[Career Coach 101] Silo Mentality: It can frustrate your job search!

Silo mentality is a mind-set present in some companies when certain departments or sectors do not wish to share information with others in the same company. This type of mentality will reduce the efficiency of the overall operation, reduce morale, and may contribute to the demise of a productive company culture. Also, it can frustrate your job search!

Your Professional Experience: A mix of many skills

Throughout your professional experience you have probably been in several companies, held many roles, and participated in different projects and special assignments. It comes with the territory. As organizations downsize, the survivors will be required to pick up where others left off. Even if it was not your main responsibility. And it can be a positive experience. You are acquiring new skills and staying cool with the boss. And maybe you could later use these new skills in your next role or to market yourself to another company. But now that you are in the job search, what are recruiters really looking for?

What Recruiters Are Looking For

There is no consensus among recruiters on what makes a good candidate. There are, however, several major factors you need to keep in mind to project yourself as a good-fit candidate for your next opportunity. Many recruiters consider that a coherent and relevant story line is the most important factor. They consider that your past roles should be clear precursors to why you are now applying for this job. They see you as one person, with one background, and one history. And they are trying to place you in a certain bucket within a certain department. That bucket has a predefined set of narrow responsibilities. In other words: Silo Mentality.

Are You The All Around Professional?

Are you presenting yourself as the all around professional and trying to “blow them away” with your varied set of skills and experiences? If that’s what you are projecting, think twice. It’s probably working against you. And silo mentality is probably frustrating your job search.

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