Why forwarding me your resume won't get you a job...

Here is a shocker...I don't hire a resume. I don't even hire from a resume. If I do look at a resume, it's reluctantly.

Honestly, when is the last time you saw a resume that absolutely knocked your socks off? It was so clear and compelling and targeted to you, that it was all you could do to keep yourself from picking up the phone and calling for an interview?

For me, it has been the very rare exception. I wonder how many other CEO's are different than me?

Now, when I have people who have lost a job, and are looking for help, I don't ask about their resume...I ask if they know where they want to go. Have they targeted potential employers by name? Or at least an industry? If not, I can't give them meaningful help.

If they tell me they are looking to get into a commercial facilities management position (like someone asked me recently), which is as far from my industry as it gets, I have found that I probably won't have a single contact. However, I almost always can think of someone I know who will know where they need to go...or to whom they should go. In this case, I called Bruce Dodge of Jones, Lang, LaSalle. He has represented us in our last two relocations with our company. They have been exemplary. When I asked Bruce if he could help a friend of mine who was looking for a facilities management position, his answer was simple and refreshing and supports this post's conclusion: "Yes. I will brainstorm with him, and together we can figure out who I can introduce him to."

This is genuine and meaningful help. And it keeps the monkey from jumping off of the back of the job seeker on to yours. In short, if you need help, or you are asked for help, skip the resume, pick up the phone, and make the call.