Toolkit P4- Concept Mind Map

Exploring and visualising
fit for a job position

Εκπαιδευτικό Πρόγραμμα

40–60 minutes

Large sheets of paper (minimum size A3), a whiteboard or a flipchart.
Markers and pens in different colours
Sticky notes of different colours, and possibly also of different shapes and stickers
Optional: tape for attaching sheets of paper to walls, and adhesive putty

What is this tool and what is its purpose and benefit?

The Concept Mind Map tool focuses on understanding and visualising the relationship between a specific job position and the capacities and potential of a job applicant. This helps determine if the job is interesting, if the applicant is suitable for it, and if it could be a potential employment and career opportunity. Rather than simply listing information, mind maps reveal hidden gaps and relationships between skills, experiences and competencies, turning these insights into opportunities.

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

Find the job you want to apply for and review its requirements. You can use an existing job advertisement or a previous one to get a general idea of the role. Draw a circle in the centre of a sheet of paper and write the job information inside it.

Look at the outcomes from Phases 1 and 2, and select your most essential skills, knowledge, experience, values, and personal characteristics that are most essential for the role. You can either keep this information in a separate file, or draw a larger circle around the central one to create two nested circles. Add your key qualities and strengths to the outer circle.

At the top of the paper, write the guiding question: “How do my experience and skills match the requirements of the [position name] role?”

Add your initial ideas on how your skills match the job requirements in the form of branches around the central circle. Add six to eight ideas, such as 'Employer requirements', 'My competencies', and 'Evidence of success'. These form the initial concept branches, which you can differentiate using colour or another visual method.

Expand each branch by exploring it further. Focus on one branch at a time and develop it as far as necessary. Use keywords, short phrases and visual elements to ensure the map remains clear and accessible.

Use connecting phrases to clarify the relationships between concepts. Write these on the lines or arrows used to connect different parts of the concept. Make the relationships explicit and consequential (for example, 'this leads to that'). For example: 'X solves the problem', 'X was acquired during...', 'X has the ability to...' or 'X is evidence of...'. A connecting phrase might look like the following example: 'My experience in X confirms that project management is essential for the requirements of the managerial role.'

Identify and draw cross‑links between the branches. These show how different skills, experiences, and areas of knowledge support each other and reveal combined competencies. For example, consider whether a soft skill (such as communication) in one branch supports a specific hard skill (such as engineering) in another.

Evaluate your alignment with the job. Evaluate whether your skills, knowledge, competencies and other characteristics match the requirements of the job.