What Makes You Qualified?

Some questions just focus the mind better than others ... a certain combination of words elicits a different answer than another combination might have.

When I opened my email this morning, I had a message from someone who came upon this blog by accident. He wrote 'what makes you qualified to do what you do?'

He quickly added that he didn't mean to sound rude or aggressive but was genuinely interested.

Here is part of my answer:

Before I had my resume writing business, I was an HR executive. My last company was suffering financially and we laid off many people in several rounds. Without the money to pay for outplacement, I decided to organize that effort internally. I worked with people on their resumes and found that (a) I really enjoyed it but also (b) they started getting jobs and lots of compliments. [...]

So while I have a professional certification (CPRW), I think what qualifies me is actually more a combination of a talent for doing this and many years of real-world hiring experience [...]

Anyone with a decent grasp of English and some common sense can type a document that looks professional and neat. But it takes an unusual combination of skills to write a resume that sells. It takes a blend of strategic thinking and marketing savvy. It takes the ability to look at a lifetime's worth of experience and immediately see the best way to distill and present that information in order to pique the interest of a recruiter or hiring manager. And on top of that, it takes the ability to say a lot in a very few words.

Since a central core of my resume writing and job search philosophy is based on the need to understand and communicate what makes you unique, I like this reader's question very much. That simple 'what makes you qualified to do what you do?' might be enough to help you clarify your own value proposition. Give it a try.

Comments

[Carla]

I really like your idea about asking yourself this question. "What makes you qualified to do what you do?" It would go a long way in helping people clarify their skills and accomplishments.

Nice post.

~Carla

[Louise Fletcher]

Thanks Carla - although it wasn't my idea :)

[QuestingElf]

Someone suggested to me once to replace the word "qualified" with "competent." He alluded to the Calvin Coolidge quote of too many educated people. He relayed poor experiences with those with all sorts of certifications who never operated in the real world.

So I'd alter your stimulating question to "What makes you COMPETENT to do what you do?"