When Job Searching, You Are Being Compared
Job hunting is a 'winner takes all' competition in which you're compared and judged against other applicants.
Job hunting is a 'winner takes all' competition in which you're compared and judged against other applicants. Putting in an application for a job is no different from entering a baking or short story contest. However, there's one difference: there's no second place—silver medal—nor does "everyone wins for doing their best," hence why giving participation trophies does a disservice to children; it fails to prepare them for two universal life truths that they will one day confront:
Everything in life is earned. (Yes, birthright exceptions exist. Choosing to squander your time and energy, resenting those who’re an exception doesn’t change this truism.), and
Sometimes, your best isn't good enough to beat those you're up against.
Job searching intensifies these truths.
Irrespective of your feelings about the "fairness" of having to do "what it takes," you don't rise through the ranks of whatever career path you've chosen by being meek. Be it corporate, artistic endeavours, athletics or military, without a competitive spirit, you won't have a career comparable to someone who does. Thus, generally (keyword) speaking, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, higher-ranking military officers, celebrities and elite athletes tend to be hyper-competitive.
I keep the following phrase from American author Ashley Antoinette in my head: "You can't compete where you don't compare."
When entering any competition, for instance, job searching, it's crucial to understand the standards and benchmarks—your ego may insist you have the skills and qualifications, do you?—against which you'll be compared; therefore, consider the following:
Awareness of standards
Knowing and accepting what employers in your profession and industry will most likely expect from you is critical.
If you're applying for any job requiring strong writing skills (e.g., grant writer, content creator, communications manager), it's a given that your writing skills need to be well above average. When applying for a sales position, your sales record and ability to sell yourself will be evaluated.
Along with industry and profession expectations, employers evaluate applicants based on the expectation of applying professionally.
I repeatedly see sloppy applications and an unprofessional appearance as the biggest hindrance to a successful job search. Even with all the online job search advice, typos, grammatical errors, incomplete LinkedIn profiles, and dressing inappropriately for interviews—dress for the position you're interviewing for—are common. In 2025, there's still a strong conservative element in the workplace, albeit not as strong as before.
Self-Assessment
You can identify your strengths and weaknesses by honestly comparing yourself to those you're competing against. My advice: To be competitive and considered a contender, focus on your strengths (read: lead with) and be less concerned about your weaknesses.
My "go with your strengths" story:
Years ago, over a Thai lunch, I asked my then-boss how he managed to work so fluidly. He never seemed stressed; it was as if he floated through his workday, accomplishing high-level tasks. His answer: "I work with my strengths. As long as my weaknesses do not hinder me from doing my job, I don't spend time and energy trying to overcome them. I spend my time and energy improving my strengths." The food wasn't memorable, but my then-boss's words were. As a result of ignoring my non-detrimental weaknesses and focusing on my strengths, I've become a stronger competitor and have benefited from it.
Strategic positioning
Knowing where you stand in relation to your competitors helps you improve your strategy.
The words uttered by another ex-boss during what I think was a friendly dust-up some 20 years ago, "There's always someone younger, more skilled, and hungrier than you," have stayed with me all these years. His words remind me that I must always be at least one step ahead of those nipping at my heels. I've seen many careers implode because the person rested on their laurels.
It's surprising how many people don't try to stay relevant by learning and becoming proficient in the technological advances affecting their profession and industry, AI being the latest. Demonstrating continuous learning and adaptation is what employers like to see in candidates and their employees.
Always know where your skills and experience stand and what you can offer employers in terms of measurable value. Calling yourself "talent," as many do these days without quantifying how your "supposed talent" will generate revenue for an employer, isn't a compelling argument for why an employer should hire you.
I hear from many job seekers experiencing the "Silver Medal Curse," where they land interviews and then hear, "We went with someone else."
Clearly, their resume and LinkedIn profile are competitive, which anyone can achieve with all the resume help available. However, one thing no one can do for you is your interviews, the meetings where the hiring manager assesses your suitability for the position and the company and compares you to the other candidates they’re interviewing.
My tip to make your interviewer see you as a contender for the job is to prepare specific examples that showcase your skills and achievements, aligning them with the job requirements. The best strategy for beating your competition is to show employers that you are a winner who has produced measurable value (key) for your previous employers.
BONUS:
I came across this LinkedIn post by Mukhtar Kadiri, whom I suggest you connect with/follow (Tell Mukhtar I sent you.), and I wanted to share it with all of you.
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned corporate veteran, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can email Nick at artoffindingwork@gmail.com with your questions.
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