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The SMP Solutions Guide to Winning with Attitude
Is getting your next job or promotion just about you having the right skills?
What other factors could play a major part in both your job search and also success in career advancement?
Many people think that skills and knowledge are the be all and end all for most jobs. Skills are undeniably a vital ingredient for success in all job roles and for many the more specific or the more transferable the better. For some very technical jobs, having exactly the right skill set and proven ability to do the role could be the determining factor.
However, have you thought about when either you or maybe a friend or work colleague got a job that you did not expect to get as there were more skilled candidates?
This happens all the time and often people are mystified as to why they did not succeed when they appeared to have exactly the right skills required by the employer.
Consider the following scenario:
Forty people apply for a job and the general calibre of candidates is high giving the company the pick of people to short list for the final round of interviews.
What is likely to influence their decision? Is it the four people who have the most relevant or proven skills to do the job and the best knowledge base or will there be other factors that will influence the decision?
Often when it gets to the latter stages of the interview process, the prime candidates have pretty similar skill sets so what sets you apart from the competition is likely to be a combination of your personal attributes (key qualities, nature and personality characteristics) and your attitude or general mindset.
Enthusiasm, willingness to learn and a positive attitude can help you leapfrog over the competition, even when they may have 'better skills', as these can add real value to the job and organisation.
It is a fact that most skills can be learnt but it is hard to change people's nature and their outlook on life and enthusiastic and positive people tend to radiate energy, which is infectious!
The hardened 'Apprentice' fans will no doubt remember Sir Alan Sugar's dilemma in the last two series. Most recently the final between Lee and Claire and even more so in the previous series between Simon and Kristina.
Sir Alan had a different dilemma this time round but arguably still went for Lee's enthusiasm, creativity, unbounded energy and willingness, albeit sometimes coupled with 'childish naivety' and 'quirkiness'.
This was even more marked in the previous final where despite Simon's naivety, his determination, willingness to learn and desire for the job won the day over the much more experienced Kristina's proven skills and 'safe pair of hands'. Yet again attitude and attributes won the day over skills!
Copyright SMP Solutions (2008) Career & Personal Development Consultancy
'helping you unlock your potential'
www.smp-solutions.co.uk
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