The First Test

This week I received an application for a position I had posted. The entire email consisted of a resume attachment. No greeting. No introduction. No references. No explanation of why they were applying.

Nothing. Just an attachment.

Now, to be fair, the position had already been filled by the time the email arrived. But that's not really the point. The point is that I see this happen far more often than I should.

Every job posting I publish includes instructions. Most of them are simple: Send your resume. Send your references.

I never specified “Include a brief introduction” because, honestly, I thought it was obvious.

Yet every time I post a position, applications arrive missing one or more of those items. Here's the thing many people don't realize: The application process is often the first test.

Not because anyone is trying to trick you. Not because hiring managers enjoy making people jump through hoops. It's because the way you apply tells us something about how you'll work.

In live events, details matter. Call times matter. Credential deadlines matter. Hotel information matters. Travel documents matter. Patch lists matter. Truck packs matter. Show files matter.

The difference between a smooth day and a disaster is often one small detail that someone overlooked. When a job posting asks for a resume and references, and only a resume shows up, it raises a legitimate question:

If you can't follow the instructions in the application, why should I assume you'll follow instructions on the job?

Your resume tells me where you've worked, which is important. But it doesn't tell me why you're interested in the position. It doesn't tell me whether you can communicate professionally. It doesn't tell me whether you read the posting carefully. It doesn't tell me whether you paid attention to what was requested.

That's where the rest of the application comes in.

A brief introduction doesn't need to be complicated. Three or four sentences is plenty. Tell me who you are. Tell me why you're interested. Tell me why you're a good fit.

That's it.

References are equally important.

Anyone can make themselves sound great on a resume. References provide context. They help fill in the gaps. They help verify experience. They help us understand what it's actually like to work with you. And before someone says it, yes, I know some people have landed jobs with nothing more than a resume.

Sometimes that happens.

But if your goal is to maximize your chances of getting hired, why would you intentionally skip part of the process? The reality is that hiring decisions are often made between multiple qualified candidates. Small things become deciding factors.

Professional communication matters. Attention to detail matters. Following instructions matters. Not because they're difficult but because they demonstrate professionalism.

The easiest way to stand out isn't by having the most impressive resume in the pile. It's by proving you can follow directions before you ever step on the job.