The Person Not on the Resume

By Margot Finley-Aguilera President, Avondale Search International, Inc.

Do you feel that your resume really captures who you are? Most people would say no. It is just a wee slice of who a person is.

Thankfully, while a list of accomplishments is essential for matching experience with job requirements, let's be honest: it is typically not the reason you are hired or not hired. That happens because of you – your personality, how you present yourself, how you connect with people, your ethics, your spirit, your wit, your empathy, your interests, etc.

A good headhunter can convey the more esoteric aspects of you as a candidate, as can good networking through people who really know and admire you. A good interview process should draw these finer points out about who you really are - after a strong resume gets you in the door.

So, can I please tell you what I see in people beyond the resume in our Talent Management sector? There are an amazingly high number of very cool, truly interesting people with exceptional lives and interests and passions.

I am an avid, insatiable reader, devouring books by the UPS truckload, but the stories our industry professionals have to tell are second to none. You are Very Interesting People, folks!! Yes -- you.

Why is this important? It is our humanity, how we have spent our lives, our personal characteristics and qualities that ultimately lands or loses us the job. Would you like just one example of how much is often NOT portrayed on a resume? It will be difficult to select ONE example, as there so many of you I would love to profile. And I probably will be knocking on your virtual door to do just that soon – you know who you are.

I did not have to look far for my first example of how much of a person is not conveyed through a resume: Angus Carroll, former COO of MindLeaders.

Since Angus is seeking a new role in the Employee Training and Talent Management sector, he is an excellent example. The data on his resume includes the following:

• SirsiDynix 2004–2007, Chief Marketing Officer

• MindLeaders 2000–2003, COO & Board Member

• Dialog Corporation 1999–2000, EVP Worldwide Marketing

• Medicus, 1996-1998, VP Strategy

• Ceridian Corporation, 1993–1996, VP, Business Development

But that’s only part of the story.

Q. Like Jerry Seinfeld, you have a keen ability to summarize things up and elicit laughter and find sophisticated and contagious humor on almost anything. Is that a result of making the most of walking on earth with an IQ of something astronomical? (No, you cannot delete this question, Angus!)

A. Humor is an important part of everything – work, family, friends. If you work hard and spend half your waking hours hammering away at your job, you have to be able to laugh – not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. I think it's especially important for senior executives to show they have a good sense of humor because, if they set an ultra-serious tone, that quickly gets adopted by everyone, and, let's face it – no matter how good you are, no matter how hard you work, nothing ever goes according to plan – and that's when you need humor the most.

Q. You have some exceptionally diverse interests and hobbies. Please tell me about your Darwin collection...

A. I collect Darwin, which means mostly 1st editions of all his works – books and papers. There are over 2,000 volumes in the collection now, including two copies of the 1st edition of 'On the Origin of Species,' his most famous book. I also have several hand-written letters by Darwin and a very detailed model of HMS Beagle, the ship he sailed around the world on from 1831 to 1836. I started collecting Darwin about 25 years ago, and now I have a very important collection from a bibliographic standpoint – in fact, I have discovered several new items no one knew about before. Beginning in April of this year, the collection will begin traveling to several museums. The exhibit will include all his major works and will also tell the story of the voyage

and how he came up with the theory of natural selection. Darwin was born in 1809 and published the Origin in 1859, so 2009 is a big anniversary year for Darwin, and many museums are featuring Darwin exhibits this year.

Q. Is it true that you unearthed a rare dinosaur during a dig and went on to write a book with the famous Paul Sereno? How does this happen to a training industry COO?!

A. Well, I have discovered several prehistoric animals, including a Triceratops and a Mosasaur (which is a big marine reptile). After being involved in dinosaur digs all over the U.S., I did meet Paul Sereno and co-author a small book on dinosaurs for kids. Paul is one of the world's leading experts on dinosaurs and an Explorer in Residence at National Geographic. He is also a great guy. How does this happen? It happens when you pursue outside interests – you meet interesting people, which leads to other things. I started going to Tucson every year in February for the Gem and Mineral Show. It so happens all the dinosaur people go there, too. One year, I got invited out a on a dig. I found a dinosaur, so then I got invited out every year. That led to meeting Paul. That led to the book. It's the same in business: one thing leads to another, and, before you know it, you've made the right connection.

Q. Is it true/possible/probable that your Dad had a relationship with Marilyn Monroe? Or did he just photograph and interview her?

A. He did spend three weeks taking pictures of her when she was on the set of the movie Niagara in 1952. My father, a photo-journalist, was on assignment for Weekend Magazine, and the two of them hit it off. Did he have an affair with her? I don't know. He flew out to California to see her again later, so there might have been something to it. He never spoke about it, and it just was not the kind of question you could ask my father. We'll never know for sure.

Q. Last but not least, did you ever find these interests and hobbies to be a plus in your professional roles in any strange way?

A. Certainly. A big part of business is the personal relationships you develop, and you can't talk business all the time – at least not over dinner or a round of golf. When people realize there's more to you than just the work-you, it helps form a stronger relationship. People like to get to know the people they are going to do business with, and the more topics you can discuss, the better.

Did I mention why I did not have to look far for this example? Angus is my brother-in-law, and we are all fortunate enough to be on top of a mountain, tucked in around a holiday table counting our blessings. And I include you, tolerant reader, as one of mine. Thank you.

margot@avondalesearch.com