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In a world where everyone is increasingly being taught the same generic skills, it's beneficial to have an area of specialty that sets you apart. For a computer programmer, this knowledge may lie in a particularly rare type of coding. For a graphic artist, it may be 3-D text in Adobe Photoshop. For a nurse, it might be radiology. The idea is to take the skill set that allows you to have your job in the first place (programming, design, or nursing) and augment it with skills that few of your compatriots have; that is, give yourself a niche.
In nature, a niche is often described as a role in the ecosystem performed by a small group of specialized animals; or how an organism finds a way to survive. For example, the Anteater survives by eating insects alone, mostly ants and termites - therefore, they do not have to compete with other carnivores, which are not specialized enough to subsist primarily on insects. The job market is nothing if not natural selection in action: Survival of the Fittest. The idea is to find your niche, and limit the amount of competition you might face.
Even if the current recession begins to abate in late 2009 (when most analysts are predicting the beginning of the end), there will be wounds that linger for years to come, most notably in the job market. Unemployment is not expected to dip below 8% until 2010 or later. That means the job market is going to remain incredibly competitive for some time to come. It also means that a generic résumé touting a Bachelor's Degree and a couple years of experience isn't going to stand out as much as it used to. Employers will look for workers that can fill multiple roles (saving them money) or bring something unique to the table (making them money).
That makes this a great time to bolster your résumé with some extra training. But put some thought into which skills you augment and how you train. Certainly, remain up to date with your field. Everyone programmer worth his salt is going to be well versed in HTML and XHTML. But knowing Java or Flash in addition to that will make you able to work on the front end or the back end of a website, giving you a competitive edge on those that might know the front or back alone. Another great way to compliment your resume is to look for skills that might be applicable, but not necessarily part of a degree-study program. If you're an English major trying to find work as a writer, take a class on HTML. A lot of companies are looking for writers to work on their webpages, but if you can write and construct the website, you're much more likely to get a good job out of it. It's the same idea: being able to work on the back end as well as the front end of a given project, understanding the function and the aesthetic.
Just because you've learned these skills on your own time or weren't a part of your degree program does not mean they should stay off your résumé. In fact, if you're an English major that learned HTML on her own, display that proudly - it conjures up images of a self-starting go-getter, which businesses of all types love. The combination of skills you learn will make you unique among the masses, therefore creating your very own niche. This will make you especially appealing to small businesses, which don't always have the budget for a large staff, and rely on people to serve in multiple capacities.
The strategies listed above will help you distinguish yourself in a job market overflowing with untapped talent. Learning a niche will make you not only more employable, but a more valuable employee, and thus, harder to let go. In order to maintain your expertise in the niche you choose, it should lie close to passions you already have. That way, learning seems less like work and work seems more like fun.
Now that you have read about Niche Work, may we suggest that you take the next step and check out How to be Your Own Secretary. It is important to us that we are able to help people as they recover and prosper after job loss, so please contact us with suggestions, corrections, and even your personal experiences. If you found this article or video to be helpful, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. Also, be sure to check out all of the amazing resources for your career transition in the ILostMyJob.com Book Store!
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