"Achievements vs Duties"

One gets interviews. One gets ignored. I see this constantly. Candidates making the same errors. Employers creating the same problems. Everyone frustrated, nobody changing their approach.

Let me break down what I’ve learned after fifteen years of watching this play out.

The fundamentals of achievements vs duties haven’t changed much over the years, despite what the LinkedIn influencers might tell you. What has changed is the volume – more applications, more competition, more noise. Which means the basics matter more than ever.

Here’s what I tell every candidate I work with:

• Preparation is non-negotiable. Not just reading the job ad, but understanding the business, the team, the challenges they’re facing. Show up knowing more than they expect you to know.

• Stories beat claims. Anyone can say they’re a great communicator or a strong leader. The candidates who get hired are the ones who prove it through specific examples. What did you actually do? What happened as a result?

• Questions reveal intelligence. Not questions about benefits or holidays – those come later. Questions that show you’ve thought about the role, the challenges, the opportunity. Questions that make the interviewer think.

• Follow-up is an art. Too much and you’re desperate. Too little and you’re forgotten. The sweet spot is adding value – a relevant article, a thought that came to you after the interview, something that keeps you memorable without being annoying.

• Timing affects everything. When you apply matters. When you follow up matters. When you negotiate matters. Pay attention to the rhythm of the process, not just your own timeline.

None of this is revolutionary. But most candidates don’t do it consistently. They prepare for some interviews and wing others. They follow up sometimes and forget other times. They know what they should do but don’t always do it.

That gap between knowing and doing is where careers stall. Close it, and you’ll be ahead of most of your competition.

The job market doesn’t reward intentions. It rewards execution. What are you actually going to do differently after reading this?