Job Specialization: A Great First Step in Your Job Search

One of the most overlooked facets of any job search is the process by which you determine, what you want to do, for whom you want to do it, and what makes you better prepared than anyone else to do that job; this process is called job specialization.

In your job search, quality of career is the most important thing. If it was the case that placing tons of applications would result in that one key job, then there would not be millions of people using job search engines proliferating resumes to 100’s of job opportunities; rather, these people would have found their ideal jobs already. That simply is not the case.

Your employment strategy should attract quality employers who will increase your income and career fulfillment. To get this employer and your ideal career, you must practice specialization.

What is Specialization?

Specialization is choosing a select group of prospective employers (your “Target Market”) and marketing (application process) only to that group, not to the general public without consideration for income or growth potential. Once your Target Market is determined, you must tailor your approach to focus on a more precise set of skills and abilities that offer the maximum value and benefit to your Target Market. So, specialization equals target marketing plus positioning.

Benefits of Specialization

Greater effectiveness - Generalized messages appeal to almost no one. By excluding a part of your potential audience and crafting a brand that appeals to a specific audience, you dramatically increase your marketing power. For example, you know effective advertising when it speaks to you. Ineffective advertising is everything else. You want a message that speak, rather yells, at your Target Market.

Case in point, your resume. By targeting, rather than spraying, you will have greater appeal to hiring managers and recruiters.

Greater perceived value - People think of specialists as offering something generalist can’t. Targeting a specific audience positions you as a specialist, making your services appear more valuable.

Case in point, if you had a foot problem, would you prefer to go to a general practitioner or a podiatrist?

Better tracking - By limiting prospecting, you make tracking easier.

Savings - It saves time and money. By not chasing every opportunity that comes your way, and by being selective about your opportunities, you can concentrate on the postings that most fit your ideal.

In the coming posts, we will delve deeper into job specialization.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 5:18 pm and is filed under Career, Resumes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.