You Don't Need to Be Perfect to be the Perfect Employee.

Many of us come from a generation where we were raised to be the best at everything we did: the best student, the best athlete, the best employee, and so on. Our parents and educational institutions were intent on teaching us that if we had the best grades, we would advance faster and better in our careers.
Unfortunately, growing up was not that easy for many, was it? Little did we know that the world would change so quickly and that this mentality would completely change people’s well-being and their idea of what a career meant

Being a professional in the digital world means that you no longer play by the same rules you were taught when you were a kid. You can no longer focus on being the best version of yourself, but the fastest. How many of you had to adapt to your own field in the blink of an eye? What you learned at college is no longer what you use in your job today. Not even close.
It’s a constant back and forth to stay current and excel. And… sometimes one and the other do not mix well. Unfortunately, many employers still expect their employees to know everything about everything, and that plays a very damaging role in our lives.
There is a new motto that we should learn and practice more often: You do not have to be perfect to be the perfect employee your company needs.

Want to know why?

Because you are not your job.
While many years ago people labeled others based on their position and success, today priorities are different. Not because people no longer value their careers, but because they are becoming more aware of what is truly important: family, emotional and physical health, and self-discovery.

And because perfection is a myth.

It’s pretty obvious that everyone wants their chance to shine. Most of us want to be great team players, super productive employees, and get that invisible badge for “employee of the month.” What most people do not realize is that striving for non-existent perfection is very detrimental to their mental health, productivity levels, and therefore the final delivered result.
Many people are often forced to say “yes” to everything because they think that saying “no” will make them less worthy of the place they have, and they stop focusing on what’s really important: the value they bring to the business

Today, people need to be just enough so that the company that has taken them on can mold them to its own needs, culture and values. As professionals these days, we all have to be absolutely willing to learn new things and keep our doors open to new challenges. Sometimes these challenges and new learning will completely overwhelm us, and some people will likely fail at one point or another. And that’s okay, too. Whereas many years ago failure was considered a disaster and a step backwards in one’s career, today failure means progress, and many companies are beginning to accept this.
You see, it’s small changes in mentality that have a big impact on people’s performance and on their professional and personal growth. When you accept that failure is natural, and realize that you can only grow from it, you are highly desirable for employment.
And just as failure is no longer synonymous with being fired immediately, self-learning should be central to our existence as professionals in the digital space.

Why is self-development important?

Being the best student in the college is great, but it will no longer determine your future. You will spend most of your life on this earth learning. The faster the digital revolution and change happens, the faster you will need to adapt your knowledge. One way to ensure that everyone follows this train of thought is to invest their time in self-learning: at work or at home. People must not see self-learning as an obligation to the company they work for, but as an obligation to themselves. It is in your own best interest to make sure you are always qualified to be hired.

Every day that goes by, new jobs are created. Jobs that most have never heard of. We know it’s scary to fall behind, but it’s also amazing to get so many new opportunities to shine. The best part is that everyone has the chance to take advantage of this opportunity these days. Regardless of whether you attended a college or not, you are just as ready as anyone else to take advantage of all the opportunities because there is tons of material and courses on the internet. By no means are we saying that the Internet is the new school. What we are saying is that even if you did not have the chance to study at a college, chose the wrong path, or just were not in the right mood when you were there – your chance to have a great career does not end there. As long as you are alive, you are just as good! Not perfect, but just as capable.

While hard skills are still very important and should always be highlighted on your resume, the truth is that hiring managers these days are focusing more and more on the person (soft skills) and not just the cover of your credentials. For example, showing that you are a good listener and communicator, agile, fearless, and willing to improve yourself is half the battle for your professional success. Despite your professional focus, you should never forget to develop your soft skills. This depends only on yourself. Only your will to improve your weak points will make the difference.

At LOAD, we value just that and try to make it a big part of our culture: We hire people and turn them into professionals. Learn more HERE.
You see… This very sudden digital transformation in so many companies has made some things more impersonal and mechanized. Although some processes are data-only, many companies fail to communicate that the more digital their processes become, the more human and down-to-earth people they need. It’s a balance that needs to be maintained so that digitization continues to serve its true purpose: humanity.