Who Gets The Better Job offers, Generalists Or Specialists

The Truth About Who Gets The Better Job Offers

I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review (Spring issue 2018) that I found was interesting and important to share with all of you.  It's never too late, especially if you're still in college, moved on to corporate America or working your way up the proverbial corporate ladder or some who refer to it as the Pyramid.

Whatever you may think or have been told, let me share some facts.    First, the research was done by Jennifer Meriuzzi, an assistant professor at George Washington University School of Business and Damon Phillips, a professor at Columbia Business School.  Together they explored over 400 students who graduated from the top U.S. MBA programs (2008, 2009) then went into investment banking.  The researches, gathered a detail profile of each person, grades, work history before, during and after business school.  The outcome revealed that students who had specialized in investment banking throughout were less likely to receive multiple job offers than students who had broader backgrounds and experiences.  (Generalists $87,402)  (Specialists $64,438)

Ok, for me, I either was lucky (Probably) or in the right place at the right time  (Yes, that too.)  I certianly didn't have the education at that time, that people have in this study. When I got my first tech job at Intel I started as an Inventory Stores Clerk Level 2  (Noting the level 2 as it was higher then the level one.)  I advance to a lead, supervising a small staff, to another promotion to Senior Scheduler.  In this position I did the forecasting for the demand of our Intergrated Circuits.  So, not to get off the track about this being about me, I'm just trying to give examples the steps and the various things I did to venture out and up.

Because of the experiences at Intel, I was next hired by Atari (First Video Game Company in the world.)  I received a substantial promotion, Senior New Products Planner, responsible for the produciton of our game consoles.  This position gave me lots of stocks, a larger salary, and exposure throughout the organization.  Later recruited to Apple Computer to become the Senior New Products Planner for Macintosh Computer.

Here's the point I'm trying to make.  I too, was a generalist.  As I built on my career, I had experience and expertise in a number of areas in technology.  This allowed me to continue to grow my career and cross over to many different technologies.  For some reason this eventually lead to  many different leadership roles, which included a position internationally and my final role in Corporate America as the President of an Educational Software Company.

Get out of your comfort level!  Explore all opportunities, grow your tool box of knowledge, experience.  No matter if you have the highest degrees, education, even if you don't, take any opportunities that will add to your knowledge base.  The more the merrier.  When a new position comes up, apply for it.  After all, if you don't get the position, you're no further behind then when you applied and now management is aware that you took initiative and will think about you for possible future roles.

One other word, research the position(s) you apply for.  Even if you may not be qualified, if you can show leadership you understand the role of a position it just may give you a shoe in.

Good luck everyone!