When do you use a Resume?

Here are my thoughts about the questions I asked last time. If this sounds contrary to what you have been told, I encourage you to think through my logic to see what makes sense to you.

• All I need to get a job. – No. A resume never gets you a job.
• The first thing I work on when I get laid off / fired – No. A resume should be one of the last steps you take. Until you know what you want to do, where you want to work, and what the hiring manager is looking for in a new hire, you don’t know which of many words, talents, skills, accomplishments… that you should emphasize.
• The primary communication document to get a job. – Only if you are lazy and want to join the masses of the unemployed whose resumes wind up on a foot high stack (or higher) with a 10 second screening given to each.
• A history of my work experience – Can 2 pages possibly fully describe your work experience? Not unless you haven’t worked much.
• A picture of who I am – Really? Does it convey your values, your personality, your communication skills, your relationship skills, your intelligence, your cultural views, your political views (capitalistic versus socialistic), your initiative, your creativity, your enthusiasm, your thought approach (visionary vs. data focused vs. process centric vs. relationship based)?

OK. Now, explain what I would do with a resume.

• Send out to all my contacts – NEVER. Once I know what I want and where I want to work, I would arrange a personal meeting with those who could get me there. For others I would send out a 2 sentence summary. Sentence #1: a value proposition. Sentence #2: three key very high level examples of how I do what my value says I can do. Along with a brief intro and followed by a brief request for letting me know who I should meet and thanking them for being in my network.  Keep it professional, short, informative, and limited to a total of 150 words.
• Give to everyone I meet – NEVER. It signals that you are a job begger.
• Blast out to all major job boards. – Perhaps. But only when it reflects what you are wanting to do and what value you can provide. This is a low return effort but it can produce results.
• Use for all company applications – Of Course. But, why are you wasting time filling out applications; unless it is for a hiring interview?
• Use for all interviewing – If for a formal job interview, of course! If for a meet and greet, almost never.
• Blast out to all recruiters – Perhaps. But only when it reflects what you are wanting to do and what value you can provide. This is a low return effort but it can produce results. For recruiters in your network I would highly recommend the same method as point one (send out to all contacts) with the resume as an attachment.