If You’re Relying on Your Resume to Get a Job, You’re Doing It All Wrong
FutureSkill #7
It’s a bold statement, but think about this: What do an abacus, a floppy disk, a pay phone, and a resume have in common? They’re all relics of the past.
Yet, countless professionals still pour time and energy into perfecting their resumes, believing that this single document is their golden ticket to landing a job. They meticulously tweak their LinkedIn profiles, craft cover letters, and apply to hundreds of job postings online, hoping that one of them will lead to their next big opportunity.
But here’s the harsh truth: Resumes are passive. They list your qualifications and experiences, but they don’t demonstrate how you can truly add value to a company. In today’s hyper-competitive job market, where employers are inundated with applications, even the most meticulously crafted resume can quickly become just another drop in an ocean of white noise.
So, what should you do instead? The answer lies in flipping the script. Shift your focus from being a mere applicant to becoming a strategic partner. It’s about building relationships, understanding the real challenges companies face, and positioning yourself as the solution to their most pressing problems. Here’s how:
Identify Key Decision-Makers: Start by researching companies you’re interested in and find out who the key players are. These are the leaders with the power to make or influence hiring decisions. They’re the people you need to know.
Understand Their Pain Points: Dig deep to understand the company’s challenges. What are their biggest pain points? What goals are they trying to achieve? The more you understand these, the better you can tailor your approach.
Position Yourself as the Solution: Once you understand the company’s needs, position yourself not just as a candidate but as the answer to their problems. Go beyond listing your qualifications. Show them how you can directly contribute to overcoming their challenges.
Build and Leverage Relationships: Networking isn’t about collecting business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn. It’s about building meaningful relationships. Reach out to professionals in your field, attend industry events, and engage thoughtfully with leaders on platforms like LinkedIn. These connections often lead to opportunities that never make it to a job board.
Let me share a personal story. In 2021, I landed a CFO position at a tech startup without anyone ever looking at my resume. For months, I exchanged messages with the company's CEO, offering advice and insights whenever he needed them. He was a first-time founder navigating the complexities of pitching investors and needed help with his deck and fundraising strategy.
At the time, I was in the middle of writing a book and wasn’t even looking for a job. I was simply fascinated by the product and technology the startup was developing. After months of these occasional interactions, out of the blue, the CEO offered me the CFO role—not because of my resume, but because I had already demonstrated my value in a way that no document ever could.
The lesson here is clear: Don’t get lost in a sea of resumes. Set yourself apart by becoming a unique and indispensable asset to any organization.
In today’s job market, it’s not about having the best resume. It’s about being the person who can solve the biggest problems. By focusing on building strategic relationships and demonstrating your value, you can create opportunities that a resume alone never could.
To make this kind of approach work, how much time are you expecting to put into building the relationship? What if the company doesn't have a role by the time they like you?