Before you apply for a vacancy, there is one question that matters more than any other:
What journey is this role being hired to complete?
Most candidates never ask it.
That is why most applications fail.
Every Role Exists to Move Something
No organisation hires for “a job”.
They hire to move from an as-is state to a to-be state.
That might mean:
- stabilising a function,
- fixing a problem,
- scaling capability,
- replacing lost knowledge,
- or preparing for a future transition.
Until you understand that journey, you do not understand the role.
Hiring Is Not Just About the Person
Another mistake candidates make is assuming they are the only resource.
They are not.
Every role sits within a wider system that includes:
- existing teams,
- leadership bandwidth,
- technology and tools,
- budgets,
- external partners,
- and organisational constraints.
Understanding what resources already exist, and what gaps remain, is critical.
Otherwise, you cannot credibly position yourself as the solution.
Why Most CVs Miss the Mark
Without clarity on:
- the as-is reality,
- the to-be objective,
- and the resources available to support the change,
a CV becomes a generic list of past roles.
It may show experience.
It does not show fit.
Hiring teams are not asking:
“Can you do the job?”
They are asking:
“Can you get us from here to there?”
Alignment Changes Everything
Once you understand the journey, your CV can do something most cannot:
- map your experience to the organisation’s actual problem,
- demonstrate how you have delivered similar transitions before,
- and show how you will operate within the real constraints of the business.
At interview, this allows you to explain:
- what you would prioritise,
- how you would use existing resources,
- where you would intervene personally,
- and how success would be delivered.
That is what creates confidence.
Final Point
Applications fail when candidates sell themselves in isolation.
Strong applications position the candidate as part of a delivery system.
If you cannot clearly articulate:
- the as-is,
- the to-be,
- and the journey between them,
you are not ready to apply.
When you can, your CV stops being a document and starts becoming a business case for hiring you.
