You might be good at a lot of things, but that means it’s less likely that you’ll be considered a specialist or expert in a specific field. That designation is saved for those who have dedicated most of their lives to one profession. While being a jack of all trades has certain advantages, being able to land a job quickly isn’t usually one of them.
That’s probably one of the main reasons people have always asked children what they want to be when they grow up. It’s understood that they should be choosing one area in which to specialize. And when you do start searching for that first job, it may look as if all those people were right. Most job postings are geared toward those who have specialized in one field.
Does this mean you are unemployable? Certainly not! It means that you will need to promote the benefits of being good at a variety of things rather than being an expert at one. Here are five things you can point out to a hiring manager during your next interview:
You Are Adaptable
Adaptability is a soft skill that many organizations prize in their employees. It tells them that you can take on a wide variety of tasks and situations. You’ve developed knowledge and skills in several areas, and when problems arise, you can draw on those assets to find solutions.
You Know How to Learn
Being a jack-of-all-trades proves that you have a thirst for knowledge and know how to learn. You have developed methods for efficiently learning so you can be good at whatever you choose. Not only did you learn how to do one thing, but you also learned the skills that are associated with it.
You Have the Experiences to Be a Leader
Excellent leaders typically have a wide range of skills that came from a variety of experiences. Because they haven’t focused only on one aspect of the business, a jack-of-all-trades can see the big picture. That’s why specialists are great role players, but the guy with lots of general knowledge runs the show.
Being a Jack-of-All-Trades Has Given You Confidence
Confidence plays a significant part in our professional lives, and employers see it as an asset. Confident workers approach a task without hesitation because they realize that as a jack-of-all-trades, they’ll usually be doing something they can do well.
You Have Developed a Variety of Skills
Cross-trained workers give their supervisors many options. The same can be said for the jack-of-all-trades. If you go into a job with many talents, you are already cross-trained and set to make an impact.
Are you a jack-of-all-trades trying to find the perfect fit?
Talk to us. Contact Pro Resources for the light industrial or technical/professional position you’re hoping to find. We’ve been in business for over 30 years, so let us use our expertise to help you find a job that will utilize your many talents.