Breaking the Mold: Lessons from the Impressionists for Today’s Career Landscape

?

Why do companies often reward degrees from the ‘right’ schools and ‘experience from the perfect companies?’

Some studies show that early career graduates from certain Ivy League schools earn 40% more than graduates from other schools. But are they really any better on a performance basis? After all, entry into Ivy League schools has not been purely on merit for many years.

Also, just because a resume has a string of experiences in FANG companies, does that mean those employees are more likely to be successful than those from smaller companies, start-ups, or some entrepreneurial venture?

Many might think those degrees and experiences are ‘evidence’ of a superior candidate. However, is that true?? How many wildly successful people never attended or finished their degrees at prestigious institutions? Or perhaps didn’t work for a string of companies that are top of mind when thinking about super successful companies in their time??

A number of wildly successful people without Ivy League degrees (or any degrees) to their names. Jobs, Zuckerberg, Musk, Branson, Ellison, Dell, and Cowell, to name a few.

This phenomenon of overvaluing certain credentials is not new and, like everything else, is cyclical and without much real solid evidence.

Many years ago, the?Salon de Paris?was the pinnacle of artistic success and its role in shaping the careers of artists. ?They were like the Ivy League schools of the time. They decided which artists would make it and which would not.? Then, a group of rebellious impressionist painters like Monet and Renoir came along and started their own collectives and started displaying their own works, and the rest is history.

But in today’s world, this past lesson seems to have been forgotten. Preference for “polished” candidates regarding educational and certain work experiences mirrors the Salon’s narrow definitions of quality especially in the corporate world.

Just a few years ago, surveys showed that 70% of job postings list qualifications on Linkedin as “nice to have” but not necessary, yet hiring managers still heavily prioritize credentials.?

Steve Jobs, a college dropout, once noted that rigid systems “turn you into a cog in a machine.” ?

The reality is that disruptors consistently reshape industries:

·????? Example: The Impressionists redefined modern art.

·????? Example: Entrepreneurs without formal training have built some of the most valuable companies in the world (e.g., Apple, Facebook).?

In today’s highly competitive environment, where things change rapidly, perhaps it would be a good idea to reevaluate the criteria for hiring people into our organizations. Are we looking for ‘that cog in the wheel’, that safe and predictable option, or someone who might have some transformative, ground-breaking value for our company?

Perhaps we should bring back the Apple tagline from 1997, ‘Think Different,’ regarding our hiring and promotion processes. For potential candidates, the question might be, are you building that ‘perfect’ resume, or are you building something that truly matters?

?

#careers. #organizations #recruitment