I’ve noticed a weird pattern lately: companies say they want innovative thinkers, out-of-the-box approaches, and fresh perspectives. Then they hire the safest, most traditional candidate every time. I’ve been told I bring unique experience and interesting insights… and then they go with the Ivy League guy with the hedge fund background. It’s making me second-guess how much of my actual perspective I should even bring into interviews. Do you lean into being different or just play it safe to land the offer?

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For strategy roles you need to understand the companies current strategy and look at how you can add a unique but compliementry view so you stand out from the other candidates but you are still aligned with the companies strategy. If you are totaly out of the box companies will pass on you for not being the right fit. For example if a company is targeting X market you don't say to target Y market but look at how they can target X market better.

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I'm just myself. If they want the more traditional person, I'll never fit that role. So there's no point in pretending that's who I am just to get the job. If they want somebody who's a little bit creative and a little bit sarcastic but who gets the job done, they'll go with me. If they want some cookie cutter, I suggest they go with someone else.

Not going to lie, I have been playing it safe. I have been looking for a job for six months and still can't find anything. You are right, it seems like they actually want the safe, traditonal candidate.

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