Guess what? We are still hiring. Well, i need to hire, but making the case in these tough times is even tougher. However, the point of this post is that i always find myself briefing recruiters on the strange mix of skills we need:
- Technical skills
- Project and team management skills
- Client facing and Business development aptitude
And you know, these sort of guys are very thin on the ground, and horrifically expensive! That got me thinking that maybe we are just asking for too much? Maybe its best to specialize? That way we hire two stars with specific skillsets rather than desperately scramble for a single person to do everything, and watch them get sucked into a big, sophisticated client (you know who you are) and lose focus on developing product
With specialization comes a complete re-evaluation of how you put together and effective team to build compelling business strategies. Also i suppose we (as analysts) should re-evaluate what we really want to; and in 2009 its never been a better time to think about your career. That may mean making opportunistic leaps, some of us may feel liberated to fall back on our core underlying technical skills and develop them further to create a new measurement philosophy that destroys our reliance on traditional market-mix models...please please please....
I suppose there are two big decisions you have to make, these are life changing as you probably spend more time working or thinking about work than anything else
1. Deep Specialist or Client Business Focussed
2. Boutique or Big Company
As you think about these questions i'll try and walk through this and importantly give you an indication of how much you could actually earn!
Lets get started on number 1. Its the perceived wisdom that in order to get rich (well okay...not rich) you have to see clients all the time. Not true. Being a specialist you get to establish ways of working, approaches and techniques. You don't get buried in individual project implementation but you have to be a king of facilitation and leadership of teams. If you are a master of these skills you can go far, earn a ton of money and be respected by your business
Deep Specialist Prospects: Good in larger organizations who are building scale, are committed to the long term cause and respect innovation ($$$)
Client Business Focussed Prospects: As a good communicator your clients determine your success, lots of scope and high rewards in the long term ($-$$$$ depending on developing the right relationships)
Number 2. Let's face it, big companies offer more security. It's a tough world out there, clients are cutting their budgets, the world is getting complex and data is the new black. But the biggest companies can be stifling, over engineered and devoid of soul. Boutiques and start-ups are much more risky, but hey, you get to paint the office walls luminous green and play your ipod at full volume. I'm half joking but being your own boss is a wonderful thing. You keep all the money...and that could be a lot if you can build the business out to a decent scale
Boutique Prospects: Not for the faint hearted, 2009 is challenging. But i know some guys who have enough contacts and balls to go for it. If you want to work like a dog, be highly stressed and make serious money this ones for you. (0-$$$$$)
Big Company Prospects: Only the strongest , biggest companies will win. You have to act global, process oriented and have technology savvy. You'll never get rich on that salary but the stock can mount up over time ($$$-$$$$)
Whatever you do, there is an option that makes the best use of your skills. In today's world, self-awareness is a trait we all should embrace. Knowing what you aren't so good at, really accepting it and respecting differences can really propel your career
Good luck guys, and let me know if i can help
