Spanning your credential gaps

In any job search effort, there are two major risky gaps – absence of previous experience and skills. Both of them are apparently overwhelming impediments because it is impossible to fill them up straight away. Experience can be gained only if you work and skills can be acquired only over a period of time. But still, you can span the gaps, provided you are disposed to shedding your unclear and woolly ideas; and getting out of your comfort zone.

In the conditions that prevail today, rather triumphs in its so-called links and networks, it is rather weird that aloofness is a critical way of life in the employment market. Whatever we may do – establishing relationships with people, making contacts with placement agencies or contacting potential colleagues – it is brought about from the comforts of our home. Telephone and internet are made full use of. 

We tend to forget that the relationships brought about using otherwise distant interfaces and communications are bound to be always one-dimensional, narrow and superficial. People at the other end do not identify us as fellow humans but simply as an entity on the screen. They are not in the know of our charm, individuality, principles, standards and makeup. They remain uninformed of various aspects of our life that stimulate and change us into a unique individual. You may flash hundreds of emails or SMSs, they will continue to perceive you as an unknown nobody. Over the communication line, they will be pleasant and affable, but in the real world highly guarded and restrained. If there are prospective employers who are being contacted, the writing on the wall should be bold and clear – they are simply adhering to rubrics and procedures.

If a job advertised lists the qualitative requirements in terms of number of years as experience or specified skills; and if you do not happen to have them, rest assured that you will not be taken into account for the post. Notwithstanding the counterbalancing attributes or the will to do well that you may possess, the fact is that they cannot be singularised from the distance that you are located at. In other words, all such qualities are nigh on indiscernible and hence cannot be considered in their initial estimation.

Does the above imply that you simply do not stand a chance if you do not fulfil the qualitative requirements of skills and experience? The answer is “No”. But you have to learn to span such gaps. You will need to get out of your comfort zone and woolliness.

Research conducted has thrown light on the fact that the skills, academic qualifications and experience get relegated to a secondary position if the hirer has a direct knowledge of a candidate. Stated differently, if the distance between you and the recruiter or prospective employer is less, the closer you get to be visualised as a suitable candidate. This is largely because of the truth that closeness adds profundity and strength to relationships that are superficial. Your proximity makes you visible and the impression of being a ‘somebody’ gets transformed into one with distinguishable assets and qualities. You thus become a real world personality. This automatically serves to span any gaps that may exist in your CV.

How do you span the gaps in your CV? You have to step out into the cluttered, troublesome and nerve-wracking cauldron of personal exchanges. In a nutshell, you have to cease to be known as a ‘somebody’ or an unfamiliar person. You have to make certain that you are better known to and acquainted with people around you. You should take memberships of professional clubs or help in social causes to be recognised. Your name will travel and reach people who matter, including prospective employers.

  Dale Carnegie said that there are four ways in which you can have contact with the world and by which you are evaluated and classified. They are what you do, how you look, what you say and how you say it. And when you do so, you also convey a feeling of being required. Can this be possible via a distance mode? You have to develop personal liaison to be successful. You have to make use of your organic filaments.  Remember that your job search will have to rely on a basic element – meeting people.

Success will not come to you on its own. You have to go after it. The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply. Do not wait for your ship to come in; swim out to it. That should be the guiding factor for your job search, despite any gaps in the qualitative requirements that you may have.