Are Resumes Passé?

Photo credit: dhinson / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A lot of young professionals are getting some truly misguided information about resumes, networking, and the job search process. They’re being told that resumes are no longer relevant, your qualifications don’t matter nearly as much as your network, and reference checks are a thing of the past. Oh, how surprised they’ll be.

The truth is, yes, professional networking goes a long way. Who you know is often almost as important as what you know. But networking is not a replacement for qualifications. And knowing someone who works for (or has a connection with) the company you’re interested in doesn’t excuse you from the standard hiring process – i.e., reference checks and resumes.

People in your professional network have the ability to open doors – not necessarily push you right through doors. A friend of yours might offer inside information about an open position not yet publicized. You might get a personal introduction to the hiring manager. Someone in your network might even put his or her own reputation on the line by “vouching” for your work. But, unless your contact is the person making the hiring decision, that’s likely where it will end.

Most of the time, networking will help ensure your resume gets an extra moment of attention but the information on it will still be scrutinized. The resume itself will still be a tangible demonstration of your professionalism and your personal brand. And, what’s more, that resume will be a reflection on the person who put in a “good word” for you.

In reality, if you want to take advantage of your professional networking connections, you should first make sure your resume is a perfect match for the position. This will help avoid embarrassment for all parties. After all, you don’t want a friend to stick his neck out for you only to hear through the grapevine that your resume did not reflect his claims.

Young people should be told the truth about networking: Knowing people is a helpful first step. It can certainly get you a place at the front of the line. But you’re still in line. You still have to earn a ticket to ride. And a well-crafted resume that meticulously outlines your unique qualifications is still the most efficient way to prove you deserve it. Having a supportive professional network doesn’t downgrade the importance of a finely tuned resume. In fact, it makes it even more important. You can’t ask your connections to open the door without having the ability to walk through it on your own.