Don’t Be A Commodity
Alright, strap in, because the job market doesn’t give a damn about your feelings. You want advice? Buckle up, Buttercup, because we’re going off-script.
First, burn the resume. Metaphorically, not literally, Genius. Your CV shouts ‘commodity’ louder than a wheat futures contract. What’s that? You went to a great school and you’ve interned at some Fortune 500 company?
Congratulations, you and thousands of others. It’s like showing up to the Kentucky Derby on a donkey. Be different. Create a digital footprint that’s impossible to ignore. Start a blog, build an online portfolio, record a podcast — hell, solve a problem that a company doesn’t know it has and send them the solution.
Networking is not an ’80s sitcom — you don’t need canned laughter and shoulder pads. It’s not about schmoozing or handing out business cards like you’re dealing blackjack. It’s about finding mutual interests that turn into mutual benefit. And here’s the clincher: be so good they can’t ignore you. Offer value first; it’s not a handout, it’s a handshake.
Don’t chase, attract. Be the freakin’ flame, not the moth. Create content, share your ideas, be visible in your industry. When was the last time you posted on LinkedIn about something you’re passionate about in your field? Never? That’s what I thought. The job hunt is a two-way street — make employers come to you.
Widen the damn net. Stop fishing in the same pond where everyone’s bait is just as wiggly and shiny as yours. Look for roles in emerging markets, consider startups, or companies outside your direct experience that value your skill set. Be willing to relocate if you can. Comfort zones are for babies and hospice patients.
Now, about your skill set — is it sharper than a sushi chef’s knife or as dull as a dollar store butter knife? In a fast-moving world, the learners inherit the earth, while the ‘know-it-alls’ get left in the dust. Keep learning. That means reading, taking online courses, getting new certifications — whatever it takes to stay current and invaluable.
Lastly, let’s talk attitude. If you walk into an interview like Eeyore looking for his lost tail, you’ve lost before you’ve begun. You need the confidence of a pilot landing a plane with one engine. It’s about controlled arrogance, not self-doubt. You are the prize they’ve been searching for — believe that.
Now get out there. Don’t just knock on doors; kick them down. The world owes you exactly squat. Take what’s yours.
Brian Fink is the author of Talk Tech To Me. He takes on the stress and strain of complex technology concepts and simplifies them for the modern recruiter. Fink’s impassioned wit and humor tackle the highs and lows of technical recruiting with a unique perspective — a perspective intended to help you find, engage, and partner with professionals.
