{"id":4165,"date":"2015-02-08T11:38:18","date_gmt":"2015-02-08T19:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/?p=4165"},"modified":"2015-02-08T11:52:12","modified_gmt":"2015-02-08T19:52:12","slug":"secret-career-advantage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/career-advice\/secret-career-advantage\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Secret Career Advantage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"career\"<\/a>You leave an imprint throughout your life on other people, and vice versa, sometimes faint and slight, at other times clear and strong. You are subtly altered or touched in some way each time you cross paths with someone through the uncharted waters of your life. An imprint is authentic and lasting and is not the same as an impression, which can be false and short-lived.<\/p>\n

In the context of your jobs and careers, think of the myriad number of people you meet and get to know, however fleetingly. Some are instantly forgotten, others remain memories (good and bad) and a few remain constants, acquaintances and lifelong friends.<\/p>\n

Now imagine you are standing on a hilltop on a beautiful, warm and cloudless day surrounded by a stunning landscape. Someone else is standing on a similar hilltop not far away. You can see them clearly and they can see you.<\/p>\n

What they see is what you look like, how you present yourself and any movements you make, and vice versa. It\u2019s the stuff on the surface. What they cannot see is what you are good at, not so good at, what you prefer doing, what motivates you, your goals, ambitions, fears and dreams. And you cannot see these things in them.<\/p>\n

How did you get to be that person on the hilltop? How did they? When you look down into the valley between you, why is that perspective unique to you?<\/p>\n

Here are some examples of the kind of factors that shape us all:<\/p>\n