I don’t want to recruit any new shoe-shine professionals!!

New migrants ask me what the term ‘shoe shine professionals’ mean? This term is often used by select managers in Australia, especially by the senior ranking professionals who have moved up through the ranks within the same industry. 

In today’s economic scenario multi tasking is a way of life. Gone are the days when an Architect’s job was totally different from a Drafter’s job, or where an admin person only did filing of papers and or a typist did typewriting solely. For that matter the job of a typist itself is now defunct though, typing skill in words/minute is a well regarded. Today an admin person is often an well versed all rounder who can do, data entry, handle reception desk, do filing, note down minutes of meetings and order small stationary and so on.

Job seekers need to realise that as competition increases and specialisation grows, it’s the knowledge within the profession, the trade secrets or insider knowledge of doing things within a profession is what the employers are after. Hands- on expertise are often sought as most employers today need employees who need very little training and can hit the deck running. 

If they are hired they can start contributing or working in the position they are selected from day one if not week one. Some professionals who can are well qualified, having secured fantastic marks and tertiary degrees but have no industry or real commercial work environment experience are often referred to as shoe shine professionals.

They are dressed impeccably for interviews in perfectly ironed suits with shining polished shoes but fail to understand that their chances of getting ideal jobs without any industry knowledge or experience are really making the job equation look dirty. Good recruiters can tell the difference between a bluffer and a genuine all rounder after a single phone call.