The Creation of the "Why Me" Document

Did you ever wonder when and how the first resume was created?  Legend tells that Leonardo DaVinci created the first professional resume in 1482.  History shows Leonardo moved to Milan in the hope of obtaining the patronage of the ruler of the city, Ludovico Sforza. Leonardo offered his services as a military engineer, sculptor and painter. Ludovico accepted gladly, financing an independent workshop for the artist. Leonardo would stay in Ludovico's service for 18 years.

Now, new technology allows for editing on a minute to minute basis and YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn bring us "full disclosure" and instant access to the candidate. Now all we need to do is Google someone, to find that in fact they are all over social media sites. Some resumes are even now showing up with a video link for either a YouTube posted Video Resume, or some other professional created document residing on the "Web".

So, what is a candidate to do with all this new technology and the evolution of "how to get hired"?  Retain the basis of a resume - A resume needs to represent a living, breathing document that presents human capital in a format to show in resolute clarity the ROTH - Return on the Hire. As a representative of human capital this document needs to reflect accordingly.  Do resumes, in your reading or creation of them ever scream that to you?  Or, does it seem as if the document that you are reviewing could probably be used for any number of generic companies for the generic jobs posted?  If, this is what you are sending out there, or posting to job boards, chances are pretty good that you are not getting much contact or feedback on yourself as a potential candidate.

A "Why Me" document represents the eventual evolution of the antiquated resume.  As such, "why" you may be good for one position, company or even hiring authority; will most certainly not be the "why" that gets you noticed by another. Each time your resume or the evolutionary document "Why Me" goes out the door, it is a representation of you and what you bring to the table as a ROTH.  Think of that as an opportunity for you to shine. What may "shine" for one, will not "shine" for all.

When reviewing the job description, pick out key components that will be required to succeed in the position.  Highlight on those components of your professional and/or personal experience that would provide a feature, advantage and benefit (your ROTH).  Do some research on the company (I know the internet can be a daunting beast some times, but even a little bit of research will give you some return on your investment of time).  Find out some of their details, what has brought success to the company over the last five years?  Do you have applicable skills that will translate to their continued success, or in the alternative catapult them into success (again going back to your ROTH)?

Do you still need to put in the details of your professional career?  Do you think that Leonardo's resume just simply read "I think you should hire me for military engineer, sculptor and painter"?  Based upon his tenure with Ludovico Sforza, I am sure there were some details involved about his professional credentials.  Yes, you still need details - your vitals/best contact information; employment history (specifically, who, what and when); education and possibly other pertinent details, such as organizational memberships, etc.  All the stuff in between represents the selling of human capital and the "Why Me" factor.