A Candidate is More than a Resume

In the recruiting and interviewing process, why is a resume considered to be so important? Can you possibly understand if a candidate would be a great fit for your organization and for the position you are trying to fill from their resume? Most resumes are not written solely by the candidate. They have been “coach” what to write and how to say it. Even the presentation is typically not their creation alone. So I ask again, how can this piece of paper be considered so important?

As a recruiter for more than a decade, I have come to this conclusion. A candidate is more than a resume. You say to me that’s obvious. Well I ask you then how do you determine what candidates you will call in for an interview? Most recruiters will say the candidates with the best resumes.

A candidate’s “real resume” is their “life story”. Who they are when no one is looking. What they can do with the talents and abilities they have been given. What they are passionate about. What they have learned through hard work. What they have learned from study; both academically and the study of life. We hire the whole person, not a summary overview of their education and the jobs they have performed.

To me the question is how I make sure I am spending my recruiting and interviewing efforts on candidates that have the highest likelihood of making a great impact on the company. How do I “see” beyond the resume and into the candidate without spending hours interviewing dozens of candidates? How do I find a candidate that will be more than an adequate employee? How do I find someone who will be passionate about the job? Someone that will bring great value to the company.

I have found that the answer to these questions is pre-interviewing questionnaires that allows the candidate to tell you their preferences in responsibility, career focus, work style preferences, work environment preferences, etc. Does the candidate seek leadership or wish to avoid it? Are they more “people focused” or “task focused”? Do they want to work in a group or do they prefer to work alone. Answers to questions like this give you a picture of what makes up the whole person.

When I find candidates that have preferences that match the company and the needs of the position as well as the education and work experience that are required, I know I will be able to give the hiring manager multiple candidates that would all be a good fit for the position.

Candidates are truly more than a resume.