http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/04/09/dont-be-a-generalist-typecast-yourself/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:28:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/04/09/dont-be-a-generalist-typecast-yourself/#comment-146302 Liz Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:00:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/04/09/dont-be-a-generalist-typecast-yourself/#comment-146302 I am a recruiter and I will say "Amen" to this post. I have coached people on this many times. It doesn't matter if you think you could be a fit for 5 different jobs. Pick the job you want to apply to. Customize your resume to mirror wording/values listed in the job description. And then sell yourself. It's that easy. Recruiters and managers are looking for a "fit" and someone who is passionate and excited about taking on the opportunity. Don't sell yourself short by being open to "anything". Do your research and actually get excited about something. It's better for everyone in the end. I am a recruiter and I will say "Amen" to this post. I have coached people on this many times. It doesn't matter if you think you could be a fit for 5 different jobs. Pick the job you want to apply to. Customize your resume to mirror wording/values listed in the job description. And then sell yourself. It's that easy. Recruiters and managers are looking for a "fit" and someone who is passionate and excited about taking on the opportunity. Don't sell yourself short by being open to "anything". Do your research and actually get excited about something. It's better for everyone in the end.

]]> http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/04/09/dont-be-a-generalist-typecast-yourself/#comment-123327 Kuri Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:06:35 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/04/09/dont-be-a-generalist-typecast-yourself/#comment-123327 I think for a lot of us, the risk of specializing isn't the fear of not being the right specialization. It's the fear of becoming horribly and completely bored doing the same things (or even similar things) for much longer than a few years. I've been working in business analysis for a while, but I'm going to need a large change pretty soon, and am (increasingly) comtemplating becoming a chef. I know that I'll want a big change 5 to 7 years after that as well. Specializing in one thing might work for people who want prestige more than anything, but for people like myself, well, my mind would wither and my attitude would deteriorate. But that doesn't mean I completely forget everything from previous careers - I would hope that many of the skills are tranferable. I think for a lot of us, the risk of specializing isn't the fear of not being the right specialization. It's the fear of becoming horribly and completely bored doing the same things (or even similar things) for much longer than a few years. I've been working in business analysis for a while, but I'm going to need a large change pretty soon, and am (increasingly) comtemplating becoming a chef. I know that I'll want a big change 5 to 7 years after that as well. Specializing in one thing might work for people who want prestige more than anything, but for people like myself, well, my mind would wither and my attitude would deteriorate. But that doesn't mean I completely forget everything from previous careers - I would hope that many of the skills are tranferable.

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