Efficiency is the ability to consistently deliver a proven product. In manager jobs, this often means that you can deliver effectively the expectations set forth by the company. Manager employment has expectations that you are good at making sure that goals are set, employees are meeting the objectives, and that the results are measurable.
One can work in manager jobs and be extremely efficient without being effective. How do you measure this? While it is important to be able to deliver according to a company's demands, a strong candidate will also be able to work effectively when the market changes.
When submitting your cover letter and resume, you will want to sell your ability to be EFFECTIVE. This means that you will demonstrate that not only do you adequately perform, but that you exceed the expectations through innovative ideas. This includes all aspects of jobs management has to supervise: employee performance, sales and production.
An efficient leader will find creative ways to implement the company's objectives through creative savings on purchases, morale boosting, and retention. While you may produce the required product as an efficient manager, exceeding expectations through an open house or promotional program, or other type of product awareness, will make you more valuable in the changing market.
When submitting your resume for the job, you will want to highlight both sets of your skills. Use your descriptors to really sell yourself for being not only efficient, but exceeding the expectations without compromising the integrity of the product.
Just because you have innovative and bright ideas won't sell you for management jobs if you can't prove that you have done the job well. You must convince the employer that you can do the job as expected, while still bringing new value and ideas into the manager jobs for that company.
Finding your balance is what it is all about.
In our fast paced society, doing more for less (being effective) seems to be the desired traits. Everything is being designed to help things move along on the conveyer belt we call life. But when things need to be changed to keep up with the evolving social structure, there will need to be someone who steps up to the plate with ideas that may not be tried, but that will save the day.
Sell yourself for management jobs as someone that can gracefully do both. This will help you land a job where your skill sets will be applied for practical and growing work - and can lead to upward mobility within the company as you prove your abilities as a leader.
