Stay Ready, So You Don’t Have To Get Ready

Whether you are an employee or an employer, there is a massive difference between "getting ready" and "staying ready." Getting ready is reactive; it’s the frantic, late-night resume overhaul after a layoff or a sudden need to craft the perfect job description after your star employee leaves. Staying ready is proactive; it is constant, low-stakes maintenance that ensures you never have to start because you never actually stopped.

When you are getting ready, you are playing catch-up. Instead of excitement about an incredible opportunity that finds your LinkedIn or email account, you feel a wave of dread because your resume hasn't been touched since 2022. You are trying to remember what your "big wins" were months or years ago while simultaneously trying to learn the latest industry jargon that sets you apart. It’s messy, it’s stressful, and it usually results in a LinkedIn profile or resume that looks like a construction zone.

When you stay ready, you treat your career like an athlete treats their off-season. You don't wait for the championship to start training.

Here is how that shift in mindset transforms the game for both sides of the interview table.

1. For the Job Hunter: Don't Be a Panic Updater

Nobody wants to spend Saturday morning looking at their resume. But if you only touch that document when you’re desperate, you’re going to miss achievements that matter to your future employer.

• Keep a running note on your phone. Did you fix a bug that was driving everyone crazy? Did you handle a nightmare client without losing your cool? Did you save the company 10% on a contract? Write it down now, with the numbers, before the details fade from your memory.

• Remember the power of networking. Don’t be the person who only texts their old coworkers or boss when they need a referral. That’s awkward. Grab a coffee a few times each year just to catch up. It’s way easier to ask for a favor or be on the forefront of someone’s mind for a new opportunity when you’ve actually stayed in touch.

• Never stop learning. Instead of cramming a certification in a weekend, dedicate time every month for your learning and development. Even if you love your job, look at job postings in your field periodically to see what skills companies are asking for. If everyone is suddenly talking about a new tool you’ve never heard of, you’ve got time to familiarize yourself with it before it becomes a "must-have" for your dream role.

The Result: You’re not "looking for work." You’re a professional who just happens to be prepared.

2. For the Hiring Manager: Stop Firefighting

Most hiring managers hire like they’re trying to put out a house fire. Someone quits, the team is drowning in the increased workload, and now you find yourself sifting through 400 resumes, half of which are irrelevant. In the end, you’re willing to hire anyone with a pulse and a decent handshake because you needed a body in the chair yesterday. Reactive hiring is expensive, exhausting, and leads to bad hires that cost even more down the line.

Staying ready as a leader means you are always looking for your next hire even when you don't have an open headcount.

• Treat every interaction as a potential interview. This could be the person who gave an incredible presentation at a conference or the freelancer who crushed a small project for you. Maybe it’s a great candidate who didn’t get the last job but would be perfect for the next one. Keep their info and use it to check in a couple times a year. When a spot opens up on your team, you shouldn't be starting a search; you should be making a phone call to reconnect with a familiar face.

• Know the gaps before they happen. Don't wait for a resignation letter to figure out what your team is missing and don't wait for a vacancy to define what success looks like in the future. Staying ready means having a clear profile for every role on your team. You should know the skills you’ll need six months from now, not just what you needed six months ago.

The Result: You aren't just filling a hole; you’re building a team with the past, present, and future in mind. You move with speed because your search was already 80% finished before the job was even posted.

Getting ready is a chore. Staying ready is a habit.