In commercial, professional, and academic communities it is essential that individuals present themselves positively for the sake of their personal advantage. To do so most effectively, individuals must have a clear and accurate understanding of their target audience.

For those seeking advice, for example, about acquiring a car dealership, advisors should be sought who have a record of buying car dealerships which either continued to be successful or became successful under that individual’s management. A claim of being a knowledgeable car mechanic is irrelevant.

For professionals such as doctors and attorneys seeking new affiliations, personality characteristics, educational background, and breadth of experience in dealing with those served is more important than their specialized areas of expertise.

For academics seeking new engagements or applying for  grants and other forms of support, a listing of public recognition of their success is more important than a description of the areas of personal research interest.

It is therefore clear that a differently organized biographical presentation is appropriate for different times and needs of the individual. It is also clear that the needs of the reviewer of the resume are most important to those seeking engagement.

The mistakes prospective retainers of services are seeking to avoid include losses of money and prestige in buying the wrong business on the wrong terms, affiliating with an individual not adding to performance, or hiring an individual requiring rather than increasing funding.

Those who review the backgrounds of people seeking something from them are assuming overstatement as to those individuals’ positives as well as the mischaracterization of prior experience. These reviewers are seeking to avoid mistakes rather than find unexpected benefit. Accuracy and factualness are necessary, as challenge and skepticism are likely to be the reader’s initial critical responses to the relationship seeker’s posting.

In the case of successful relationships, the beneficiary seldom expresses appreciation to individuals for successfully presenting themselves, whereas if the relationship is not successful the background data initially presented is criticized and accused of being misrepresentational.

Biographies are advertising and can become liabilities if miscast.

 

Arthur Lipper, Chairman                 arthurlipper.@gmail.com
British far East Hollings Ltd.