Headline Versus Article: A Tale of Two Stories

In the infographic résumés post from earlier this week, I quoted Eugene Woo, cofounder of Visualize.me, one of the services you can use to convert your LinkedIn profile into an eye-catching infographic résumé. The quote came from a Business Insider interview with Woo: “The Founder Of Vizualize.Me Explains Why Paper Resumes Are Obsolete.” 

Although I am interested in visually appealing, effective ways that editors, writers, and others can present their accomplishments, portfolios, and work goals, I do not think that paper résumés are obsolete. I almost skipped the article. Deciding that I wanted to hear what Woo had to say, I tried to set aside my negative bias as I read through the interview. I was shocked when I got to the final question and answer. 

Is the paper resume obsolete?

I don’t think the paper resume is obsolete. 

Woo went on to explain that he felt paper résumés were “lessening in value” and were “less and less helpful.” What he did not explain was “why paper résumés are obsolete”—or how that became the title of the story when he clearly stated the opposite. 

Misleading headlines are what I find “less and less helpful.” And, of course, newspaper and Web editors aren’t the only ones who need to be on the lookout for them. Chapter titles, subheads, table and graphic titles, and so on should all be checked and double-checked so they don’t mislead or completely lose readers. I’m sure I’m not the only reader who can attest to how annoying that misdirection can be. 

Image copyright AnastasiaSonne.