Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly involved in mentoring young people. One of the benefits of having been a management consultant for so long was that I got to peek inside companies ranging from $50M/year startups to the biggest brand on the planet. I like to think there are benefits to having broad experience, and I guess some people agree.
One thing I noticed over the years, though, is an increasing reliance on technology and platforms as means to introduction. A majority of dating introductions are done by algorithms now, and the business world isn’t far behind. This is particularly true for college graduates. Here, resumes perform the same function as men’s suits: make the wearer look nice, but predictable, “safe,” and… interchangeable.
Participating in this system is easy, but ineffective, a first step in training the average person to take what they are given and not to strive for what they want. Almost all resumes pumped into this system are blocked by a vicious funnel of an algorithm and end up deleted and forgotten. The average graduate will send between 100 and 200 resumes this year before getting an offer. Those aren’t quite Lottery odds, but the similarities are there.
So, the best advice I can give to young people is:
Stay away from the Vicious Funnel
You have to send resumes into this system sometimes, but it should be an afterthought, and it should not be your focus. Supply in response to a pull, send a resume that’s been asked for… stop pushing.
Instead, learn to network. This absolutely does not mean that you have to put on the cliche used-car-salesman plaid sport coat and bang out a P.T. Barnum swindling performance. But you might have to pick up a phone and know how to hold a very specific kind of conversation. It’s not hard, but there are a few simple rules.
I’m interested in helping people learn these skills, to open doors for themselves and not get caught up in playing the Lottery with their career. So I’ve taking my experiences to date and formed the Business Networking curriculum. If you are curious, then please check it out.
I look forward to helping more people learn to architect their careers instead of gamble for it.