By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
EP 3123 From the book, “ONLYNESS: A no-nonsense handbook for the age of artificial intelligence PDF We discuss the pitfalls that almost everyone falls into during their job search and career.
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00:00 – introduce The host introduced the “no-nonsense job search consultation radio” and the core topic: subverting the traditional job search thinking.
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00:11 – Book Revealed Jeff Altman’s book synopsis, Uniqueness: A no-nonsense handbook for the age of artificial intelligenceas the basis for episode suggestions.
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00:29 – The trap of being “the best” Discuss why trying to prove that you are the “best” candidate is a fundamental mistake most job seekers make.
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01:13 – race to the bottom Why competing to be the best is a losing game: It’s subjective, requires direct comparison, and ultimately leads to salary haggling.
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01:45 – The “only” power The presenter explains an alternative strategy: moving from “comparison” to “differentiation”. Our goal is to stop being apples in the apple barrel and become oranges.
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02:31 – Generalists vs Specialists (Specific Examples) A practical comparison between a general “Marketing Director” (commodity) and an “EU Fintech Market Access Specialist” (niche agency).
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03:23 – key questions The presenters ask the most important question you should ask yourself: “What makes you only Someone who can do what you do? “
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04:06 – where to find this book Details of where to buy uniqueness (Amazon, Audible) or how to get it via JobSearch.Community.
Is that recruiter legitimate?
This is no nonsense job advice radio. Today, we’re going to discuss something that could completely change the way you think about your job search throughout your career. We’ve pulled it all from a brand new book by Jeff Altman.
You may know him as a big game hunter. The book is called “Onlyness,” and it’s a no-nonsense handbook for the age of artificial intelligence. Wow, this really shows that most of us make a huge fundamental mistake in our job search.
It offers a completely different way of thinking. A potentially more efficient approach. Well, let’s discuss the big question first.
The best, he calls it, is the trap. It’s this idea, this belief, that we all have: in order to get your dream job, you have to convince them that you’re the absolute best person for the job. So let me ask you directly, in your current job search, do you want to be the best candidate you can be? I mean, seriously think about it.
When you’re fine-tuning your resume, when you’re preparing for an interview, isn’t your main goal to prove that you’re number one? Yes, for almost all of us, the answer is yes. But what if the entire way of thinking is wrong? Because according to Jeff Altman, it is. This is a trap.
It’s not just difficult. This is a game where you’re doomed to lose from the start. So, why? Why a trap? Well, the reason is it forces you into what he calls a race to the bottom.
So let’s break it down. Why try to be the best and fail? First of all, the whole idea of best is completely subjective, right? I mean, who are we talking about who is the best? Recruiter, hiring manager? They may even disagree. Second, it lets you make direct comparisons.
It’s basically telling the employer, hey, let me compete with other people. This brings us to the fatal point. It invites them to bargain over your salary.
Because what’s the easiest way to decide when you’re just one of many comparable options? price. Well, if trying to be your best is the wrong approach, what is the right approach? This is where we get to the heart of the book’s ideas. It’s all about the power of what he calls “uniqueness.”
The core idea lies in this sentence from Jeff. Don’t compare, differentiate. You have to stop playing their comparison game.
The goal is not to win the game, but to completely change the rules and completely remove ourselves from the lineup. So what is differentiation? It’s a strategy that makes you less than just another commodity they can compare to and instead becomes a unique, one-of-a-kind authority. Think of it this way.
You are no longer an apple in a barrel full of apples. You are an orange. Suddenly, there are no simple comparisons.
You’re not better, you’re just different. You are the only one. I know this sounds a bit abstract.
So let’s look at a concrete example to see how it actually works in practice. It’s about moving from a generalist to a true expert. Okay, look at this.
On the left is the generalist, marketing director. Super common title, right? It’s broad and you’re competing against thousands or even tens of thousands of people with the same title. Now look at the one on the right, Niche Authority, Market Entry Specialist for European FinTech companies entering the US market.
Wow, see how specific this is? This person is not competing with every marketing director out there. They really created a category for themselves. That’s the point.
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One is just a job title. The other is a unique solution to a very specific problem. They have made themselves so different that for the right company, a European fintech, there is almost no one else to call.
So that brings us to the final, honest, and most important question you need to start asking yourself. It’s time to stop trying to be the best. Seriously, start asking yourself this question.
What makes you the only one who can do what you do? What is your unique combination of skills, your specific experiences, and your personal perspective that makes you who you are? What problem can only you solve? That, that’s the only one for you. This is where your real power lies in the job market. Now, obviously we’ve only scratched the surface.
The book Uniqueness, the No-Bullshit Manual for the Age of Artificial Intelligence delves into how to really figure out what your uniqueness is, how to talk about it, and how to market the unique value you bring. So if any of these apply to you, there are a few different ways you can get this book. It is available for purchase on Amazon, both as a Kindle version and as an audiobook.
It is also included if you are an internal member of jobsearch.community, or you can purchase it separately as a PDF on the website.
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About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire big game hunter Jeff Altman to provide no-BS career advice around the world because he’s done so much in people’s careers Easier. These matters may involve job hunting,
Recruit more effectively, manage and lead better, career transition, and advice on solving workplace problems.
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 2,700 episodes.
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You’ll find important information to help you with your job search on my new website, JobSearch.Community In addition to video courses, books, and guides, I answer members’ questions about their job search every day. Leave your job search questions and I will respond every day. Becoming an Insider+ member gives you everything you get as an Insider+ member, plus you can connect with me via Zoom call to get your questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we offer individual and group coaching.
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