A common misconception in the careers game is that a CV is a passport to today’s best opportunities in our economy.
This is FALSE!
Let’s talk abt this… ⬇️
The competition is huge
There are abt 8 billion humans on planet earth today. Let’s say (hypothetically) 1 billion work in your industry.
Of those 1 billion, let’s say 450 million have the skill set to do the role you’re doing today.
That’s a lot of competition, right?
If all you have to compete with the rest of these people for opportunities is a CV. Do you think this is enough?
Do you believe the playing field is level??
It’s not. Many have created advantages to navigate the game and produce better opportunities.
Here’s how…
Create an advantage
We all have a platform to create career advantages, and that thing is called the internet.
Yes, the thing we’re all on right now!
You can easily:
➡️ Build a niche following on social platforms
➡️ Show your work on a website (thanks Austin Kleon)
➡️ Contribute knowledge on video platforms
➡️ Share value through a podcast
➡️ Start a blog and teach others to do what you do.
The point is that the options are out there to build a profile that gives an advantage over others in the same field. This is something I talk about in depth in the How to win in the Careerverse playbook.
Think about it…
Would you rather read a document that talks about what someone can do or see what they can do?
The internet provides that gateway.
As Austin Kleon says, SHOW YOUR WORK!
This realisation has been the thing that has led me to the most opportunities in the last 2 years of my 16 + year career.
Showing what you can do gives an advantage over just talking about what you can do.
Not one or the other, combine both for maximum results
This isn’t about dumping a CV entirely.
It’s about what you can add to the toolkit alongside that CV. If you go with just a CV your chances are much lower than going in with a CV, a portfolio page and other publicly shared work.
Look at the CV like a product subscription service.
It’s the main entry point, but what are the sweeteners you can add to give you an advantage in customer conversion?
I find the more senior you get in an org, the more a cv becomes redundant. Most, if not all those hires are based on relationships. Whether that’s right or wrong to do is a topic for another time.
Give yourself the best chance for success in the career game, folks.
Before you go… 👋
If you like my writing and think “Hey, I’d like to hear more of what this guy has to say” then you’re in luck.
You can join me every Tuesday morning for more tools, templates and insights for the modern L&D pro in my weekly newsletter.
