I recently came across this LinkedIn post which highlighted many of the issues with resumes today. At the core of the post is the idea of Information Asymmetry. It’s a real problem in job searching and hiring.
They offered this great image to illustrate how the information assymetry applies to a person’s resume:
What a beautiful image that illustrates the challenge that people looking for a job have in illustrating to a hiring manager why they should be the one hired. Although, the same thing applies to employers who post jobs. The company has a specific need (aka “reality). The hiring manager has a view of what that need is. The HR person writing the job description has a view of what they think that job will do. Then, the job description the company posts describes another picture based on the interpretation of the job seeker.
I think that one way companies and job seekers are battling this information assymetry is using more data. One of the largest sources of this data is on social media. The beauty of social media is that it isn’t the perfectly manicured and filtered data about an individual. It’s a much deeper look into who they are and what really interests them. That’s why it’s so valuable to employers.
I don’t need to tell job seekers why their social media presence matters. That’s been said all over the place. Most people look at it in a negative light. Yes, your drunken pictures can damage your reputation. However, your social media presence can also be considered in a positive light. Not only can they see that you’re professional, but they may also hire you for your internet presence and social media abilities.
I have no doubt that if I wanted a job today many people would be interested in me because of my social media presence and skills. That’s a powerful asset that you can bring to an organization.