Best practices, better approaches, and extraneous tips

Something I learned recently: no one will ever give you a job because you know of a better way of doing things.

In other words: employers are not often on the lookout for new approaches to old problems. They’re looking for a tried and true solution that simply works.

Employers value best-practices, precisely because they’re agreed-upon and because they’re standard. And while some smart startup may pay extra for a professional consultant—one that will direct them to a better approach—it’s certainly not the norm. And it’s certainly not a viable way to get a job.

Better, I think, to focus first on best practices. To see what’s trending, what’s standard, what’s relevant. To get the certifications, and to learn the skills and tools you need, now, to do a job competently. Once you’re in a position to make choices about how you do your job—then you can seek about better approaches.

Because while it’s sure fun to read about a better way of doing things—doing those things or even being aware of them will likely not get you a job.

Furthermore, all those extraneous details—the figures and facts and ideas you read about or consume in podcasts—they’re pretty irrelevant, as well.

At least until you land a job with someone who’s smart enough to give you the freedom to make smart choices about where place your time, resources, and focus. That, or at least until you create one yourself.