Why doesn't my Resume work?

With the ubiquity of social media today, we cannot deny the growing impact that LinkedIn has on driving recruiting trends. That’s why Recruiters - just like commercial brands both big and small - tap digital platforms in a bid to capture specific talent. Relying on a paper resume and applying to companies solely expecting a response - simply isn't enough to create the engagement that you strive for. You have to get socially connected to the action! (But how?)

Recruiters are inundated with resumes and applications daily and as a result of emerging technologies, it provides the ability to "cherry-pick" the talent that they require through the utilization of "keywords". Simply put, job seekers have to position themselves in front of the decision-makers in a different way to get noticed. 

FACT: 90% of Recruiters are primarily searching for talent on the LinkedIn platform. To gain traction in a crowded job market with so much competition it is vital to leverage your job search by tapping into the "online behavior and trends" or shall I say utilizing career branding, thought leadership, skill-based marketing, and social networking to display your value proposition- in order to drive interest from those companies.

This is where it gets sticky as many people choose not to play in the "social media sandbox" and feel that the resume - alone - is enough to drive engagement if they just apply, apply, apply - the more - the better. After all, it's a numbers game, right? Well, it is ...but what if I told you that there is another way, a more effective way? Would you be open to a new technique, a new strategy that has become a proven model? If so, keep reading to learn more.

Digital marketers must also create a concise yet effective social media strategy that attracts their ideal customers - so what is the difference for job seekers? Well, there isn't. You are your own Brand! If you don't Brand yourself - others will do it for you! Your skill set has to be marketed to employers effectively and employers desire products (YOU) that are eye-catching, engaging, and value-adding. In essence, your LinkedIn profile (Your Digital Resume) has to hit all of these marks to gain traction.

Keyword Algorithms & Social Bias 

As a 20-year Recruiter who has worked for small companies and global enterprises - one thing is common for sure...biases exist during the recruitment process and they show up in many forms, unfortunately. Now I am not here to blast companies or recruiters but I do want to shed light on how technology and social bias have both impacted how recruiters navigate the talent sourcing process.

Similarly, companies such as Facebook and Google use specific algorithms to personalize user engagement, ad spend and utilize AI to amplify results. Have you noticed when you search for items on Google - automatically you get the same ads targeted back at you - designed to draw you in based on your search criteria and interests? It is very effective actually and is how they generate revenue! This is all done through "data" (keywords).

Now let's get back to the topic at hand. During the recruitment process, companies invest large amounts of money to attract talent quicker, more targeted, and through the use of keyword-driven algorithms. In addition, the LinkedIn platform allows recruiters and hiring authorities to cross-reference your resume contents with your LinkedIn profile - giving complete access to fully vet your picture, posting history, comments, accomplishments, and social relevance - prior to the request for your resume or inviting you in for an interview. So use caution here! 

Should we shy away from it as a result of the bias - absolutely not! Rise to the occasion - it is 2020 and technology is only emerging at rampant speed! My advice for job seekers is..."When in Rome, do what the Romans do!" Recreate your online Brand Presence and be your best self! Now is the time!

If you are seeking a job or a business owner that desires to attract your target clients - you need to understand the power of fully optimizing your profile sooner than later - if you expect to gain traction and increase engagement.

Which leads me to my next point: "How do we get around the social biases?" Well, first you must know what they are. Social biases come in many forms online so here are just a few examples:

Common Social Biases

• Unprofessional Profile Picture (Dress for the position you want; not the position you're in!)
• No Picture at all (A BIG No! No!)
• Boring Header (ex: "Seeking a job!" or using the default "Manager at ABC company"
• No "About Me" section (or not having the right information displayed to market your skills/value proposition)
• Unclear job titles (non-recognizable to the platform)
• No text under your jobs (No text - No keywords - No visibility!)
• No Skills/Endorsements/Recommendations (They give you leverage and qualify you for jobs!) 
• Too many jobs listed/major gaps in employment (A flight risk to employers!)
• Dates beyond 10-15 years experience (attracts "age bias" - YES it exists!)

These are just a few but very important to pay attention to. Job seekers are not expected to automatically know all of these biases which is why you may need to enlist a professional (specifically someone Certified in LinkedIn or a seasoned Recruiter/Resume Writer who is trained to know the back-end mechanics of the platform to guide you successfully through the optimization process.) and someone to tell you the TRUTH!

The Manual vs. The Digital Resume Era

Before creating or marketing your resume out, first, take the time to consider what your target role is. One good rule of thumb to remember is that recruiters search for talent by keywords (SEO). If you do not know where you are going (what your target job is) - how can you craft a resume that gets picked up in the search? More than likely, your current resume is not tailored in this fashion. Or what if you desire a career transition?

Allow me to explain further: When shopping on Amazon - let's say you want to find a pink, V-neck Polo shirt. You would type into the search bar: "Pink" "V-Neck" "Polo Shirt" - right? You wouldn't type in "shirts" or "yellow shirts" - or else the results would be endless, and you'd never get to what you want. Recruiters use the same tactics - whether you apply online to the company websites, on a job board or whether they search for you on LinkedIn - they type in the exact parameters to find their talent "Software Developer or Engineer" and "Java or .Net" or whatever skills they are searching for. They can even further narrow the results by adding location, degrees, key skills, certifications, etc. 

Herein lies the concern: As a Career Coach - I have found that most job seekers do not possess the "right" keywords for their targeted role on their resume or LinkedIn profile and DO NOT come up in the search results - therefore they may never get seen by a recruiter. The computer (technology) "assumes" that they are not qualified, and they remain invisible. Although this may not be the case! Dangerous right? Yes, it is.... which is why Career Imagery was created to help those lost in the pile or shall I say cyberspace. Due to technology, recruiters do not have the time to sort through the yellow, white and polka dot shirts to get to the actual pink, V-neck Polo shirt! GET IT!???

So, where does that leave job seekers? Well, it is a MUST to get your resume AND LinkedIn profile (your digital resume) recreated in a way that incorporates ALL of the required keywords to obtain your target position. DO NOT RELY ON JUST A PAPER RESUME! But that's not it! To attract recruiters takes so much more. Next, you have to present yourself in a manner that is eye-catching, engaging and shows your skills in an "accomplishment-driven" format NOT "task-oriented" - as every company wants to know what you have made, saved or achieved so that they can envision you doing the same at their organization. 

The market has changed drastically - instead of talking about the problem - We have decided to create a solution. Career Imagery positions our clients for success through an innovative resume science that is keyword-optimized and accomplishment-driven - designed towards your target role. We enhance your LinkedIn profile with a digital transformation through advanced techniques - engineered to make you STAND OUT from the crowd! 

If you are still relying solely on the paper Resume - make the switch TODAY and LET's GET YOU HIRED!

*Watch a sneak peek video to understand more about Career Digital Transformations*

Deidra Cox has over 20 years' expertise in recruiting and providing corporate training for top-tier companies (Fortune 500) and staffing agencies across multiple industries. The growing demand for job seekers requiring assistance with resumes, online branding, and career coaching inspired us to develop a solution to position our clients for success through a professional and polished career brand that creates engagement.

Visit: www.careerimagery.com to learn more or to book an immediate appointment.