There is a common misconception that professionals that work for world branded companies sometimes believe.....that their pedigree gets them hired. People that have gone to world class educational institutions will be the first to say they graduated from Harvard, Yale, UCB, or another highly regarded institute of higher learning. There is an inherent understanding that going to one of these schools and being exposed provides a unique sense of accomplishment and therefore will make someone a potentially better employee than say someone graduating from a community college. In the academic realm this is true, however in the business field - this common practice does not carry the same weight.

Just because you have worked for an EMC, IBM, or BIG 4 firm does not necessarily mean that you are qualified for the position you are recruiting for. It is nice to see large names on the resume and respectable companies that employ best practices, however if your role was not critical and provided no value - the name of the company means little. One negative that the large companies have is that they hire ALOT of people and therefore working for them is not a elite marker. It is quite possible that the same person who went to the junior college next to Harvard is working in the same role you are when coming to Fortune 50 or 100 company. The size and scope of the operation dilutes the importance of your educational accomplishments and lumps you in with everyone else.

Do not get caught in the trap. Focus on yourself and not the companies you have worked for. Push the performance and accomplishments of your career, making clear the impact you provided to the company and not the other way around. When describing projects, briefly tell of the overall objective but press forward with your part specifically and detail the work you did, not that of the company. If you worked on a major software development upgrade, speak to what you did...do not settle with telling the hiring manager of your teams project only. Let them know how you impacted the project and where the major areas of focus were for your skill set. Speak to projects that highlight the work experience that will benefit your potential employer.

Remember, they are buying you...not your resume or the name of some former employer. They are looking for good people, not just pedigrees. Ensure to stay on task, speak to your strengths, and sell yourself.

Jason Monastra is a 10 year veteran in the recruiting industry and current partner with United Global Technologies, http://www.ugtechnologies.com a leading recruiting and consulting firm serving the IT and engineering vertical. Jason Monastra handles fulfillment and recruitment management for the firm, leading the companies clients in making selection of their IT/engineering project staff. A former partner with HCRP and manager with TMP, Jason Monastra brings a solid foundation within the recruitment and career search field to his articles.