Affordance by Design
According to Merriam-Webster, affordance is defined as
the quality or property of an object that defines its possible uses or makes clear how it can or should be used.
A good example is a door handle. The next time you approach a door, take note of how the handle is designed. If the handle is semi-U shaped and implies it should be pulled but the door actually swings inward, the handle was poorly designed and has bad affordance.
Metaphorically, you can apply this principle of affordance to your professional career. A common pattern I see in the career arc of many candidates is the lack of affordance in a profile or resume. In other words, it is not clear how the candidate can make a potential impact within an organization or company.
It may seem counterintuitive but citing every qualification and skill you’ve accumulated throughout your career to demonstrate the breadth of your experience does more harm than good. When I read a resume that claims a candidate can function as a project manager, trainer, IT support, and financial accountant, or that they have held multiple job titles that are not relevant to a certain career path, I cringe. Rather than demonstrating your versatility, taking a shotgun approach to your resume only serves to dilute your brand and messaging.
Every client and hiring manager I’ve engaged with has never asked for a generalist. Instead, each headcount position was highly targeted with specific requirements, qualifications, and subject-matter expertise. On paper and in reality, the ideal candidate demonstrated clear intention, focus, and experience that can be readily applied to the role and business unit.
In general (pun intended), it’s better to be the single-use tool than the proverbial Swiss Army knife. To get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers, and more importantly, get invited to interview, it’s better to be a subject-matter expert (SME) rather than a generalist. At least until you are hired and have joined the company of your choosing. Once you have infiltrated the organization, then open your toolbox and show leadership all the different ways you can make an impact and your ability to wear multiple hats.
The hypocritical truth is that hiring managers, recruiters, and companies are seeking both a SME and generalist. They want their cake and to eat it too. It’s up to you as a savvy candidate to know how to present yourself and demonstrate your appropriate affordance given the circumstance. But when in doubt, be the hammer.