Toolkit P4- Must Have | Career Compass

Career Path Opportunity Identification

MUST HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, COULD HAVE, WON’T HAVE

40–60 minutes

A large sheet of paper (minimum A3 size), a whiteboard, or a computer file. Pens and markers in different colours.
The Must have, Should have, Could have, Won’t have template
Sticky notes
Internet access

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

Must have, Should have, Could have, Won’t have (The MoSCoW method) is used to identify the skills, experience, competencies and qualities required for a specific job, a profession, an industry or a career path. It helps individuals to clarify which capabilities are essential for a role, which are beneficial but not mandatory, which are optional additions that may enhance performance, and which qualities are not relevant. This supports career planning, responding to job advertisements and developing skills, for instance through education and training.

Click to download Must have, Should have, Could have, Won’t have Template

Steps for using this tool

STEP 1

Draw a table on a whiteboard or download and print the Must have, Should have, Could have, Won’t have template

STEP 2

Choose a job, a profession, an industry or a career path that interests you. Search the internet, job postings and other sources for relevant information about that sector and for the areas listed below. Write this information on sticky notes and add them to the ‘Requirements’ column on a whiteboard or large sheet of paper. Add information on:

Soft skills
Hard (technical) skills
Competencies
Personal qualities
Work and educational experiences
Knowledge areas.

STEP 3

Sort this information into the four MoSCoW categories for each item on the table, for instance, soft skills. Sticky notes are easy to move and rearrange.

Must have: Identify the essential skills, competencies, personal qualities, work experience and educational qualifications that are necessary for you to perform the role. These are non-negotiable requirements.
Should have: List any important and beneficial skills, competencies, personal qualities, work and educational experiences, and knowledge, even if they are not strictly mandatory. These strengthen your profile and increase your potential for employment.
Could have: Add skills, competencies, personal qualities, work and educational experiences, and knowledge that would enhance your performance or improve your competitiveness, even if they are not required. These are 'nice to have' additions.
Won’t have: Clarify which skills, competencies, personal qualities, work experience, educational qualifications and knowledge are irrelevant to this role or career path. This will help you avoid spending tome developing areas that are not needed.

STEP 4

Review and refine your prioritisation. Check that each item is in the correct category. Arrange them until you are satisfied.

STEP 5

Compare these findings with the findings from the previous Career Compass phases, especially with your skills, knowledge, competencies, experiences, personality, and traits, and observe: