Why Your Resume Isn’t as Important As You Think It Is

Applying for a new job is daunting.

What do you wear: tie or no tie? Heels or flats?

Often it depends on the industry. Accounting is going to be a bit more buttoned-up while digital media is another game.

Now—the resume

Your primary focus is often on your resume.

Every career adviser and recruitment agency has a different template. Some like it shorter, others longer. Having no job experience means that you will have to offer some other aspects of who you are to impress.

For those of us who’ve been around for a while, it becomes harder to hide your age while revealing your vast experience and incredible skill set.

And whatever you do, don’t have a spelling mistake or use bad grammar. It’s a fatal error. At Google, HR “bins” every CV that has just one spelling mistake.

But despite those efforts, the potential employer has already “checked you out.”

You are now defined by your online content

Even before you get that first interview, you have been “Googled.”

In the age of search engines, what was previously hidden becomes painfully apparent. Those social networks and personal blog posts can float right to the top.

You are now defined by your online content. Your personal brand is an amalgam of digital impressions revealed by an online search.

What do they want to see?

Employers want to see passion. An online attitude that says, “I will do what it takes, and I love what I do.” They want to see innovation and creativity.

What they don’t want to see?

Inappropriate photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, Maybe even Vine or Periscope.

If you want the right content to surface online, you may want to start rethinking your posting tactics.

It’s time to build an online personal brand that adds gravitas to that monochromatic, two-dimensional resume.

So what does a digital personal brand look like?

Here are some of the top places to put your best foot forward online:

LinkedIn

Make sure that your profile is optimized to ensure that the personal brand positioning is how you want to look to future employers.

For some students, such as those in digital marketing, it is sometimes mandatory to start a blog.

The art of researching, writing and publishing will bring huge personal growth if done with steady and consistent persistence. It will also help you start creating personal digital assets that you control and own.

Twitter

Set-up a Twitter account and start building an audience before you need it. And make sure you link to your blog.

Start now

Start the journey and build those online assets today. Create content that reveals your passion, your interests and your expertise.

You may be surprised what doors it opens and where it takes you.

Disclosure: I’m compensated by University of Phoenix for this blog. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.