Every week, NETSHARE hosts Ask the Coach, a phone-in coaching session with leading career management experts. Here is an excerpt from the most recent session with Kim Batson, The CIO’s Coach, and Deb Dib, head of Executive Power Brand.
An interesting question came up in this week’s Coach call. The first caller asked Deb and Kim to offer an opinion on a Matched Skills document, which compares the requirements of a job to your specific skill set. The first third of the document summarizes your resume and the next section addresses the skills required, and the final section contains bullet points on how your skills map to the job. Is this a good resume supplement?
Neither Deb nor Kim was familiar with the Matched Skills name, but they were familiar with the concept. Kim said she thinks this is similar to a Skills Set Analysis, and since both coaches are on the lookout for new approaches for their candidates to demonstrate their worth, this seems like a useful document. Both coaches generate these kinds of documents regularly for their clients, and it is a great “leave behind” after a job interview. Both coaches feel this is an excellent way to prepare for an interview, although putting the summary at the top is redundant. The document helps crystallize the interview presentation, and if you are truly interested in the position, it’s worth the time and effort.
Of course, for such a document to be effective, you need to know what position you are shooting for. Then you can prepare a basic analysis that can be adjusted to the specific opportunity. You can then list the specific skills and benefits that match the position. As the coaches say, be a Benefit Bringer, not a Skills Singer. Your competition will have similar skills – they are the price of admission – so you need to set yourself apart. Think of the “so what” factor and make yourself and your skills important to the company.
Also remember that many job descriptions are abysmally written and often inaccurate. Job descriptions change, which is why you need to understand the underlying problems that the company is facing, which in turn will highlight what they are really looking for. A three-column chart can help. Use the headings “Skills needed,” “Benefits-Experience,” and “Proof of Performance,” and then fill in the blanks. Determine what your best example is for this situation; proof of performance is a huge differentiator.
Also note that recruiters love it when you come prepared with documents such as these. It shows you have done their work for them and it may get you short-listed for the position. It’s an ideal document for an interview follow up and also can serve as a good icebreaker.
