Humanizing Resumes and LinkedIn Profiles: Liz Ryan’s Call to Action

In a recent LinkedIn post, Liz Ryan discusses the pervasive lack of personality and authenticity in professional profiles and résumés, urging professionals to break free from outdated, robotic conventions. Ryan, drawing from her extensive experience in corporate HR, highlights a common issue she observed when reviewing numerous applications daily.

As Liz Ryan notes:

“When I was in corporate HR, I used to read hundreds of résumés and LinkedIn profiles a day. Do you know what struck me? Most of them could have been written by the same scared committee.”

Ryan argues that this uniformity stems from a deeply ingrained training that encourages professionals to adopt a dry, dull, and robotic tone when presenting themselves. This approach, she contends, strips away the essential human element that can make a candidate stand out.

The “Scared Committee” Effect on Professional Branding

Liz Ryan points out that the pressure to conform to perceived corporate standards often leads to profiles and résumés that lack any distinct voice or individuality. This phenomenon, which she terms the “scared committee” effect, results in a sea of generic applications that fail to capture the unique skills, experiences, and personality of the individual.

According to Ryan, this is not the fault of the individuals themselves but rather a consequence of historical training and industry norms. She emphasizes that professionals have been conditioned to believe that a lack of overt personality is a sign of professionalism. This conditioning, however, is counterproductive in today’s job market, where authenticity and a clear personal brand are increasingly valued.

“No spark. No voice. No humanity. None of that is your fault — you were trained that way.”

Ryan suggests that unlearning these ingrained habits is a crucial step towards developing a more impactful professional presence. The goal, as she sees it, is to reclaim one’s voice and infuse professional documents with genuine personality and human connection.

Introducing the LinkedIn Impact Audit

To help professionals overcome this challenge, Liz Ryan introduces the concept of the LinkedIn Impact Audit. This audit is presented as the first step in a process of “unlearning all that old brainwashing.” It aims to guide individuals in identifying and shedding the robotic language and impersonal style that has become commonplace.

In Ryan’s view, the audit serves as a diagnostic tool, enabling individuals to see where their current profiles or résumés may be falling short in terms of personality and impact. By understanding these shortcomings, professionals can then begin the work of infusing their own unique voice and experiences into their personal branding materials.

“The LinkedIn Impact Audit is the first step toward unlearning all that old brainwashing – that we have to sound dry, dull and robotic when we’re writing a resume or LinkedIn profile.”

Ryan indicates that this is just the beginning, with further developments planned for the future. She hints at expanded efforts to help professionals further develop their authentic professional voice, suggesting a commitment to ongoing support in this area.

Moving Beyond Robotic Conventions

The core message from Liz Ryan’s post is a powerful call for authenticity in professional self-presentation. She challenges the long-held notion that professional communication must be devoid of personality. Instead, Ryan advocates for a more human-centered approach, where résumés and LinkedIn profiles reflect the genuine capabilities and character of the individual.

By encouraging professionals to undertake an audit and to consciously work on unlearning outdated communication styles, Ryan aims to empower them to create profiles that not only list qualifications but also tell a compelling story. This shift, she implies, is essential for making a true impact in their career pursuits.