Why Networking Surpasses Resume Optimization

That "Easy Apply" button on LinkedIn might be holding you back more than you realize. After two decades of placing C-suite talent, I've watched countless qualified executives disappear into the black hole of automated applications. Meanwhile, the executives who secure premium roles are rarely clicking that deceptively convenient button. Here's why direct networking outperforms digital applications every time: 🎯 When you apply through automated systems, your meticulously crafted resume competes with hundreds of others in an algorithm-driven screening process. 🎯 At the executive level, your unique value proposition gets diluted to keywords and bullet points. 🎯 Instead, focus on building meaningful connections with decision-makers. A warm introduction from a trusted contact carries exponentially more weight than even the most polished application. 🎯 Remember: by the time an executive position appears on LinkedIn, informal conversations about potential candidates have likely already begun. 🎯 The most valuable opportunities often exist in the hidden job market - positions filled through recommendations before they're ever publicly posted. By nurturing your professional network, you position yourself to be considered for roles that the "Easy Apply" crowd will never even see. Your executive experience deserves a more sophisticated approach than a convenience button designed for volume recruiting. Invest your time where it truly delivers results: in conversations, not applications. What's been your experience with executive job searching? Has networking opened doors that applications couldn't? #ExecutiveCareers #Careers #NetworkingStrategy #HiddenJobMarket

"I need to perfect my resume before I network." A Senior MD just rescheduled a reach out call with a network connection to wordsmith bullet points. For the third time. After 25+ years in financial services and watching hundreds of executive searches, I've seen this pattern: The leaders obsessing over resume formatting are the ones who stay on the market longest. Because here's what they don't understand: At the executive level, your resume is just expensive paper if you're not working these 7 factors that actually land offers: 1. Your Network Depth ➝ The MD role you want was filled 3 months before it was "open." By someone who had coffee with the decision maker last quarter. Your perfect resume was never even reviewed. 2. Executive Presence ➝ I've watched brilliant executives with flawless resumes lose to candidates who owned the room. Your gravitas can't be captured in bullet points. 3. Strategic Intelligence ➝ Spray-and-pray applications scream desperation. The executives who land premier roles? They target 5 companies and play the long game. 4. Leadership Impact Stories ➝ Your resume says "increased revenue 40%." But can you walk the board through exactly how you turned around that failing division? Context makes metrics meaningful. 5. Professional Reputation ➝ What do three people say when asked about you? That consensus carries more weight than any resume. And yes, they will ask. 6. Culture & Leadership Alignment ➝ Technical fit gets you considered. Cultural alignment gets you hired. I've seen perfect-on-paper executives rejected because their leadership style clashed with the culture. 7. Interview Excellence ➝ Your ability to go peer-to-peer with C-suite executives determines success. They're evaluating your judgment, not reading your resume during the conversation. The harsh truth? That executive wordsmithing her resume while her network goes cold? She's competing for roles that the strategic executives already locked down over coffee three months ago. Your resume is a receipt for what you've done. Your network is your access to what's next. Choose accordingly. 💭 What's your take - how much time do you spend on resume perfection vs. relationship building? ------------ ♻️ Share with an executive who needs this perspective ➕ Follow Courtney Intersimone for more truth about executive career success

That PM job looks perfect. The requirements concern you a little. You don’t quite cover the qualifications 100%. But you have conviction you know you could excel in the role. The applicant tracking system (ATS), however, isn't convinced. If you’ve ever been rejected for a role that you’re sure you could absolutely do—but felt held back by a less-than-perfect resume, you’re not alone. Maybe there’s a gap. A pivot. Missing credentials. Too much or too little experience. Whatever it is, the ATS sees it too—and doesn't give you a chance. That’s not just frustrating. It’s demoralizing. And kinda scary. So how do you get past it? By letting people get to know you. When you build genuine relationships inside target companies, directly or through people who know them, you stop being just a resume in a pile. You become a human being with a story. Networking lets you show what your resume can’t and what the ATS doesn’t know how to screen for: Adaptability, curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving, vision. And hustle, quick learning, and a getting-it-done attitude. These are the skills and mindsets hiring managers actually care about and desperately want. When they see these qualities, even when they’re not explicitly spelled out, they make a connection. Here’s an example: I met a woman named Diana who left a 15-year teaching career to move into corporate training, hoping it would lead to project management. She reached out to me to learn about my work as a PM. She led by sharing, not by reading her resume. And certainly not by pitching. During our conversation, she shared stories that highlighted her creativity, organization, and leadership. I saw her potential as a PM and as a member of our team. After the call, I proactively introduced her to my VP. Two weeks later, she was hired. She didn’t beat the ATS algorithm. She built a relationship around it. So if you’re concerned your resume may have artificial flaws, don’t waste time trying to game the system. Go through another door—through people. That’s where you’re seen and appreciated for who you really are. What do you think—can networking really outweigh an imperfect resume? ⤵️

Landing Interviews Is NOT About Building the Best Resume I see it all the time—product managers obsessing over every bullet point on their resume, tweaking the wording, adding more metrics, chasing the perfect format. And yet... they’re still not landing interviews. Here’s the hard truth: Your resume isn’t what gets you hired. Yes, it matters. But the product managers who consistently land interviews (and offers) don’t just rely on a well-crafted document. They do something different: ✅ They build a brand, not just a resume – They position themselves as leaders in their space by sharing insights, engaging with their network, and showing up online in a way that makes recruiters and hiring managers take notice. ✅ They create opportunities instead of waiting for them – Instead of applying and hoping, they strategically network, get referrals, and position themselves for roles before they even open up. ✅ They control the narrative – A great resume lists what you’ve done. A great personal brand makes it clear who you are as a leader and why companies should want you. One of my clients recently landed a Principal Product Manager role at a top fintetech company. They didn’t do it by sending out hundreds of applications. They did it by: -> Optimizing their LinkedIn profile so they showed up in recruiter searches. -> Posting content that positioned them as an expert in their space. -> Leveraging strategic networking to get in front of decision-makers and top recruiters. By the time they got to the interview, they weren’t just another applicant—they were already seen as the right fit. So, if you’re spending hours perfecting your resume but still not getting traction, ask yourself: Am I positioning myself as a leader… or just another applicant? Your next opportunity won’t come from a bullet point. It will come from how you show up. Remember ... If you’re ready to stop getting overlooked and start getting interviews that actually lead to offers, focus on your brand and position, not your resume

The job search isn't about applications. It's about conversations. And real human connections. 1. Applications alone rarely work. - 85% of jobs are filled through networking. - Recruiters spend 6 seconds on your resume. - A PDF can't tell your whole story. - A real conversation can. 2. Your network is your greatest asset. - You've built relationships for years. - People know your capabilities. - They want to help you succeed. - But they can't if you don't reach out. 3. Fear keeps us behind screens. - Rejection feels less personal online. - Talking to people takes bravery. - But don't hide out in the digital comfort zone. - The lack of progress can be demoralizing. 4. Every conversation creates possibility. - Each person knows 5-10 others who could help. - Your network expands exponentially. - Opportunities emerge from unexpected places. - But only if you initiate the first conversation. 5. Quality trumps quantity. - 10 meaningful conversations beat 100 applications. - Deep connections lead to internal referrals. - Referrals get 8x more interviews. - Your time is too valuable to waste otherwise. 6. Make it easy for people to help you. - Be specific about what you're looking for. - Ask for introductions to specific companies. - Follow up and show genuine appreciation. - Share your progress and stay visible. 7. It's not just about getting a job. - These relationships sustain your entire career. - They become your support system. - They celebrate your wins. - They help you weather future storms. 8. This approach requires courage. - Picking up the phone feels scary. - Asking for virtual coffee feels awkward. - Admitting you need help feels vulnerable. - Do it anyway. 9. Conversations build careers. - I've watched careers transform through conversation. - Not through perfecting resumes. - Not through optimizing LinkedIn profiles. - Not through application systems. 💙 Through human beings, talking to other human beings. 💙 When I lost my job in 2007, I made one call per day. Just one. That's all I could manage at first. One conversation led to three more. Those led to seven more. The effort compounded, and a job appeared. It didn't come from blind applications. I stayed at that company for nearly 5 years. It was a game-changer for my career. (Thank you Renato Beninatto and Don DePalma, for taking a chance on me 17 years ago!) Your people are waiting to help you. Let them. The best opportunities aren't posted online. They're shared between people who trust each other. > Be one of those people. > Start today. > Make the call. > Send the text. > Schedule the coffee. You'll be surprised by how many people want to help you. If only you give them a chance. Your next opportunity is only a conversation away. #jobseeker #careeradvice #layoffs

"If you work hard in your job search, you'll find something" Here's the reality of the job search that most people don't want to face: Hard work isn’t the issue. People job search HARD. They send out hundreds of applications. They tweak their resume for hours. They follow every “expert” tip. And yet— 🔹 They hear nothing back. 🔹 They get ghosted after interviews. 🔹 They watch someone less qualified land the job they want. Then the doubt creeps in: "𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵." Let me stop you right there. The job market isn’t a meritocracy. It’s not the hardest worker who gets hired. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲. 🚫 Passively applying online is the slowest way to get hired. 🚀 Networking speeds up the process. 👀 Visibility creates opportunities. Think about it—hiring managers don’t just sit around waiting for the best resume. They hire people they know, people who are referred, and people who stand out. Want to actually get hired? Do this instead: ➝ Stop hiding. If no one knows who you are, how can they hire you? Make recruiters and hiring managers recognize your name before you ever apply. ▪️ Follow the people who have the job you want. ▪️Follow companies you’re interested in. ▪️Turn on notifications for key people. ▪️Engage with their content consistently—most stick around the first hour after posting, so that’s your window to get seen. ▪️Add value in the comments. Don’t just say “great post”—contribute something meaningful. ➝ Build relationships (the right way). Most people connect, immediately ask for a referral, and wonder why they get ignored. Here’s the thing: Networking isn’t about YOU. It’s about them. If the first thing you say is, “Hey, can you get me a job?” you’re treating people like a transaction. That’s why your strategy isn’t working. Instead: ▪️Be curious. Ask about their career path. ▪️Find common ground. Maybe you went to the same school or work in the same industry. ▪️Give before you take. Engage with their content, support their work, and build a real connection before making an ask. When people know you and like you, they’ll want to help. ➝ Create opportunities instead of waiting for them. Most job seekers wait for a recruiter to reach out. But the ones who get hired faster? They make themselves impossible to ignore. Here’s how: ▪️Post about your job search journey. ▪️Showcase your expertise. ▪️Be active daily. Most won’t do this. But those who do? They get inbound opportunities. Understand that this takes time. No shortcuts. No cutting corners. You don’t have to work harder—just smarter. But if you’re trying to skip steps, you’ll keep hitting dead ends. 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀.

Recruiting vs. Networking: What Really Lands You the Job... A Recruiter's Perspective... 👩💻 I get many messages from people asking if I can help them find a job. Job searching is tough, and recruiters seem like the perfect people to turn to. But here’s the thing...generally recruiters don’t "find jobs for candidates"; we "find candidates for jobs." Companies hire recruiters when they have positions to fill, and our job and focus is to search for the right person to fill a specific job opening. Sometimes, that person is already in our network or database, which is why networking is so powerful, but that’s not the same as us going out and job hunting for you. A perfect example happened recently: A pilot I met asked for input on his resume and also wanted to know if I had any leads that matched his dream job list. I didn’t at the time and gave him some ideas of companies to research/follow. Fast-forward 48 hours...I was catching up with a pilot I worked with years ago, and he mentioned he needed to hire someone. As he described the role, I realized it was an incredibly close match for the pilot I had just spoken to two days ago. I connected them, and now they’re set to interview soon. This wasn’t me "doing a job search"; this was networking in action. Right place, right time, right connections. But here’s the key: Most people/recruiters won't recommend candidates they have not gotten to know or vetted in some way. Sending a resume and asking someone to “keep you in mind” isn't how real networking works. It is about building relationships, not just handing out resumes and hoping for the best. At the end of the day, your job search is on you; you would need to pay a very high fee to ask someone to conduct your job search for you (this was a thing a few decades ago). The more you put yourself out there, the more likely you are to be in the right place at the right time when a recruiter or hiring manager has an opportunity that fits. 🔹 Connect with people in your industry  🔹 Follow companies in your field even if they are not your target companies 🔹 Keep your resume and LinkedIn profile updated  🔹 Stay visible because opportunities come to those who show up NOTE: There are rare occasions where an Agency Recruiter (not a captive agent for one employer) might be able to take a highly qualified (typically with unique skills, type ratings, etc.) candidate and go out to their client database to see if anyone needs the candidate. This usually happens with employment agencies or search firms; not recruiters who work directly for a company. #Networking #AviationCareers #JobSearch #PilotJobs #CareerGrowth #Opportunities #StayReady

Is Your Network More Important Than Your Resume? Debate or Agree? In the early stages of my career, I genuinely believed resumes opened doors, and many of my generation believed so. List the right titles, line up the degrees, showcase the achievements and somehow, the world would move. Well, Yes and No! The truth I learned over time is this: A good Resume introduce you better for sure, but a strong Network remember you, recommend you, and fight for you when you’re not in the room. Look at it like a strong friendship, but with a business bonus. Every major opportunity I’ve had from launching brands in new markets to building new ventures didn’t start with a CV. I say it's a combination of 3 things: 1- Education/Experience/Resume 2- Character/Confidence 3- Network/ Circle/Family Remember, your resume tells the story you want people to hear, but your network tells the story people actually believe. If you’re early in your career, build your skills, for sure. But don’t just build your CV. Build your circle. It will take you further than any title ever will. That’s my experience. 👇Let’s discuss. #ItMakesZeroSense #Networking #CareerAdvice #Leadership #TrustEconomy #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #Resume #PersonalDevelopment

Why Networking > Resume in the SAP World Let’s be honest—SAP is a people-driven industry. Yes, your resume lists your experience. But it’s your reputation, relationships, and referrals that open real doors. Here’s what I’ve seen over the years: - Two candidates with the same skill set. - One keeps applying through portals. - The other builds connections, shares knowledge, engages with mentors. Guess who gets the callback first? Networking is not about asking for jobs. It’s about showing up, staying visible, and helping others. Your next opportunity might not come from HR… It might come from someone who remembers your name. So if you’re spending 100% of your time perfecting your resume and 0% building your network—you’re missing the bigger picture. Start today. Reach out. Comment. Share. Connect. Your future self will thank you. #SAPCareers #Networking #ConsultingLife

🔥 People aren’t going to like this, but it needs to be said. 🔥 Your résumé is not the most important part of your job search – your network is. I know, I know. “But I spent HOURS perfecting my résumé! The margins are flawless. The bullet points are crisp. I even resisted the urge to use Comic Sans.” And look, a strong résumé is important. I should know....I'm literally a résumé writer. But if you’re relying on it alone to land a job, you’re playing career search on hard mode. Here’s the reality: • 80% of jobs are filled through networking – yes, even the ones that have an online application. • A referred candidate is 4x more likely to be hired than someone who applies online without an internal referral. • Hiring managers would rather talk to someone recommended by a trusted source than sift through 300 or more résumés. So if your job search strategy is “apply online and wait,” we need to talk about what you should be doing instead: ✅ Comment on LinkedIn posts from people in your industry. ✅ Send a quick DM to someone who works at your dream company. ✅ Set up a 15-minute virtual coffee chat. Networking doesn’t have to be awkward. And no, it’s NOT about asking for a job. It’s about building relationships before you need them. So….who’s the last person you reached out to in your industry? If the answer is “uhhh…,” it’s time to fix that. #networking #jobsearch #careergrowth #hottake #resume #jobseachtips #resumetips #networkingtips