Global Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Leader | Specialist in Luxury, Retail & Influencers | Drives Brand and Digital Transformation | Ex-Spotify, Harrods & YOOX-Net-a-Porter
I've read about 500 job descriptions, so you don't have to. "We welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds" is a common statement in company blurbs. But scrolling down these same candidates often need specific and substantial experience in that particular industry. There seems to be a hesitancy to recruit talent from diverse professional backgrounds and other industries. 🤔 Whilst in this economy it's understandable to prioritize industry experience and you could argue that businesses don't need to recruit outside their industry because of it, I do think those businesses are missing a huge opportunity. Recruiting someone from a different industry can bring a completely different perspective that often far outweighs the slightly longer time they may need to get up to speed with industry nuances and jargon. Most industries are influenced by others. Here’s some examples: 🚗 Automotive and 👠 Fashion: The sleek lines, bold colors, and futuristic designs found in automotive engineering often influence fashion designers seeking inspiration for their collections. BALENCIAGA Ralph Lauren and more recently a post-MOSCHINO Jeremy Scott have all found runway inspiration from cars. In the same way, fashion trends and luxury materials like alcantara suede and carbon fiber frequently find their way into car interiors and accessories. 🛫 Aerospace and 🏚 Architecture: The innovative structural designs and materials used in aerospace engineering have inspired architects like Zaha Hadid & Norman Foster in their building designs. Concepts such as lightweight construction, aerodynamics, and sustainable technologies from aerospace can be applied to architectural projects, leading to groundbreaking structures and sustainable urban development. 🦐 Food and 👗 Fashion: Food and drinks have been a playground for a lot of luxury brands over recent years - Fendi, Prada Group and Dior are a few, with Louis Vuitton being one of the latest to open The Place in Bangkok, a "multi-faceted experiential building" home to a LV cafe, among other things. And you only have to look at some of the world's top restaurants to see they are inherently influenced by fashion. The list goes on, but the point is that innovation often stems from the collision of conflicting ideas and approaches. I've thought a lot recently about the message behind Balenciaga's latest show, exploring the notion that creativity is the new luxury. I think businesses that adopt a transdisciplinary approach have the potential to be the most creative, and that applies to talent acquisition too. I'm interested to know what other people think - have you managed to move industries recently, or as a hiring manager do you actively seek out candidates from other industries? #innovation #transdisciplinary
Jay Thandi
7mo
Some companies are open to taking someone who brings something different to the table, but many prefer to play it safer and take someone with proven experience in that field. I think it comes down to the risk aversion of the senior leadership
Really thoughtful post. Thanks
Head of Marketing at Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort and Strategic Marketing Manager at Middlesbrough Football Club
7moLove this post!! I moved from Oil & Gas to retail and now hospitality. I think I must’ve been lucky with hiring managers who could look beyond just the industry and into the experience instead! It’s mad to me to think that you would only recruit from the same industry. Now as a hiring manager myself I make a point of looking at experience rather than the company / industry they’ve come from. Even better if they’ve worked in a range of industries, it just shows how adaptable they are!