BYU–Hawaii alumnus Richie Norton’s new eBook, Resumes are Dead And What To Do About It, was recently released by Shadow Mountain Publishing, a Deseret Book company. In it, Norton draws from his experience at BYU–Hawaii and his success as an entrepreneur to argue that there is a better way to go about landing the career of your dreams than peppering employers with resumes.
Norton, a San Diego, California, native, is currently in his second trimester at Thunderbird School of Global Management studying in the Executive MBA program with his wife and three sons in Phoenix, Arizona. Before graduating from BYU–Hawaii in 2004, Norton served as BYU–Hawaii Student Body President during his junior year after which he created the Student Alumni Association on campus and helped establish the Mark and Laura Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship.
After graduation, Norton made Laie his home, participated as the business advisory board chairman for the BYU–Hawaii SIFE program and received Hawaii's Top 40 Under Forty "best and brightest" businesspersons award by Pacific Business News. For Norton, his time spent at BYU–Hawaii was one filled with opportunity, and he attributes much of his success to the growth he experienced during his time on campus.
The idea for Norton’s book came from his interaction with friends and acquaintances. “People would send me questions asking about how to find a good job that they could enjoy while still having a life,” explains Norton. “I had someone tell me that after he had sent out at least four resumes a day for six weeks he still couldn’t find a job. The experience for him - and countless others - was demoralizing. That’s when it hit me; resumes are dead.”
Chris Schoebinger, publishing director at Shadow Mountain Publishing, describes Norton’s book as “timely” and relevant in today’s generation. “Readers who are struggling to find employment will be energized,” says Schoebinger. “If you’re looking to get a raise or promotion, Richie gives readers a game plan on how to be the kind of employee that gets promoted. It’s so simple, yet so invigorating.”
Likewise, Stephen M.R. Covey, New York Times bestselling author of The Speed of Trust said about Norton’s book, “My verdict: sheer genius! I love it, I think it's brilliant. I think it's bold and courageous, I think it will help people out everywhere.” In fact, a trial run of the book has already helped several people land jobs.
Resumes Are Dead And What To Do About It can be purchased online as an eBook complete with embedded videos of Norton elaborating on key principles. However, as a way to contribute to the success of BYU–Hawaii students and others, Norton’s book will be available as a free download for two-weeks beginning on March 7. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) will also be working with Norton and conducting research on the effectiveness of his methods to help students get jobs. “So much has happened for me because of BYU–Hawaii,” says Norton. “This is just a small way to give back.”