Search for a unicorn

[Anonymous]

I feel like it wasn't this way even 10 years ago. Most employers are looking for mythical candidates who check every single box, who basically did the job before. I have been a hiring manager many times in 20 years. From my personal observations, some of the unicorns we have hired and celebrated turned out to be the biggest duds, and some of the candidates who had more diverse and interesting backgrounds turned out to be the greatest successes. Why do I think this is the case? Because the search for the unicorn tends to ignore all other relevant skills and qualifications. It is only focused on how someone papers. At my place of work, the best people I have worked with are smart, can learn and are willing to learn any task, and have strong soft skills. These qualities transcend that narrowness of the unicorn. If you are a job candidate looking to make a career pivot, how have you demonstrated your broader skills? If you are a hiring managers, how have you been able to convince your colleagues or boss that the ideal candidates might not be a unicorn?

[Anonymous]

I agree with what you wrote, but, especially today, it is so hard to even be given the chance to show that you have those soft skills. With job announcements getting hundreds of applicants, they end up having to narrow it down somehow. It usually ends up being skills they already bring.

How do you stand out to even get beyond the computer system? I know the typical answer is going to be networking or writing a cover letter. Is there anything else?

[Anonymous]

It’s really about who knows you and how you work. Branding and networking are it. Being excellent at your job and taking the opportunity to show it to people when you have the chance. Tough when you’re unemployed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s really about who knows you and how you work. Branding and networking are it. Being excellent at your job and taking the opportunity to show it to people when you have the chance. Tough when you’re unemployed!

Yep. That’s why when you’re employed you should always try to go the extra mile to do things like present at conferences and write articles for industry magazines because it gives you the chance to impress potential employers.