Job Corner: Don’t Always Lead With Your Resume

Monday, April 20, 2015

Lea McLeod, GoLocalPDX Careers Expert

Would you talk to an employer about a job without a resume?

Do you always need a resume before you talk to a prospective employer in your job search? I say not.

I have a client who submitted a resume for consideration for a job that looks perfect for her.

When she sent her resume to the HR person for a job she was interested in, she was immediately dismissed out of hand.

It turns out one technical requirement was missing from her credentials. The HR person believed this to be essential and eliminated the candidate.

Ironically this person was also introduced to a hiring manager through a networked connection, shortly after the HR contact had dismissed her.

But wait…

She and the hiring manager had a great conversation (sans resume) wherein my client delineated her qualifications, and addressed how she would handle the technical credential she was missing.

It turns out the hiring manager was VERY interested in her skills and qualifications based on the conversation they had. She had a completely different experience than with the HR person, because the manager was looking at her total capacity to do the job. He wasn’t just looking at her resume.

And, because the focus was on the conversation and not the resume, it was a completely different interaction.

Wow, the power of relationships!

When you are out there in your job search, here are a couple of things to keep in mind about the relationship connections.

1. Build multiple relationships in your target organizations.

HR people are carrying herculean workloads and trying to get the right people into a manager’s hands. But often they need to be “black and white” about who goes into the “keep” pile. A small technicality (or an inappropriate resume) will knock you out. It pays to create multiple contacts in your target organizations and not rely solely on HR to “approve” you!

2. Focus your conversations on building your reputation.

Create meaningful conversations that show off your capabilities, without hard selling. My client went in to a networking conversation and came out leaving a favorable impression on a hiring manager. In essence, it was a mini-interview! And there was no resume in site.

3. Respond to feedback you get.

My client was told the technical credential was non-negotiable. So she created a plan for how she would obtain that credential in a short amount of time. Now, she’s prepared to turn that into a future performance asset, rather than a detriment.

If you get feedback on your resume or credentials, remember that another employer might have that same point. Come up with a plan to address that feedback, in case it comes up elsewhere.

4. Never, ever, underestimate the power of a conversation.

You must get very comfortable with the conversation part. But don’t look at it with dread. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to leave a great impression with someone who can hire you, or refer you. Your goal is to make your impression and create a demand for yourself, before you ever hand someone a resume.

Here’s one solid action you can take away for this week: Instead of always leading with your resume, lead with YOU. Lead with a good conversation, a great attitude, and leave a masterful impression. Then, your resume becomes a formality, and it keeps you out of the discard pile.

Lea McLeod helps people meet challenges in the job search – and in the job - head on. Formerly a Director Level manager at Hewlett-Packard, she hired, fired and managed people around the world. Now, she helps people do great work, and leave the office on time.

She works with individuals and teams to make the work experience better, resolve conflict, and improve collaboration. Get started with her 21 Days To Peace At Work e-course. It’s free!

She also created The Resume Coloring Book online course to give clients a step-by-step process for writing a great resume, at a fraction of the cost a professional would charge.