🌟 Rethinking Human Capacity: Why Job Descriptions and Resumes Are Outdated in a Rapidly Evolving Workforce 🌟
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The challenge since Leonardo Da Vinci's first resume and the emergence of job descriptions in 1911 has been aligning human talent with business objectives. Despite countless online tools and services designed to optimize hiring processes, companies still need help identifying the right candidate for a given role. As technology advances exponentially to meet the market's needs, the methods we use to connect humans with these objectives have not evolved simultaneously, resulting in a widening gap. Companies are left asking, "Did we hire the right person?" 🤔
Leonardo certainly embellished and strategically omitted information to make his case as the ultimate problem-solver. Let’s dig into a few areas where he stretched the truth:
1. Military Engineering Feats
Leonardo claimed he could build indestructible bridges, siege machines, and weapons that no one had ever seen before. He wrote confidently about war machines like cannons, armored vehicles, and catapults.
Reality Check: While he was undeniably inventive, most of these designs were conceptual and never tested. Some of his war machines—like the early "tank"—wouldn’t have functioned effectively due to flaws in mechanics.
2. The Indestructible Fortress
He promised to create unbreachable fortresses and underground structures to resist attacks.
Reality Check: Leonardo never constructed a fortress in his lifetime. His ideas were imaginative but more theoretical than practical for the time.
3. Waterworks and Secret Passageways
Leonardo claimed he could divert rivers and design secret underground waterways for military purposes.
Reality Check: While he had a deep understanding of hydraulics, diverting rivers and creating "secret passages" on command was far beyond the capabilities of his time.
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4. The Claim to Artistic Modesty
Leonardo saved the best for last, casually mentioning his abilities in sculpture and painting: "I can carry out sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay, and in painting, I can do as much as anyone else, whoever he may be."
Reality Check: This might be the understatement of the millennium! By this time, Leonardo was already a talented artist, but he downplayed his artistic skills in favor of pitching himself as an engineer—because that’s what the Duke needed.
Conclusion: A Master of Self-Promotion
Leonardo didn’t lie, but he masterfully marketed himself. He focused on solutions to the Duke’s immediate problems—warfare, defense, and infrastructure—and emphasized his versatility.
His resume wasn’t about past accomplishments; it was about future potential. And that’s what makes it brilliant. Leonardo Da Vinci knew how to position himself as the person with ideas no one else had, making him indispensable—whether or not the designs were entirely realistic.
So, did Leonardo exaggerate? Absolutely. But did it work? You bet.
It's time to rethink human capacity and consider a paradigm shift in hiring practices. We can pave the way for innovative approaches that align talent with organizational needs by eliminating outdated job descriptions and resumes. 💡
📚 The Fallacy of Job Descriptions:
Traditional job descriptions are often rigid and may not accurately represent the dynamic nature of modern work. By defining a role with a list of predetermined tasks and qualifications, organizations may inadvertently limit their candidate pool and overlook individuals with unique skill sets or the capacity to learn and adapt. In a world where industries and job functions change rapidly, it's crucial that we reimagine job descriptions to emphasize adaptability, innovation, and the ability to grow alongside the evolving organization. 🌱
📄 The Limitations of Resumes:
Resumes, a staple in the hiring process for over a century, need to catch up in capturing the true essence of a candidate's potential. In an age where the average worker may change careers several times throughout their life, more than a two-page summary of past experiences and achievements is required. Resumes favor those who excel at self-promotion, while candidates with valuable yet underrepresented skills may need to be noticed. Moreover, resumes often perpetuate biases, as employers may unintentionally favor applicants from prestigious institutions or with familiar names. ❌
🚀 Towards a New Approach:
To address the disconnect between the 21st-century workforce and outdated hiring practices, organizations must invest in alternative methods that allow them to tap into human capacity in a more holistic and flexible manner. Some potential strategies include:
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Global CIO/CISO | Executive Advisor | Board Ready | Podcaster | Author | Passionate to create a safer world, using my expertise in cybersecurity/technology to develop innovative solutions for growth oriented companies.
1yLonnie-I have to say that this article was well written, and have to ask if you see this new way of finding talent the same way at every level of the organization.