Highly Specialized Talent

I often get asked—what type of talent is considered “highly specialized”? 

When I Googled the meaning of “specialized”, this is what came up:

1)     requiring or involving detailed and specific knowledge or training

2)     concentrating on a small area of a subject

3)  designed for a particular purpose

Are you highly specialized talent? Are you in a highly specialized role? Do you find when you attend a networking event, you have to explain to others what it is exactly that you do, Chandler Bing style (Yes-that is a Friends reference, and I also Googled what Chandler’s job was exactly. I always thought he was a Transpondster, but it turns out he works in Statistical Analysis and Data Reconfiguration).

Medallion has touted the ability to secure highly specialized talent for some of the most difficult/hard-to-fill roles for our clients. Afterall, like Chandler Bing found, highly specialized talent is very valuable in the market.

Highly specialized talent often sees:

1) Greater return on investment of advanced degrees

2) Greater attraction from companies seeking new talent

3) Greater retention within organizations

4) Greater opportunity related to compensation

If you consider yourself to be highly specialized talent, there are a handful of steps you can take to optimize your marketability and leverage your unique capabilities to attract industry experts and recruiters alike.

·      Include your certifications, advanced degrees and specific skillset throughout your profile - this will help your profile rise to the top when others search for candidates with your capabilities.

·      Make your headline more than just your job title – include keywords, hard skillset and specialization.

·      Turn your summary into your story – your career choices with context, your biggest achievements, your personality – whatever you think will help others get to know the uniqueness you bring to the market!

·      Follow target companies and industries that utilize skill sets similar to yours – this will provide you with opportunities to engage with others, build your network and prompt you to share your expertise with the LinkedIn community.

·      Build credibility and followership through thought leadership – include your work in the Publications or Patents section, or post thought leadership articles from your profile.

I would love to provide you with advice on showcasing your specialty to the market, or help you identify some new targets for your next career move. Feel free to email me directly at [email protected].