
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
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Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
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In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
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You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
- How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
- The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
- How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
- The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.
- And, a lot more hacks for job search success!
Let us show you the secrets to getting a new, better-paying job you actually love. Sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp today.
Are you ready to land the job of your dreams (and leave the job of your nightmares)?