Who Rather Than You

Seems everyone wants or expects someone or something else to get them a job. Apparently, the internet does that for us or their resume will do it for them or just get someone else to do it for you. Apparently, this is what everyone has come to expect. It must be true because I read it online, offered by “how-to” mavens, who claim they can help; all parroting the same talking points. They all say you need a better resume, and a bigger, better and wider online social media presence - that’s all it takes. Or, they come up with some silly and overused catch-phrase about self-branding - it’s all very gimmicky and so easy.

 

Sorry, but the age of online instant info that’s resulted in assumed instant gratification, does not yet extend to the jobs market – it doesn’t work that way no matter what anyone tells you. So what happens if you do these things and it still doesn’t work? Well, silly person (they’ll exclaim), it’s your fault, of course, because apparently your resume, online social networking or personal branding was not good enough. Actually, it’s just an example of garbage in, garbage out nonsense.

 

True, you do need a good resume and yes, an online social networking presence is helpful. But there is another component more critical and without which this other stuff is just meaningless fluff – that underutilized and neglected component is you. Finding and getting a good job is not like making instant coffee – you can’t just add hot water and stir, assuming a magical resume and social media image is going to do it for you. It is a silly premise, but people still want to believe it, to desperately hope and cling to it. Finding a good job has never been this easy and the internet actually is making it tougher, because it is so anonymous and soulless.

 

You are the most important component and yet, the last consideration in the minds of too many. Only you can help you to find a job opportunity, the other things are mere tools. Not trying to oversimplify it, but when I suggest that people improve their own abilities, they switch over to their programming about resumes and online activities and totally miss the point – they look at me like a dog that tilts its head because it doesn’t understand what it is hearing. It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Reflexively these same people will react by arguing they know what they are doing – even as their efforts gain them zero real results. But it’s okay, really, because there are only so many good jobs. The fact that only a small number of people take the advice that I, and a few others offer, means the few who do get it elevate their chances for success above the others clinging desperately to their ineffectual placebos. By the way, what is the definition of insanity, hmm…?