There’s a big shift occurring in the world of work. Once upon a time, employers wanted employees that could venture into any little corner of work they needed. A kind of Jack of all trades was required. But lately, employers have signaled that they are suffering from a skills gap compared to nations such as China and India. Therefore they have urged more and more specialist professionals to come for job interviews and uniquely grow their workforce. So if you are a specialist, how do you approach job offers and opportunities?
Get sector-level certified
Yes, of course, you’re most likely already certified; (unless you’re just out of college). However, getting certified from multiple bodies is a great way to look the part on your resume and also be counted as a dime a dozen. If you have letters in your name, you will automatically rise to the top of the resume pile and be given a guaranteed interview. Why is this? Most people think that being certified by one body is enough, but the authority may have a limited industry scope. Maybe they are only certified in one state, one region, or one nation. Getting an internationally recognized degree and certificate will allow you to work anywhere and be trusted to have sector-level expertise, not just industry-specific.
Look on specific websites
When you look for a job, you should only use specific websites that have specific types of jobs in your specialism. For example, if you were a doctor, you should look for an opportunity in a job database for doctors. In most states and hospitals, every role you can imagine in this field will be available on the website. There are no other types of jobs other than those in the healthcare field. Using the filter options, you can make it all about doctor roles and thus, not waste time and look for the role that suits your expertise. That’s the key here, looking for jobs on websites that understand your expertise.
More negotiating power
Being a specialist by its very nature means you’re very few of a kind. This gives you a lot of negotiating room, as employers who need your skills will be willing to pay higher for you to come aboard. The key is to secure things other than just higher salary pay and earning potential. See what can be done for making your job easier, such as playing a role in equipment procurement, potential hiring of staff for your team, and having a hand in your own onboarding program. With this in mind, you can design your role to fit you and be paid more to do it!
Specialists should really value their own worth and look for roles on websites that already get what it is you do. But if you can get certified internally, so you have sector-level expertise and knowledge. And don’t be afraid to get your elbows out at the negotiation table upon hiring.
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