👉 “Uneasy” “irritable” “restless” “tired” – if you feel like this at work, this may be for you. Especially if you’ve been ‘in the trenches’ for 25 or 30 years now. In this post series, I’m detailing the way out.
Two weeks back I wrote a piece detailing Step #1 of what you need to do to make the road ahead clearer (even exciting!)
➤ Step #1 is “Take Inventory” – WHAT skills, expertise, knowledge or wisdom do you have and WHO could it be valuable to?
In my post last week I expanded on that, showing how important it is to think ‘outside the box’ – your options may be far more varied and greater than you imagined.
I’m going to expand on it again, here. I’m making a critical point.
Last week I used the example of a Data Engineer. He’s Chief Data Officer within a large telecom. His problem? He doesn’t have time to think clearly about or articulate how – with his 30 years’ experience – he could be of value OUTSIDE of a massive corporation.
Here’s today’s lesson:
➤ Make clear how your skills and experience translate into benefits to a future company / organisation.
I was once interviewing someone for a GM position. The candidate was in his early 50’s. My first question was: “So, tell me how you think your experience relates to the advertised position?”
His answer: “Uuum… ugh, where should I start?” as he cast his head back and eyes to the ceiling. He had no clear, cogent answers. He failed to… “make clear how [his] skills and experience translate into benefits”.
So, how does one do this?
Let’s go back to our Data Engineer / Chief Data Officer. His message to the world should be focussed on BENEFITS he provides:
➤ “In a city, my data analytics team provides insight into traffic – resulting in better planning, less congestion, happier citizens.”
➤ “In a hospital, my data analytics solutions help understand the use of costly machines – saving money, squeezing the most from them.”
➤ “In a telecom, my analytics make sure we understand customer preferences, giving them what they want, retaining them.”
➤ “In logistics our analytics identify the best shipping routes, delivery time and the most cost-efficient means of transport.”
Simplistic examples, perhaps, but what’s the point? State clearly, in detail, how your experience translates into actual benefits. How it solves problems the employer actually has, real world challenges (things that keep them awake at night).
🎯 ONE SIMPLE WAY TO PUT THIS TO WORK IN LINKEDIN:
Use your “About” section. Have a section with a headline: “Problems I Solve, Benefits I Deliver”.
Selling yourself like this helps everybody. It shows how you’re not just “experienced”, but that you make a real-world difference. This is an essential part of moving from “stuck” to having options.
You have options, even if you’re over 50.