RWMC Short Insight - October 2026
Three Reasons Relationships Matter More Than Résumés
In the job market it is often discussed how much relationships matter compared to what is on a résumé.
While a résumé tells prospective employers basic details about the background of a candidate, their professional relationships can offer a deeper insight and more qualitative details that a résumé cannot.
These references can serve as a complement to the experience and qualifications of a candidate on a résumé, they both matter.
1.) Relationships help you get noticed
One reason why relationships matter more than résumés is because, at its core, a résumé is just a piece of paper.
According to the Social Security Administration, citing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7 out of 10 jobs are landed because of networking.
This makes it hard for someone with no connections to land a job even with a good résumé.
2.) They help you learn about opportunities
MTV coaching founder Michelle Perchuk in an article for Forbes recommends that job seekers should spend ⅘ of their time making connections and ⅕ of their time actually applying for jobs.
Perchuk believes this is a more effective way of landing a job than sending out a lot of applications with no connections.
3.) They help build trust
A third reason that relationships matter more than résumés is that it allows potential employers to confirm your credibility.
These connections can lead to verification of résumé items and provide more specifics on those roles.
Having a good professional relationship with others allows for you to have multiple people vouching for you in a job search.
Conclusion
Job searching in the current market can be a challenge regardless of what stage of your career you are in.
The numbers show that you are more likely to get a job if you have the right connections.
This can be applied across industries and is not specific to one job field in the current market.
Building the right connections can be challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating, but they have a huge reward in the current job market.
Comments