Promises or Portfolios

Whether applying for a job or reviewing applications to make a hire, you can either rely on promises or portfolios. 

For those looking to fill a position, promises are the nice things that a person says about themselves in order to get the job. Portfolios are the tangible evidence that a person has the skills to perform the job once it’s theirs.

For those seeking a job, promises are the nice things that a company says about themselves in order to get you to work on their terms. A candidate’s portfolio is used to validate that yes, this company has that kind of work to offer.  

If only it were so simple. 

This paradigm is a myth; work products are not always the focus of such hiring exchanges.

Instead, people on both sides of the transaction rely on little promises or tiny impressions to guide their decisions. Work products be damned.