A varied career

[Otispunkmeyer]

What are the thoughts on this:

Would you hire someone who's had lots of jobs, in various industries? or would you go for the person who's picked their furrow and stayed there?

I appreciate the latter might mark someone out as "expert in the field" but the former could be the fresh pair of eyes needed to crack a particular problem.

I know a guy who started life looking after golfing greens, then got a degree that was photography related and now is working on a special cryogenic fuel tank! His partner has a bit straighter background, but its gone from terahertz imaging systems to satalite sensor cooling (serious cooling, i.e. 1-2 Kelvin!) and now working on anaerobic digestion! Very interesting people.

Is it just a case of who is most suitable for the job or would you view a wide range of experiences as being interesting but ultimately not that useful? The whole wide and shallow vs narrow and deep.

[rog007]

I hire based upon attitude first then skills (it being easier for me to improve their skills but harder to improve their attitude (within reason of course)). If someone has both in spades, then they tend to get the job.

What they've done previous to their current role is of interest, but no more than that; they have to be able to meet the key requirements of the role and thus the likelihood is that it's their current role that is the defining role.

This is a sweeping generalisation in answer to your query but you hopefully get the drift.

[edc]

It depends. Industry specialism can help but sometimes people look for variation. I have worked in the same type of role for over 10 years but each job has been in a different industry. Mine is one of those roles where 'transferable skills' definitely applies though. The industry is less relevant than the building and application of relevant skills and experience.