Teachers, professors, and career counselors have long encouraged students to be “well-rounded.” But the problem with well-rounded students is that they usually don’t focus on any one thing for a prolonged period of time. Too often they seem to participate in activities just to check off a series of boxes, instead of showing the deep and sustained involvement, passion, and dedication that employers seek. Their résumés are filled with what some recruiters refer to as “sign-up clubs.”

Over the past decade, research has emphasized the need for today’s young professionals to possess deep disciplinary knowledge along with a keen ability to communicate across social, cultural and economic boundaries.

In other words, it is more important to be “T-shaped” than to be “well-rounded”.

What is the “T”? 

Why is it important to be “T-shaped”? 

Read more about the importance of the T-shaped professional on T-Academy’s website. Read more about why it’s more important to be T-shaped than “well-rounded” on The Washington Post’s website.