I really like Seth Godin. Who wouldn’t in a role like mine? But today he got it wrong.
He said;
If you’re remarkable, amazing or just plain spectacular, you probably shouldn’t have a résumé at all.
I agree that jobs don’t get filled by people emailing in résumés, especially jobs in start-ups, or remarkable organisations. You need to raise your head above the parapet – either by knowing someone on the inside – or by standing out from the crowd. But here’s what I think – you’d be daft NOT to have a résumé.
In a world dominated by ‘average’ and ‘ordinary’, the easiest, fastest and most efficient means to show how remarkable you are is to stand out alongside ‘average’, and show it for what it is.
Be close enough to warrant comparison. Far enough apart to stand out.
update 18/03/08 Think about it. The fastest runner on earth runs the 100 metres like everyone else. He doesn’t go off and create his own gig to show how fast he is……
Yes the bog standard résumé format is crap. But remarkable, amazing and just plain spectacular folk will use this fact to their advantage. They’ll re-write the rules, but still under the banner of a ‘résumé’. They’ll also realise that re-writing the rulebook for getting employed is a bad idea. Because some cretin, somewhere in corporate-ville will ask for a copy anyway.
Bother having a résumé. Just make it unlike anyone else’s.
Filed under: Fun, Ideas and Riffs, Strategy, ideas, marketing , CV, Résumé, Remarkable, seth godin, stand out, Strategy
I was being hyperbolic to make a point, Chris. If you rely on your resume, you’re playing the wrong game…
thanks for reading!
Then on that basis we agree.
Just like the fastest runner on earth who runs the 100 metres like everyone else – sometimes conforming is a great way to stand out!
Thanks for reading too!
I think you are the most forward thinking marketer I have ‘access’ too.
And you are still the most responsive and reactive too.
I see both points. From personal experience, I got my last job because of my blog, not because of my resume. And now I’m starting my own business due to interest I’ve conjured up via the blog, not a resume.
But I’m still gonna have a resume at this point.
The problem I have with the comparison to runners is that everyone can take the measures Seth suggested, but not everyone can run as fast as others.
Nice post.
I agree with Chris, I read the post from Seth and he made his point perfectly clear.
But, sending in your resume, is part of a dogma to get a job.
You can be however remarkable in the way you build your resume, in the way you choose your lay-out of your cover letter (both contentwise as aestheticwise).
That way that bright purple envelop will be opened and read! ;-)
The more this is debated, discussed, the greyer opinion becomes.
Er’ing on the side of caution my advice is;
1) Don’t rely on a CV (or Resume) alone
2) Make your CV (or Resume) second to no one.
Sounds contradictory, but those that get it, will get it. lol.
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