Reading resumes is a bit like reading tea leaves, I would think. The art of telling fortunes by studying the residue in the bottoms of wine glasses and tea and coffee cups is called tasseography. How it’s done, I have no idea. Over the years, though, I’ve read a lot of resumes.
Last week I was among 21 Columbians looking at the resumes of 25 people who want to be Columbus’ next police chief.
While we were asked by the mayor not to reveal the specifics of our deliberations, I can share what I’ve learned about reading tea leaves … excuse me, resumes.
A well-written (and mistake free) cover letter is the best way to let a prospective employer know who you are. All the resumes of chief candidates contained pages and pages of seminars they attended, meaningless information since they all have been to scores of them. Only a few had cover letters and few of those were well written (One was really wacky.)
Provide meaningful references. While I’m sure Aunt Matilda is a fine woman, she’s not exactly the best source for an unbiased and informed assessment of your capabilities. Same for your preacher, college advisor and best friend. List those kinds of references and someone’s going to think one of two things, neither of them good: Either you’re trying to hide something or you simply don’t get it.
I hope those vetting the police chief candidates will call mayors, newspaper editors and police chiefs in towns where they’ve worked. That’s where you’re going to find out if the guy is a hero or a bum. In these litigious times, former employers aren’t always willing to provide much info. Persistence usually pays off though.
What is your story and why do you want to come here? Why does an assistant police chief from, say, Connecticut want to come to Mississippi? Do they have family, did they once live in this part of the country or is this just another rung on their career ladder? Someone who has no connection with this part of the country, or has moved often, likely won’t be here long either.
The most effective police chiefs, we learned, are those who can connect with their communities. In doing so, the entire town becomes an extension of its own law enforcement efforts. How active have they been in the community? Church? Civic clubs? Volunteer work?
There is the opinion among some here that we should hire within the department. Maybe we should, but not without first conducting a broad search. To do otherwise would be like the head coach of the New Orleans Saints saying he’s going to find his quarterback in the city of New Orleans, that he’s not going to look anywhere else. He’d be laughed out of town.
Apparently most of the 360 who had responded to our on-line poll by Saturday evening agree. A record of effective leadership or a proven ability to solve crimes should be the most important considerations in the selection of our next police chief, say 57 percent of respondents. Only 5 percent think a local address is the most important requirement for the next chief.
Tuesday the Mayor and Council will be informed of the selection committee’s findings. This is such a critical decision for our city. I hope city officials will keep politics out of it and make this decision in the same way one would running a business (or coaching a football team). It’s time we start winning some games.
Birney Imes III is the immediate past publisher of The Dispatch.
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