Good morning!
This week, I want to talk about a disconnect that is very prevalent in six-figure recruiting. Employers are looking for specialists or subject matter experts yet most job seekers and those looking to move up are positioning themselves as generalists. This is a problem.
If I pick the last 10 applications that went through the HigherBracket system, I am confident that the resumes attached to 9 of them will have an executive summary section which includes a laundry list of skills that positions the applicant as a generalist. If I call the hiring manager of the job and grind them about what they are really looking for, they will eventually admit that the right candidate is the person who excels at...and then list some specific skill set.
Positioning yourself as a generalist washes you out and does not speak to the need of the employer. I know why we do this, some of the motivation is a hangover from a time when our resumes were printed on paper. The remainder of the motivation is that we feel pressured to include as much as we can in our resume to ensure that we are not overlooked.
From the short term perspective, the difficulty resides in deciphering what the employers needs are so you can position your skills to address those needs. From a long term perspective it is a bit easier. Decide today what you would like to be known for. If you could pick a topic in your industry to become a subject matter specialist, what would it be? Once you have nailed it down, begin to blog on that subject, read, study and become that subject matter expert.
An interesting side effect of being a subject matter expert is that people assume you have good generalist skills. You will rarely lose by positioning yourself as a specific subject specialist.
Have a fantastic and productive week!
Anthony Kaul
Founder & CEO
Anthony@HigherBracket.ca
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