Introduction

Tools help us to shorten the time frame needed to complete a job. Just as smartphones have made accessing information from the internet quicker, leveraging the right tools is important when preparing for a job search.

Classification of Tools

I have divided the necessary tools for this phase into three categories:

1. Tools to fill the skills gap.
2. Tools to practice acquired skills.
3. Tools to organize information.

Tools for Filling Skill Gaps

Skill gaps are a natural occurrence in one’s employment journey. These gaps are not necessarily intentional mistakes or overlooked aspects of work. The skills required for one job may not be the same as those required for another job, which is why organizations have roles, designations, and titles. In this post, we will focus specifically on the technology industry.

Before embarking on the journey of filling the skill gap, it is important to discover where it lies. You can learn about how I identified my own skill gap in this post: https://saidevakumar.com/2023/03/30/how-to-identify-the-gap-in-your-skill-set/

• Pick easy-to-complete courses: Learning a new skill takes time, so it’s best to grasp overall concepts quickly. I utilized LinkedIn courses that were only 90 minutes long. I even listened to some of the courses at 1.25x speed, so I could focus on the course alone. Since I have been working in the industry for over 20 years, it was easy for me to pick the skills with short courses to start with.
• Take notes while listening to courses: We tend to remember things better using our muscle memory; everything else is just information. Take notes in digital format or in a notebook during the course. I use Notion to take notes and transfer them into a diagram format using pen and paper. Taking effective notes can also help you remember key learning points.
• Use the STAR interview model: Humans are moved by the stories we believe in. Presenting my experiences in a storytelling format helped me connect with my interviewer. The STAR Interview Method is an effective tool and strategy for building these stories. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, making it one of the easiest formats to connect through real-life work experiences.
• Tighten Your Resume: Resumes have recently undergone significant changes. Recruiters and hiring managers are now specifically looking for what we accomplished in our jobs and specific activities. Fluffy language and vague jargon are a thing of the past. I used Resume Worded to assess the strength of my resume and tighten the language used. I see a well-worded resume as a tool for presenting our experience and getting the job. I spent close to 32 hours rewording my resume.
• Improving your resume with help: Asking for help can be intimidating, but it becomes much easier once you get over the “help threshold” by asking three people for assistance. I wrote about my experience seeking help here. Having a second pair of eyes review our resume can help identify blind spots that no amount of technology can detect. Peer reviews are a valuable tool for making a resume stand out.

Tools To Practice The Acquired Skills.

Acquiring new skills is only half the battle; we need to practice them to make those skills stick. There is a good reason why repetition is called the mother of all skills.

• Practice Presentation: Presentation skills are a crucial aspect of the interview process. The skills necessary to perform a job differ from those required to attend an interview and answer questions. To enhance my presentation skills, I utilized Toastmasters, Yoodli, and LinkedIn interview prep as tools to practice. I processed my responses through these tools to see how many filler words, such as “um” and “ah,” I was using, which may indicate a lack of confidence.
• Chat GPT: As of writing this, generative AI is the hottest and most useful tool in the world. I used prompts to create an artificial intelligence interviewer to ask specific questions.
• Practice Coding: As a solution architect, I interact with both customers and technology. I am sometimes asked to write simple code to demonstrate my skills during interviews. To prepare for this, I practice coding on websites like LeetCode or CodeWars. However, I have noticed that the code I practice for interview questions differs from the code I use in my actual work. Regardless, I remind myself that I must do what is necessary when I am on the receiving end.

Tools To Organize The Information.

• The book and pen model: When typing, our fingers move in limited directions (usually around 8 directions). However, when we write with a pen and paper, our fingers move in around 20,000 directions, activating more muscles and helping us to better remember what we learned. When I was learning new material, I used to put it in a diagram format. Our minds respond better to images than words, and they respond even more effectively when the images are created by us.
• Incremental Mind Maps: Mind maps are an excellent method for capturing notes. I use XMind to create mind maps by hand and in digital formats. The key is to revisit these mind maps to review what I have learned and update them as I learn new things.
• Print it out before going into an interview: We like our name so much that we enjoy hearing it from others’ mouths; it’s an intrinsic human behavior. Similarly, interviewers would be pleased to see candidates refer to the technologies, responsibilities, and relatable experiences in the job description. As a candidate, when I speak about what they are looking for, there is a high chance of getting the job. All of this takes just 10 minutes; print out the job description and highlight the skills you will talk about that are listed in it.

Conclusion.

Tools help us to shorten the time frame needed to complete a job. In this case, finding a new job is the job, and leveraging platforms, people, and practices are the tools. There is no better judge than your own experience.

What did you do differently when going through a similar situation?

In your experience, are there any additional tools we should leverage?