4 Reasons to Re-Read Resumes of Current Employees

The companies we work for are often so blinded by what we can do for them today, that they forget what we have done before.  With the understanding that each of us is hired to help a company achieve their goals (not our own), I still believe that forgetting the past and only looking towards the future is a mistake.

The solution is simple.  Re-read employees resumes every six months.

This exercise helps managers paint a more complete picture of the employees working for them.  If organizations ignore the past, I propose that it creates several problems which can be detrimental to the employee-employer relationship.

Here's why...

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3 Candidates Submit the Same Cover Letter!

I'm on the prowl for a part-time editorial assistant in the New York area at a major non-profit organization.  The job was posted two weeks ago and has yielded over 450 resumes.  What started out as an exciting task of expanding my skeleton staff has turned into a harsh reminder of how bleak things are out there in the (un)employment world - especially for people with a writing/communications/journalism background.

Dozens of applicants have Ivy League educations.  Hundreds have advanced degrees. And almost every single person is over-qualified for the $16-an-hour gig.  The biggest challenge, from a hiring perspective, is finding someone who will stick around for at least six months.  

Wading through a sea of applicants is tough work.  But three candidates made my life easy.  They gave me the opportunity to reject them instantly. Why?

They each used the EXACT SAME COVER LETTER!

B-U-S-T-E-D

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