Six Tips to Help Job Seekers Succeed in the Specialist Economy

Jacks-of-all-trades, masters-of-none, beware: Companies increasingly require specialized talent, and professionals with niche skills in fast-growing fields are often receiving multiple job offers.

A just-released downloadable white paper from Robert Half, “The Specialist Economy: How Businesses and Professionals Can Prepare for the Trend Toward Specialization,” highlights the increasing demand for workers in professions requiring both a college education and specialization in areas such as health care, accounting and finance, information technology, marketing, and law.

“Firms have a critical need for laser-focused professionals who can help them grow their most lucrative service areas and maximize efficiencies,” said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies®, 3rd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). “Full-time and temporary workers with education and concentrated knowledge can help a company operate more efficiently and competitively — top priorities in today’s business environment.”

Messmer added, “Some professionals have specialized skills but fall short when it comes to marketing themselves. Emphasizing specialty areas in application materials and during interviews can help job candidates stand out from their peers.”

Robert Half offers six tips to help job seekers succeed in the specialist economy.

Click through for six tips to help job seekers succeed in the new specialist economy, as identified by Robert Half Technology.

Your resume should highlight your unique specialty areas and interests. For example, if you’re an accountant who has worked in the health care industry, emphasize not only your accounting skills but also your health care expertise. Add a summary section that describes your specific attributes and experience.

Brand yourself as a specialist through professional networking and social media sites. Add keywords to your profile that reflect your specialization, and participate in groups in your areas of interest.

If you’re just beginning your career, choose a niche that strongly interests you, and acquire additional skills and training in that area. A career focus that you are passionate about is more likely to lead to long-term success.

The unemployment rate for professionals 25 years or older with a bachelor’s degree or higher is roughly half that of the general unemployment rate. Depending on where you are in your career trajectory, consider completing a degree or certification in your field that you never finished — or never pursued.

If you’re in a competitive field, specialization is even more important to your career success. For example, if you’re a marketing professional, specializing in a hot area such as cloud computing, mobile marketing or natural search can help you become more attractive to potential employers.

A staffing company that specializes in your field can help you accurately highlight your strengths and specialty areas.