Being a "Generalist" will hurt your job search


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Okay, now onto today's topic.

Let’s talk about something I see a lot in professionals who are on the job market or looking for that next career move.

It’s the idea of being a "generalist."

Maybe this sounds familiar:

  • “I wear a lot of hats.”
  • “I can step into any role and figure things out.”
  • “I’ve done a little bit of everything.”

At one point, this was a huge asset. Companies needed people who could jump into different areas and bring cross-functional expertise. And don’t get me wrong—there’s still value in versatility. But in today’s job market, being a generalist without a clear value proposition is a recipe for getting overlooked.

Let’s break down why and, more importantly, what to do about it.

The Market Has Changed - Here’s How It Affects You

A few years ago, companies were hiring for adaptability. They needed people who could do a little bit of everything because things were moving fast, and headcount was growing. But in 2025? It’s different.

Now, businesses are operating in a more cautious, efficiency-driven environment. Budgets are tighter. Leadership wants to know exactly what impact a new hire will make. And when they look at your resume or LinkedIn profile, they’re not asking, “Can this person do a lot of things?” They’re asking:

“What can this person do BETTER than anyone else?”

If your professional brand is too broad, you risk blending into the background. And if you’re in a senior role (or aiming for one), you need to be seen as a high-value, strategic hire.

The Biggest Risk for Generalists: Lack of Clarity

Here’s where most generalists struggle: They’ve done a lot, but they haven’t packaged their experience in a way that makes them stand out.

Hiring managers aren’t going to take the time to connect the dots for you. If your resume or LinkedIn profile is too broad, you’re making them work too hard to see why you’re the right fit.

And in a competitive market? That’s a risk you can’t afford.

The good news? You don’t have to become a hyper-specialist in one narrow area. But you do need to position yourself strategically.

How to Make the Shift to a "Strategic Generalist"

If you identify as a generalist (hello to all my consulting friends out there!), here’s how to reposition yourself for maximum impact:

1. Identify Your "Power Skills"

Instead of focusing on everything you can do, get clear on the 2-3 areas where you bring the most business impact. These should be high-level, strategic skills that companies actively look for.

Some examples:

  • Driving operational efficiency (streamlining processes, reducing costs)
  • Scaling customer success & retention (increasing loyalty, reducing churn)
  • Leading digital transformation (implementing AI, automation, and data-driven decisions)
  • Creating high-performing teams (improving leadership, optimizing org structures)

Ask yourself: If I were brought into a company today, what is the #1 thing I could immediately improve?

That’s your power skill. Own it.

2. Frame Your Experience Around Business Impact

A hiring manager doesn’t just care that you did something. They care about what changed because you did it. Instead of saying:

🚫 “Managed multiple projects across teams.”

Try:

✅ “Led cross-functional projects that increased operational efficiency by 30%, reducing time-to-market by six weeks.”

When you frame your experience in terms of business impact, you immediately position yourself as a results-driven leader, not just a “jack-of-all-trades.”

3. Be Industry-Specific (Without Limiting Yourself)

A generalist in healthtech is very different from a generalist in B2B SaaS or e-commerce. If your experience spans multiple industries, that’s great - but you need to show how your skills translate into the space you’re targeting.

For example: If you’ve worked across fintech and SaaS, you could position yourself as someone who specializes in scaling growth in highly regulated industries.

It’s not about limiting yourself - it’s about making it easy for the right people to see why you’re a perfect fit.

4. Tell a Cohesive Career Story

When someone looks at your career path, does it feel like a logical progression? Or does it look like a bunch of disconnected experiences?

You want to craft a narrative that makes sense. A simple way to do this is by finding the common thread in your experience.

For example:

  • Maybe you’ve worked in product, operations, and customer success. The common thread? Driving alignment between teams to improve customer experience.
  • Or maybe you’ve jumped between consulting, corporate, and startups. The common thread? Helping organizations navigate change and scale effectively.

Once you identify your throughline, make sure your resume, LinkedIn, and interview answers reinforce it.

5. Make Your Personal Brand Crystal Clear

Your LinkedIn headline should not be:

🚫 “Senior Business Leader | Strategy | Operations | Growth”

That’s too vague. Instead, try:

✅ “Senior Leader | Driving Operational Excellence & Scalable Growth in SaaS”

Your profile summary, resume, and even networking conversations should reinforce what you’re known for and how you create impact.

Bottom Line: Generalists Are Still Valuable - But Only If They’re Positioned Correctly

The key takeaway? You don’t have to pick just one specialty, but you do need to be intentional about how you market yourself. Instead of “I can do a little of everything,” your brand should say:

“I connect the dots across business functions to drive results.”

And when you do that? You don’t just stand out - you become the obvious choice.

What’s Next?

If you’re ready to sharpen your positioning and make your next career move with confidence, here are two ways I can help:

1️⃣ Reply to this email and tell me about your career path - I’ll share a quick tip on how to refine your positioning.

2️⃣ Check out The Resume Revamp - my program designed to help high-achieving professionals craft a resume and LinkedIn presence that actually converts into interviews.

Remember you can grab this course for free if you respond to this email and tell me how this newsletter series has impacted your mindset and career!

Your career story matters. Let’s make sure it’s working for you, not against you.

Until next week,

Beckie

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