Resume 2.0

In this pervasively digital age, is the traditional “paper” resume obsolete?

I started thinking about this question when I stumbled upon some articles introducing the “visual resume”. What is a “visual resume”, you may ask? Essentially, with the advent of user-friendly design software, free images, a creative approach and good ol’ Powerpoint, you can set up a visual representation of your resume – which may be more impactful in helping you stand out from among a plethora of other potential job candidates.

My initial reaction to this idea was one of wonder: “Wow! What a great idea! I’m done with boring paper resumes – this is the future!” But as I thought about it further, I also realised: contrary to common misconceptions that it’s “out with the old and in with the new” especially when it comes to digital media, digital media merely expands the channels for communications rather than replaces them (hrm… something to expand on in another post).

Still, the idea of visual resumes are quite compelling and this is the presentation that set me off on them:

10 Career Mistakes To Look Out For

I originally read this from a post targeted to freelancers titled “10 Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make As A Freelancer” over at SmashingShare. However, after looking at it, I believe the applications cut across any job and position one finds one’s self in. So, here are the the 10 career mistakes to look out for:

Social Networking and Personal Branding

I know this is pretty much accepted as conventional wisdom, but I thought I’d put it down here anyway.

Social Networking – both offline and online – remains a vital tool in personal brand management.

As an example, I just found out enough about an incoming personnel both good and bad (unfortunately, it was mostly bad) – to have already formed my first impression. This means, the person will be coming in and, unknowingly, having to prove themselves already.

Is this good or bad? I don’t know – I only know that this is how things work.

It used to be what you know.

But then, it’s also who you know.

Now, you need to also think about who knows you… and what they know about you.

Hence, your personal brand: What you know < Whom you know < Who knows you < What they know about you.

Thoughts?

What To Do When You’re Overwhelmed With Deadlines

The Copywriter Underground has great advice on what to do if you’re falling behind on your deadlines. I think this is especially helpful for anyone who is in a consulting/freelance situation. It’s not easy medicine to swallow – but definitely necessary.

In short:

5 Critical Areas Every Manager Must Be Adept In

As I continue to grow more and more into leadership and management roles within my current organisation, I find insights and advice like this increasingly helpful. It’s pretty amazing that, in the grand scheme of things, organisations tend to end up valuing “leadership” and “management” skills far more than mere “technical” skills.

Once, when I was trying to understand the world of C-level executives, I asked someone who was in such a position: “What do you do, actually?” I really liked his response: “What you can do, I can’t necessarily do. But what I can do, you can too. In the end, people come to me for decisions.” In short – leadership and management skills can often trump technical expertise, in an organisation.

So, coming across this collection of ideas on leadership and management via BNet Insights – The Corner Office blog, was pretty helpful. I’m collated and summarised the findings into a single reference point now for convenience and future reference.

5 Critical Areas Every Manager Must Be Adept In

Essential Tips For Hacking Work

Just discovered this awesome resource via @GuyKawasaki: Core 77′s Hack2Work: Essential Tips for the Design Professional. The tips are not just applicable to design professionals though…

Great stuff inside… which I will be digging through shortly.

How to Go on the Offensive with Facebook

Great career advice from Guy Kawasaki, via American Express’ OPEN Forum: How to Go on the Offensive with Facebook. Check out the full article for great practical ideas as well.

The ultimate takeaway, in my opinion:

“…the defensive advice that experts are pedaling to “be careful what you put on your Facebook profile because recruiters may look at it” is ass-backwards. Instead, you should assume that organizations are checking you out (in fact, I blogged about a more efficient way to do this here) and use this to your advantage.

That is, rather than cleanse profiles in order to escape rejection, enlightened candidates will use Facebook profiles to market themselves—perhaps even asking to show their Facebook profiles in interviews. Think about what companies are looking for: bright, diligent, honest, well-rounded, socially-responsible, green, and connected people. Now imagine that you were giving a tour of your Facebook profile to a recruiter.”