Advantages are always changing, so it’s crucial to understand what gives you the edge at any given moment.

A group of people submit resumes. If you're the only one with a prestigious degree among them, it becomes your advantage. Once you're in the company, everyone's from top schools—then it's no longer an advantage. You notice everyone's a tech guy except you, who's articulate—then articulateness becomes your edge. But when everyone's articulate and you're the only one who understands tech, that becomes your advantage.