The New and Perplexing Paradigm In The American Job Market

There are countless articles in the media today which suggest the only people being hired, in this tough job market, are those with the “exact” set of skills the organization is looking for. Recruiters only want to see resumes that perfectly match the specific job requirements. Companies use software to scan resumes for the keywords that perfectly match the position to be filled. Interviews are only scheduled with candidates with recent, highly relevant experience.

Conversely, we read that workers with skill sets, which are too specific, are being cut as many companies continue to downsize. This makes some sense. If you have fewer workers or managers to do the job, they are going to have to take on expanded roles – not only completing their previous assigned responsibilities but perhaps manage unrelated departments or jobs as well. But wouldn’t it also make sense for lean companies just starting to expand their workforces out of the depths of recession to hire well-rounded individuals who have the capability to do a specific job but also the wherewithal to assist in other areas?

That’s the dilemma for job seekers today. Do I pigeonhole myself into a position vis-à-vis my resume and the interviews and get pitted against others with those exact skills? Or go I let my broader experience shine through and risk being labeled with less than the concentrated practice they are searching for?

The experts say that college graduates should keep a broad based focus since the changing job market requires flexibility. Workers who already have gained practical experience in a field may be encouraged to add an MBA to their repertoire, to enhance their value to a company, therefore, their survivability.

The reality is that smart, progressive companies – the ones we all aspire to work for – are going to opt for the person with more than just the expertise to perform the job at hand. You probably want to pass on the opportunity if the company is so compartmentalized that they don’t want you to think out of the box. The balancing act is to get through the screening of your resume and the gauntlet of preliminary interviews by “playing the game” with your “exact fit” for the job. Once you have an audience with senior management you can showcase your well-honed transferable skills – as well as the ability to do the posted job. It will require nimbleness, but that’s what today’s job market is about. If the key decision-maker doesn’t feel confident of the additional value you will bring to the organization, you will not get the position. But you now have a margin of control over your own destiny at this point.