Lose the Resume, Land the Job

Surviving the Initial Job Screening

Corporate hiring officers discard most unsolicited résumés. Firms investigate candidates with rigorous background checks, testing, monitoring online social profiles, and more. Companies weed out clock-punchers as they seek special candidates who fit their culture and have passion for their work. Initial job screenings eliminate 98% of job seekers because bad hires cost companies time and money. “The cost of replacing a manager six to 12 months after he or she is hired is equal to 2.3 times that person’s annual salary.”

Self-Awareness

To assess your passion for your job, think about how you “ACT.” The acronym stands for being “authentic,” making a “connection,” and giving “people a ‘taste’ of who you are, what you do and the contributions you can make.” Employees without passion check out. They’ve had the same office for years, but they don’t know their colleagues next door. Lunch hours stretch 90 minutes. They don’t participate in meetings or videoconferencing calls. They use email to postpone events and decisions. They haven’t been promoted for five years or more, and they’re too lazy or stuck to look for another job. Before...