Why a Company Doesn’t Want Your Resume (And What to Do About It)
In the past, the traditional resume was the standard document needed for being considered for an opportunity. It was the only document available to present someone’s background and skills. It was the perfect tool. The perfect tool for directing the hiring manager’s attention to those aspects that are directly relevant to a particular opportunity.Today, a couple of things have change. First the amount of applicants applying for one position has significantly increased and secondly the legal issues around applicants have changed. Now in order to succeed you must create something to get you noticed outside the paper stack.
Recently, Starbucks attracted 7.6 million job applicants over the past 12 months. Google hired 7,000 people two years ago, only after receiving over two million resumes. Guess what? Google still has a portion of those two million resumes filed somewhere, because of the legal issues around applicants have changed. Those changes now require companies to keep your application for two years even if they never interviewed you.
I wonder “how do you store two million resumes?” So, the shift that’s happening today is that many companies don’t want your traditional resume. And because they don’t want your traditional resume, there needs to be a different strategy implemented. One that will get you attention outside the paper stack and grows into an asset you can reap the fruits from. This means replacing the traditional resume (the paper document) with an online presence that allows your transferable skills and areas of competence to be searchable.
The good news is that companies want to see your online presence, but the bad news is, “what will someone see if they do a Google search for you?” If there’s nothing there, you are invisible in today’s workplace.
A recent study showed only 19% of hiring managers at small companies say they look at the traditional resumes they receive. This is important for you to know because “small businesses” are adding over 2,000,000 new positions annually, far outweighing the traditional job gains and losses. A New York firm, Union Square Ventures, asks applicants to send links representing their “Web presence,” such as Google+, a Twitter account or a WordPress blog.
Many recruiters are searching online for qualified candidates to fill in open positions. With that said, do you have a presence on one of these platforms below? :
Did you know that you can write a blog today and be very searchable online instantly. But you have to be consistent about doing something to keep your name and profile easily found. And make sure that’s not a photo of you at a party of any kind. Recognize that anything on the internet is building your professional brand – and will help any company decide if they want you as a contributing member of the team.
Here’s what you can do to be searchable online, get more attention outside the paper stack and build your professional brand. I would suggest this as a minimum:
- Create a LinkedIn profile or Google+ profile.
- Write a blog (you can do this on a WordPress or Blog Set Up without creating any new template or website)
- Join one other social networking sites (I’m also a member of Manta)
- Build a FaceBook profile (You can set up a professional profile – not a personal one)
Ultimately, you MUST decide. What are you doing to do to make yourself a viable and visible candidate in today’s workplace? If you want to be an employee, a consultant, a coach, or business owner – the options are readily available – but you must get in the search box and out of the paper stack or you’ll be invisible.
The views, opinions, or expressions provided by Indispensable Marketing do not necessarily represent the views, opinions, or expressions of the City of New York and/or the New York City Department of Small Business Services.
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Speaking of ‘traditional’ vs. ‘new’, now this is some good NEW professional advice as opposed to the traditional, recycled work search tips that are used over and over in articles. This is something I can really use. Kudos to the author!
Thank you Cheryl for your comment! I’m glad this was some actionable and resourceful information that you can use. Hope to read more of your comments in the future.
How do you begin to create a blog with the mininum of experience or education?
I have left my resume all over with no takers,HELP!
I would start reading blogs and watching videos about topics in your industry and as you consume that media start adding your opinion on it. I would volunteer so you can create experience. And start blogging about what you learned. Great question!
Thank you Patrick this is a great tip. It seems that recruiters now days want to see what activities these possible candidates are really doing outside the workplace, as it is a faster way to screen and eliminate candidates.
My pleasure Olga! You’re absolutely right about recruiters wanting to see what candidates do off the job. My mentor Zig Ziglar once said,” It’s not what you do on the job that determines how far you get, but what you do off the job.” Appreciate your comment and hope to read more of them.
Thank you, Patrick your tips were an eye opener. I was stuck in the old way of getting my resume out there. Times has changed and with it I must make that change also. Thanks again Oh, finally started getting some feed back and a interview.
Wow Patrica! I commend you on making the decision to go outside your comfort zone to experience growth. And congratulation on your interview.
Great! Very useful information!!!
Thank you Evie! I appreciate the feedback.
I saw an article in the Careers section in amNewYork (March 4, 2013) that read;
“Paper resumes just don’t cut. How to build a digital bio and where to post it.”
Gone are the days of walking into an H.R department with a resume and pretty soon resumes must be digital.
Wayne Gretzky said , “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” Same is true for the job market.