Put Your Work Out There
Why often your resume is not enough
In the digital age, all it takes you is an internet connection and a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone to create an opportunity for yourself. In a previous article, I explained how I changed the way I did things from adopting a ‘why’ attitude to a ‘why not’ approach.
In this article, I want to explore the options we usually have at hand, but don’t utilize to our benefit whether be it in searching for a job, looking for freelancing gigs, or starting an online business.
I am not an HR consultant, nor am I familiar with the innards of HR departments. But I know one thing for sure: after I became an academic, and after sending over 250 resumes across a range of sectors and positions, I was not called for a single interview. The reasons? I was almost always either overqualified, underqualified, or simply had no experience.
Not even my connections could get me an interview. Why? Because they wouldn’t even risk recommending me not knowing what I had to offer. All I had was a resume filled with conferences, degrees, courses, and a little more. My volunteer work and job experience before I became an academic were rendered useless. Languages, skills, or any extra info wouldn’t tip the balance in my favor either.
