The Power of Depth: Why Repetition Can Be a Strength

Two Monks on a Motorcycle: Corporate Zen Stories

Day 100

In the fast-paced world of executive recruitment, candidates often face tough questions designed to test their ability to think on their feet and demonstrate their value. However, some questions can inadvertently overlook the depth of expertise gained through years of focused experience. I witnessed this firsthand during a panel at a Private Equity firm, where we were evaluating candidates for a key role—Chief Engineer at a top multinational corporation. One candidate, whose experience spanned 30 years in the production line, was challenged on a seemingly simple point that ultimately led him to miss a valuable opportunity.

The candidate, proud of his past achievements, had presented himself as an experienced and competent leader in the production and engineering space. However, one of the interviewers raised a pointed question: “You’ve had three years of experience in production, replicated over a 30-year period. Why should we see you as anything more than someone with just three years of experience?”

This question, intended to test his adaptability and breadth, instead exposed a flaw in the interviewer’s assumptions. The candidate faltered, struggling to frame his years of experience in a way that could reflect his expertise. He missed an easy opportunity to assert that, in fact, he was not a generalist but a specialist, having spent decades refining his skills and deepening his knowledge in a very specific area.

The Misunderstanding of Experience

The interviewer’s perspective—viewing repeated experience as limited to the scope of a few years—was understandable but ultimately misguided. Depth is often undervalued in favor of breadth, especially in leadership roles. In reality, expertise and specialization, built over years of performing the same tasks and solving similar challenges, can be far more valuable than a generalist’s broad but shallow knowledge.

For the Chief Engineer's role, the candidate’s experience wasn’t a hindrance—it was his greatest strength. He had spent decades perfecting his craft, solving the same problems in increasingly sophisticated ways, and gaining insights that a generalist, no matter how skilled, simply couldn’t offer. His role required someone who not only understood production but had lived and breathed it for years, someone who had the ability to troubleshoot, innovate, and foresee challenges before they arose.

The Specialist Advantage

Had the candidate framed his experience differently, he could have effectively positioned himself as the ideal candidate. Instead of allowing the interviewer’s framing to stand unchallenged, he could have confidently said:

“If you’re looking for a generalist who can wear many hats and dabble in a variety of fields, I’m not the right fit for this role. But if you need someone who has honed deep, specialized expertise over the course of 30 years in the production space, someone who understands every nuance of production processes, from the ground up, then I am your man.”

By reframing the question, the candidate could have shown that, in production, repetition isn't stagnation—it’s mastery. Depth and focus in one area are far more impactful in solving complex, niche challenges than a generalist's ability to adapt across multiple domains.

The Takeaway

This experience serves as a valuable lesson for both recruiters and candidates. As recruiters, it’s important to recognize that not all experience is created equal. Depth, especially in highly specialized roles, can be just as valuable, if not more so, than breadth. A candidate with years of focused expertise can bring unique insights and problem-solving capabilities that a generalist may lack.

For candidates, it’s essential to understand how to frame one’s experience in a way that highlights its true value. Sometimes, repetition is the secret to mastery. The key is to recognize the strength in focusing deeply on one area and the immense value that kind of specialized knowledge can bring to an organization.

In the end, the question isn’t always about how many different roles you've had but how well you’ve mastered the role that matters most. When specialization is the name of the game, depth is your greatest asset.

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