Resume Tip #12: So Do I Even Need A Resume?

Now you may be wondering, “do I even need a resume?”  The answer is yes, but not for the reasons you needed one in the past.

Think of the best job you’ve ever had. How did you get that job? Chances are you got it because of a connection with someone who knew (or perhaps was) the hiring manager.  You may have even gotten the job without a resume.

When I talk to people in their perfect career position, most of them (perhaps as many as 80% of them) got their job because they were able to show their potential employer how their services would help grow the business — NOT because of some killer resume and/or cover letter.

Yet, when we begin the job search, the first thing most of us do is polish up the old resume and begin sending it out. Why do we spend our time doing this if most great jobs are found through some other means? Probably because most of us don’t know how to conduct a career marketing campaign. We resort to doing what we think is most important, and that involves a resume. Besides, everyone tells us we need a resume!

When I talk to people on the other side of the interviewing desk (hiring managers and recruiters), they tell me that they have a problem finding “good candidates” for their advertised positions. When I ask them to tell me about their best employees, there is an acknowledgment that many of those best employees did not come through the traditional search process — at least not for the position they are in now. Again, why do we utilize a method of sending, receiving and sorting through resumes if that is NOT the way most of our best employees are found? Because that’s the method that is expected of us — ineffective as it may be.

The best approach to finding the perfect career position (or the perfect candidate) involves knowing what you want to do, knowing your past accomplishments related to this type of work, and proactively marketing yourself to employers who need your services.

Yes. You still need a good resume. It’s an integral part of your marketing campaign. It’s the brochure that makes an employer want to talk to you. It gives them proof that you are suited for the position. But a resume by itself won’t get you the job, no matter how well it’s written.

If you are searching for that perfect position and finding that your resume isn’t doing the job, perhaps it’s time to try a different approach.

Are you ready to begin a career marketing campaign that will help you find the perfect position? Or are you going to continue to be satisfied with settling for less by developing and sending out your resume? The choice is up to you.

More Resume Tips

Resume Tip #1: Focus On Your Accomplishments

Resume Tip #2: Professional Summary Not Objective

Resume Tip #3: Nobody Cares What You Know… Until They Know You Care

Resume Tip #4: Look Forward Rather Than Backwards

Resume Tip #5: The Education Section

Resume Tip #6: Prove It! Quantify Whenever Possible.

Resume Tip #7: Include Dates or Not? (and how far back do you go?)

Resume Tip #8: What About The Cover Letter?

Resume Tip #9: Close the Gaps

Resume Tip #10: Narrow Your Focus- Think Laser Beam Not Shotgun!

Resume Tip #11: A Great Resume is Not As Important As A Decent Network