Forums

Hi all members,

If you have a choice now, will you choose to learn a skill that is unique and specialised but less widely sought after or master the common skills which you have now?

My thought is that if you choose an unique skill, you have few competitors in selection process, more bargaining power for salary increase or promotion. The bad thing is the skill is not widely sought. At least, the related job advs do not appear every week. The investment is high return but also high risk (emerging market stock?).

If you plan to master the common skills, you can see related job advs almost everyday, but the employers have plenty of candidates to choose from (absolute return fund?).

I doubt that I explain it clearly. Let me give some examples of the unique and specialised skill (not technical): investor relationship manager, carbon trading specialist... Some examples of rather common skills are sales and marketing manager, accountant, ...

Any thought to share?

Tks
Tony

wendii's picture
Admin Role Badge

Tony

Was it Muhammed Ali who said, if I'm going to be a dustbin man, then I'll be the best dustbin man there is? Paraphrased of course!

People who are passionate about what they do, who make the effort to be really good, are rare, in any profession. As M&M often say, you don't have to put in that much more effort to be better than 90% of people out there.

Also, you'd be surprised how competitive the market for good accountants is!

Talking to my 25 year old self now, I'd say work hard at the things you are passionate about, and put your best efforts into everything. This is how success comes. My 35 year old self could do with listening to that too!

Wendii

WillDuke's picture
Training Badge

Wendii's right. And don't miss what she's right about:
[quote]Talking to my 25 year old self now, I'd say work hard at the things you are passionate about[/quote]
Focus on your PASSION. Don't focus on your externally measured success.

TomW's picture
Training Badge

I agree with the others. Go for what you're passionate about!

I must confess, I'm fortunate enough to be very good in a very small niche, but it's something I have a great love for. It's made for a good career, but it's one that there is not a lot of demand for. If you're lucky, work hard, and meet the right people, you can get ahead. Otherwise, you might be stuck with unmarketable skills that cost a lot to get (both financially and in time lost).

bflynn's picture

One other thought. A unique skill means you'll be nearly irreplaceable.

Irreplaceable = Unpromotable.

Brian