Friending, Texting, and LinkedIn does not tell your full story.

In today’s social networking space, there are a lot of connections made via different sites on the internet. Facebook and LinkedIn are examples of some of the more popular and commonly used sites, where “friends” and “colleagues” network, in the privacy of their laptops. Incidentally, many users of these sites forget that maintaining these connections are for the purpose of engaging other humans, whose primary means of communication has always been the spoken word.

From a networking standpoint it may seem sensible to reach as broad a constituency as possible; unfortunately, when all the networking is done, one actually has to convey an intelligent thought, from memory to be able to deliver a great story. Candidates who want to have successful and meaningful interviews must share an interesting story, and humanize their professional experiences.

Too often I see resumes or online profiles with a lot of acronyms, technologies, awards, and an abundance of information which tends to confuse hiring managers, because there is no story behind the data. We must remember that companies do not hire resumes or online profiles- people are the greatest asset. Hence, a person, who is creative in humanizing his or her particular story, will leave a lasting and meaningful impression on a hiring manager.

A resume is like a ticket into a show, it ends up on the floor or a desk drawer, or a miscellaneous file folder; whereas a well spoken professional, will be a lasting resource to any organization. I encourage everyone seeking employment, or even those gainfully employed to leverage all social media and electronic networks to make good connections. However the time will come to meet someone face to face and you will have to share a good story using real words.

So next time a hiring manager or professional colleague says- “tell me about yourself”, you should take the opportunity to impress them with intelligent vernacular, not a text message.