Titles aren’t as important as skills, says a recent article in the Harvard Business Review by Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder.
A recent CareerBuilder study of more than 2,000 companies found that half of the hiring managers limited their search by job title, but, as a result, were excluding excellent candidates who had the right mix of skills and experience in different roles.
Economic Modelling Specialists Intl. (EMSI) recently ran a study using their compatibility index to illustrate this. For example, a company that needs to fill an open business intelligence analyst position is looking for someone comfortable producing financial and market intelligence, generating reports, and researching in data repositories. This is typically a vital position and ideally will not remain open long. By excluding candidates without business intelligence analyst listed as a past title, they rule out many individuals who have the relevant skills and experience required of the job.
But EMSI’s index shows the company may be overlooking several nearly perfect candidates who recently held positions as market research analysts or risk management specialists and possess many of the essential skills required for the position. This extends to a wide range of professions. A tech company hiring a technical writer could also consider paralegals. A healthcare organization in need of a medical assistant could also look at pharmacy technicians. A manufacturing firm in need of a machinist could also consider an automotive body repairer.
How does this affect your job search? Essentially, you should target your resume to the position for which you’re applying. The emphasis should be on your particular skills which are relevant to the position, even if your previous job titles don’t match. Obviously, if a hiring manager is among the 50% who limit candidates based on job titles, you may have a more difficult time getting through the initial screening. However, you could tailor your cover letter and highlight your skills and experience that make you a perfect fit for the position.
Additionally, think outside the box when choosing which jobs might be right for you. If you compare your skills to other job titles, you might find that you are perfectly qualified for a completely different role than you’ve previously held. This will expand your search pool and potentially open up other job possibilities. A career coach can help you with this if necessary.