Wow, It's 6am... We Never Write This Late...

Note to self, you really should be spending this time a little more wisely...

Perhaps touching up your resume would be time better spent, being as it's in such high demand these days.

I wanted to spend some time talking about the concept of the resume. Being as it's a pertinent subject matter in the coming day. I never liked the idea of a resume. I don't like the concept of one's work history dictating their ability, or percieved ability to perform the tasks required by the desired position. First, obviously there is little risk involved in hiring for most positions in a company. Second, no one would be applying for the position if thier current job were better, or demanded more then the objective. Third, many things look good on paper.

Not that I like to talk about the war, or politics, or anything like that but it's a decent analogy for the situation. Let's say Bush was sitting in the Oval Office, or the Situation Room, or something of the like strategically planning for the proposed invasion of Iraq. Now, obviously, his bean bag chair puts him a little below table level, so he had to rely on his staff to dictate the plan to him. Well, one to dictate it to him, then three more to dumb down the language. And, on paper, it seemed like a good idea to police the world. So, he laid upon it his crayon'd John Hancock, and America's young and dumb and innocent are shipped overseas without their say or knowledge or consent.

Enough with mocking the current leader of the free world, there's no challenge in it.

Back to the idea of resumes. I don't like to add the little accent to the word, or and umlaut or whatever it requires to be gramatically accurate. If you'd not some how noticed in my previous writings, i've got little concern for gramatically accuracy, and even more I like to disrespect that which I don't agree with.

I understand that an HR manager doesn't have all the time in the world. Well, honestly I couldn't imagine they've much else to do beyond reading resumes and sitting down with prospective candidates. So, their days couldn't remain that full, unless they worked for an emassive corporation with a high turn over ratio. It may seem important to the process to use resumes to filter unworthy candidates, and conserve time, but honestly your only cheating yourself. Many don't have the time nor money to hire a professional to assemble their resume, or even more so don't keep one on hand. They didn't expect the president to export their job to cheaper foreign labor, so they weren't planning on looking for work in the near future. Again, I digress, not that it's all that rare I stray from the subject at hand. Here's the point I was making.

I think of myself as a decent writer. In my life I've achieved a great deal. I'm proud of the postions I've held at the companies I've worked for, and even more so of my efforts while with them. I'm only 22 and I've got a great deal of real world experience in a variety of fields. What i'm saying is, beyond the obvious lack of degree, I'm a damned prime candidate for most companies. Yet, I'd wager if I applied, and my resume came across your desk, you'd pass over me. Good chance you'd end up with some young buck, straight out of college, with a frat house mentality, a $100 a week coke habit, no real world experience, and an absolutely abysmal work ethic. Simply because his parent's invested $60,000 in a college who was good enough to make him accredited for his C- average.

It's most often refered to as credentialism. While, it's only a concept or therory really... This is how the dictionary defines it:

cre·den·tial·ism
( P ) Pronunciation
Key (kr-dnsh-lzm)n.
Overemphasis on diplomas or degrees in
giving jobs or conferring social status

While, I don't disagree with the definition, I abuse the term in a different, or more so broader sense of the word. Which, conviently, ties back to the point I was making earlier. Where as, one's past achievements are used to determine their percieved worth, more than their potential to achieve. Now now now, I know this sounds crazy, and you're going to want to disagree with me, you'll say that of course it's taken into consideration. Consider this then, I walk into any relatively respected higher education institution, and express to them an idea. I suggest they allow me to attend their university without cost, in exchange for $100,000 when I make my first million. Now, this descision would be weighed quickly, and I'd guarentee the scale would never tip in my favor. Even with the prospect of making their tuition back two to three fold, they wouldn't accept the risk, simply because my credentials don't suggest I'd be a prime candidate for such an offer.

I'd say it was their loss, but nothing risked is nothing lost and all.

Either way, it's 6:30, and I've got to get some rest if I intend to "update" or "spice up" my resume tomorrow.

-Rys4K

p.s. - As Kanye says... Two words; Fuck you, Pay me. Which doesn't really make sense, but seems powerful and all.