Do you think employers REALLY care about your resume when it comes to making a final decision to hire you? If you said “yes” then think again. Now before you throw your resume away, let me tell you why. Your resume although well-crafted is simply a single portrait of who you are. And not one wise person would enter into a contractual agreement with anyone based upon one single snapshot. An intelligent individual would take the time to explore other pictures within your full professional portfolio before making that final determination. Agreed?
So with that being said, your resume is a precursor to obtaining a job offer and is not what closes the deal for hire. But stop the presses! Please understand that YOU DO NEED A PROFESSIONAL RESUME. In fact, your job search is not complete without one. Your resume is the single most important document that you’ll need for your job search, period! It is the primary way you will present a professional picture of who you are to prospective employers. And in fact, your resume is typically your first impression and introduction to a company. So yes, your resume must be impressive, well-written in both format and content, and ultimately a great portrait of your value to the marketplace.
Now I know that many of you have spent painstaking hours working on your resume, perhaps you’ve utilized the resources and services of a professional career coaching (and hopefully that person was me), and you might have even attended a workshop or two to make sure your resume stood out in the crowd. I sincerely applaud your wise efforts and investment to do so. And while that’s great and so necessary, let’s not forget that we still need to explore one of the other main pictures that should be included in your full professional portfolio to help open the career doors you desire. And the portrait we will focus on today is social media.
In today’s world of technology, many employers can find out who you are without thoroughly reviewing your inspiring, professional resume. Reportedly, upwards of 75% of companies will peruse your social media sites during the hiring process to determine if you are the ideal candidate for the job opening. Shocked? Well you shouldn’t be. Your online presence is important and also creates an image of you to employers. So ask yourself, “What picture does my social media presence paint about me? Does it corroborate or devalue the quality of the product I’ve highlighted on my resume?” So, although your carefully prepared resume brought interest to you as an ideal candidate, your online portrait just might close the door you’ve worked diligently to open.
But there is a quick-fix answer and it’s all in knowing what companies are looking for. Here are a few things to consider:
- Honesty: Your resume has indicated a certain level of skill, experience, and education/training that meet the employer’s needs. So ask yourself, “Does the work experience, education, and expertise listed on my resume match the information on my LinkedIn profile or other sites? Upon feedback from previous employers, educational institutions and/or employment references, is my information factual and accurate?” People like to do business with individuals they trust. Thus, the main thing to determine is, “Does my online portrait validate that I am honest, trustworthy, competent, and a person of integrity?”
- Professionalism/Good Character: I always challenge clients to think like a business owner. And as an owner, you would personally desire to hire individuals that will positively represent your company and your brand. So ask yourself, “Do my social media sites demonstrate that I possess the same good character outside of the workplace as I’m expected to have within the work environment?” Ultimately, as an employee, you are hired to be a solution as well as a brand representative. Thus, after reviewing your social media pages as a business owner, would you hire you?
- Knowledge/Initiative/Interpersonal Skills: Beyond your ability to do the tasks of the job, it is important to be a team player, an open-minded leader, and be able to effectively utilize critical thinking skills to solve problems. So ask yourself, “Are you actively involved in professional development opportunities to stay abreast of new information within your field? Do you give back to others and relate well within teams? Have you demonstrated a track record of going above and beyond your responsibilities to help improve previous organizations? Are you open to change and able to develop & implement real solutions?”
Food for thought, huh? Now please don’t take the stance that some individuals have and decide that you don’t want to have a social media presence at all. You want to be found online especially LinkedIn as many organizations recruit heavily there. Just ensure that what they find clearly reflects the picture of wonderful, professional you!
So, whether this information is a reminder for some or new news to others, please remember that relying on your resume alone to open the door of opportunity is a recipe for disaster in your job search. A strong professional resume is required and essential in introducing and selling your product, thus opening the door to the interview. However, your full professional portfolio which includes your professional online presence helps you close the deal.
Happy Hunting and until next time…
Covenant Career Consulting 