When you are drawn to hard-to-describe jobs...

12 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 15,2023 at 9:41PM UTC

   Unless you are inventing completely unknown products or performing services that no one has ever performed, you would have skills that can be described and tasks and responsibilities that can be detailed and described.
   Most careers do not proceed in a perfect straight line. Many jobs evolve to encompass diverse responsibilities but you can always make sense of those jobs and assign titles to those positions where none exist.

   Find your peers and contemporaries that held similar positions in other companies and compile a list of those titles and job descriptions.

   This will take due diligence and some creativity but you can do this.

2. AnonymousNovember 15,2023 at 10:33PM UTC

   I'm kinda in the same position.
   I have ADHD and until it was recently diagnosed, I didn't know why I have had the many different jobs I've had. I get excited and then bored! I understand where you're coming from, but I'm sorry to say I don't have advice. :-( Best of luck to you!

3. AnonymousNovember 15,2023 at 11:14PM UTC

   Skillsets are skillsets no matter how diverse and unique the individual skills appear to be on their own.

   You can parse through all the skills and keep peeling back the onion. At the core they are very clear.

   Nasa scientists are all highly specialized in the jibs but if you peel back all specialized wrapping you will find some very clear skills that are universal and may be applied to a million jobs and career paths....not just rocket science.

4. AnonymousNovember 16,2023 at 2:10PM UTC

   I wholeheartedly agree. I would only add that as you "peel back the onion" to get to the core competencies, you also apply a personal value to each. For example, if it comes down to your core competencies as a manager of rocket scientists, you have skills in analytics, communication, public speaking, and empathy; which brings you the most joy? Why? Then, as you consider your next 5-year plan, you have a way to draft a resume to find a job that will bring you the most joy.

5. AnonymousNovember 16,2023 at 2:10PM UTC

   I'm in the same position as you! We all think we need to have a 5 year plan in order to be successful but life doesn't turn out that way. The great thing about having a unique work history and skillset is that the world is your oyster. You can tailor your resume a lot. At the same time, that can be challenging to put into words and requires you to have your next job in mind. For myself, each job has been very different (not the same industry) so rather than skillsets, I focused on my achievements in each role and it helped connect the dots on the type of professional I am. Ultimately, that's what companies are looking to hire. Yes, skillsets are essential but beyond that, they're looking for someone who is coachable. Hope that helps!

6. AnonymousNovember 16,2023 at 2:18PM UTC

   I am in the same boat. I started in my first career of 30 years and then did a 90-degree pivot to something completely different. This "start over" had to be adjusted several times, so I did a couple of 45-degree pivots afterward. I am now going in the opposite direction of where I started, but I am also ten times happier than when I was climbing the corporate ladder. My biggest issue isn't the resume, at least not anymore, because I have no desire to go back, and there is enough recent history the former career has "sluffed off." In the meantime, I focused on specific and transferrable skills when looking for my next job or pivot.

7. AnonymousNovember 16,2023 at 2:26PM UTC

   Same situation here. The job that I do is a combination of accounting, pricing analysis, vendor management, dispute resolution, program management.... the list goes on. Trying to find roles that align with that has been incredibly challenging. Result has been staying in the same space for a very long time. Partially because I do like the company and I very much like the people I work with, but I know it has cost me in terms of salary and career development. Would love to hear others' experiences with navigating this kind of thing.

8. Ruth SathreNovember 16,2023 at 4:04PM UTC

   One time I was challenged to look at my career path from a airplane type perspective. It helped me identify the path, working with children. I've had different jobs, but they touched children. Then I was able to organize my resume better and I was relieved to see a pattern.

9. AnonymousNovember 16,2023 at 6:51PM UTC

   I gravitate towards those responsibilities that combine my diverse experience in project management, building strong relationships and motivation and deep knowledge of legal support at the corporate level. The list goes on and on. I love creative environments and I love owning projects. This has brought me work in all types of media, select companies in Energy industries and currently in the arts. My background is unique but I see all the transferable opportunities and it's served me well. I continue to be in demand because I communicate the common expertise not the diverse stand alone skills. It's all about translation not isolation. Work is work. The direction you take is the only unique aspect. You can go anywhere if you can translate your skills. What you are describing is just adapting to the work at hand. That's ingenuity and talent. Companies are looking for that translation.

10. AnonymousNovember 17,2023 at 6:02PM UTC

    you tell people that your career trajectory has been opportunistic and based upon what presented itself to you when you decided to make changes. Then you speak specifically to what motivated you to take that job on and what you accomplished there. For example if you had a role in a startup but the startup failed but your work was a success there speak about that. Write out the stories and as they flow onto the page reread them and add your accomplishments at each employer. You got this!

11. AnonymousNovember 17,2023 at 10:33PM UTC

    Storytelling! Figure out your story in a way that makes what others may see as disjointed, a unique job path with an interesting story and commonality strung throughout, regardless of the field. You're in a position where you can adapt your diverse career background to a variety of jobs. Make that your edge. Perhaps the common story is that you always sought out jobs with a need for creativity, innovation, and problem solving in ambiguous work environments. Perhaps your varied skills would be something a start up would absolutely love and need. For example, I know someone who transitioned from government work, to filmmaking, to consulting, to life sciences and tech. It sounds disjointed at first glance, but if you hear the way they tell their story, everything makes sense and is all based around curiosity, creativity, and a desire to pave a way through somewhat unknown territory and to constantly learn. They're also really good at leading projects and people which is a skill set across all industries. My advice is to get your elevator pitch down and adapt it to whatever job you're applying to. Some places will always want straight forward, type A "cookie cutter" candidates. Other places will love the innovation that versitility and adaptability brings as long as you have relevant skills to their bottom line. Just have to know how to sell yourself the right way. Good luck!

12. AnonymousNovember 20,2023 at 3:44AM UTC

    I was recently laid off and I have the same challenge. The company that laid us off set us up with LHH for resume guidance and webinars...cool for everyone else. But they reduced my resume to 3 pages. All the unique, incredible experiences I've had and 3 pages? I have been using their resume since September when I was laid off.

    Their consultant literally called me a unicorn! She said she had never run across anyone with my diverse skills and background in any race or gender. Cool. Then why did I only get ONE interview from your 3 page resume?

    Last week, I trusted MY instincts and went back to my 10-page resume that details my unique experiences and accomplishments. Now my emails are finally blowing up 3 months later... because I dared to go against the grain and show ALL of my amazing experiences!

    As a note, the job I was laid off from was the first one that made my varied experience make sense. My leader (not boss) and the Director of HR cried as they were explaining they were letting me go. I was giving them pep talks! But know that jobs that you are excited to get up every morning for exist!

    I mentor emerging talent that is like me. When you speak to your mentor NAME the ideal title for the position you want. Think of all your experiences, everything you're good at, and name it! It may not exist, but it will find you, just like my last position found me. I named it Global Strategic Program Manager, and I received a call from someone looking for someone with my diverse experience and MADE the position...and paid more than I asked for. It happens and I'm praying you experience the joy I did.

    FYI, my leader and I are still great friends and she has connected me with everyone she knows to help me find a new position. THAT'S a leader, not a boss!!!