Open Letter to Fellow Career Zigzaggers

posted on April 9, 2010

Okay, here I go...out on the proverbial limb. For a while, I've been listening to a very persuasive voice within me that said, "Chris, you're a marketer and that's all you should be doing. Now go out and find marketing-related jobs." Want to know something strange? I'm not really a marketer. Sure, I have a solid grounding in the profession and even have some experience doing it. However, In the end, I'm a mutt, a dabbler, a generalist. I've successfully tackled positions like customer service, sales, data processing, web design, and yes, marketing. I've worked in non-profits and for-profits. I've even tried launching my own businesses a couple of times.

My professional trajectory hasn't been a straight line...more like a zigzag. This is both good and bad. The good? I possess a wealth of different experiences, skillsets, and knowledge. This diversity allows me to uncover patterns that many "straight line" professionals likely can't see. The bad? Most organizations don't value this eclectic background so much. They want straight-liners and set their hiring practices up to reward them.

Read the rest of the post at Bailey WorkPlay...

Author: Chris Bailey

Categories: Human Resources, Professional Training and Coaching, Staffing and Recruiting

Tags: Career, career passion, career transition, new career