Do You Have the Right Work Experience for Your Job Search?

“Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” – Exodus 4:10

Sometimes a job search can be downright depressing, discouraging, and intimidating. I read all these ads for positions like what I do, and they all seem to be asking for work experience and expertise I don’t have.

They want:

• Seven years of experience doing this particular thing
• Five years doing that
• In-depth knowledge and expert-level use of this application
• Extensive hands-on experience with this other application.

It’s almost overwhelming! At times feel I could not apply for and get the job I’ve been doing for 20 years, and that’s a very sobering thought.

Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever seem to see others passing you by even though you’ve been doing your job for quite a period of time? Believe me, you’re not alone.

Understand your work experience…

I was in one of those funky moods when I met with a friend to discuss where I was in my job search. I thank God for him. He posed some questions that got me to thinking about my background and experience.

In the course of this discussion, and as we examined my background and experience through the filters these questions provided, I had one of those “Aha!” moments. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the experience they were looking for. It’s just that they used different terms to describe it.

Genesis 39: 20b-23 describes Joseph in prison. He had been there for close to 13 years. Finally, the cupbearer remembers Joseph when Pharaoh is looking to add to his staff. The job requirements for the position might have seemed pretty daunting to him.

Joseph might have looked at the opportunity and thought, “That sure isn’t me.” But instead, he was able to reframe his background and experience and let God do the rest. And we know where he ended up…Prime Minister of Egypt. But he had no experience!

Look at your skills with new eyes…

You may be there too. God is opening doors on your behalf, but you must know yourself and be able to reframe your skills and experience where it makes sense, so the employer can truly see what you have to offer.

Try it; you might just surprise yourself.

God of the impossible, there are times I don’t think I fit a job when in fact I might. Help me to reframe my past to have a better perspective on job requirements.

If you would like to explore working with a career coach, contact us for a no-obligation consultation and we can discuss your situation and what you would like to achieve.