Have you ever wondered why so much emphasis is placed on your resume? And, at the same time, have you noticed how you can send out dozens, indeed hundreds of resumes, and get no results?
Have you heard how valuable networking is? And at the same time, have you “networked” your contacts to the point where they won’t return your phone calls?
The correlation between these two staples in the world of job change – resumes and networking – is your reputation. Reputation management is one of the most important things you can do to get the interview(s) you want that lead to the job offers your need.
From a business owner/manager perspective it really doesn’t matter to me who you know. What matters is who knows you and how they know you. By this I mean who among my friends and business associates, the people that I trust, is willing to stand up for you, to say you are the person I need to achieve my goals and overcome my problems. This is the only reason why I am interested in your resume, to see if there is a pattern of growth, evolving from a business or school I have confidence in, that shows a stellar reputation.
I have written previously about how I and my colleagues in business are afraid to hire someone we don’t know. I said that people, like you, job seekers are looking for a job and not a relationship. I said that many of you are willing to lie to us just to get the chance for an interview. We all know this is the truth. But, how about more truth?
If you are an A-player, a linchpin, a rainmaker, a problem-solver, an opportunity spotter or any other type of person who can and will make a positive difference in my organization, then surely there is a paper trail of accomplishments. Surely there are people who you have worked for you are willing to testify on your behalf. If not, then your resume means nothing to me.
How do you build a reputation?
You’ve already done it.
The only value your work history has to someone like me is to show me that I can trust you, that the things you have placed on paper are the types of things that you can and will do if I hire you.
How do I know that you can do what you promise (and your application for employment is a tacit promise that you can and will do for me what you say you have done for others) to do?
I’ll check you out. I’ll read your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages. I’ll call your former bosses. I’ll read your blog. Then, if you pass the trustworthiness test, and you have the skills I need, and your references check out, I’ll interview you.
You’ve got to clear a number of hurdles before I risk my business on you. There is a strategy for clearing these hurdles. We’ll talk about these things soon. Because your reputation matters.