I repeat:

You are not your resume!

Please repeat, out loud if necessary, like a mantra.

If you are not up for the whole spiel, You Can Find 7 Steps to Less Stressful Resume.doc Writing under Actions, below. Other people have written much nicer better things on how to be creative and not average. Here, here and here for instance. Sometimes, however, we find creative-not-average-jobs-which-require-standard-resumes…that’s this post.

image (c) gapingvoid

 

Today’s Story 

I started writing this post a few months ago, while assisting someone with their resume.

I was reminded of it today as I sent off my own resume/cv for an opportunity that I actually might want – until I looked at my long since updated cv seemed a great fit and challenge for me, but once I went to update led to that internal voice spiral ‘you haven’t done enough’, ‘will they understand?’, ‘how can I sell myself in two pages?’, ‘I don’t think I have relevant experience’, ‘oh no someone is going out of their way to recommend me what if I…’.

Before it got dangerous I called in the experts – namely friends and family (thank you!) who are professionals, sensitive enough to remind me of my worth, but tough enough to draw big red lines.

My latest resume is currently with someone in HR. In the meantime let’s go back in time to when I was going to write. I wrote a list of things that may help you. Or someone you know.

Backstory 

The story went something like this.

Picture an intelligent attractive young woman, fresh out of a top College with a close to 4.0 average (high distinction/first class honours etc) 

"I’ve been applying for jobs and no-one is responding to me and I don’t understand…".

A little perplexed, a friend, Yael, and I offered to help "Can we look at what you are sending?"

We were astonished at what was written on it. "Who showed you to write this way?".

"Huh? I got an A for this resume in a class at my University [one of the top in the Country!]"

I can’t even remember how bad it was, but what disturbed me most was that someone had given her an A for something that she couldn’t get a job from. That said, this isn’t intended to be a rant on academia vs practice. There are plenty of amazing practical ‘academics’ out there. And very difficult to follow practitioners.

It was more re-realising how frustrating the whole resume act is! And how having other people who can help you (nicely) is very helpful indeed!

So rather than being too jaded and say I am not clear why firms say they want creative unique passionate individuals etc and then ask for the same 1-2page (insert your name).doc from everyone, I have put a list of things that might help you if you find yourself suddenly desiring a job that requires one.

Perhaps I am learning to change the world and work within it. (Ah oh, did I just say that?).

Actions*

PreAction- Continuously update your resume and keep a list of what you have worked on.

(Does anyone actually do this?) 

Please Note:
– Yes, I know some of these actions are for old-school resumes, but it seems that is still often desired these days: simple, ugly 1-2page .doc, maybe in .pdf.  Unless you work as a ‘creative’. Lucky you ;)
– I am not in HR, so please take everything I say with grain of salt. That said I stand by all of the below, especially 1 and 2!^

1. Repeat "I am not my Resume"

2. Don’t do it alone!

- You have done a lot. And even if you haven’t, someone can write it like you have!

- It is much easier to write someone else’s resume. Consider doing a barter with another professional friend.

3. Less is more AND

- If you feel especially attached to a particular sentence: keep it and use it in your cover letter/email or put it into your objective / summary section.

- If it isn’t relevent, consider dumping it: And just so you know I am not immune it actually hurt me to remove my high school marks after a gentle suggestion by a friend – mostly ego though, I don’t think I have done so well since!

AND I would like to tell you to write in your own voice. I will even recommend it. But I will also recommend you look at some sample resumes from people you know who have jobs. Good ones. 

4. Summary, About or Objective Sections Are Nice

I am not clear people actually read much of what is written. So feel free to write a neat little summary of 5 bullets or a short paragraph introducing yourself and how you relate to the job

5. Simple Structure – Headings, bullets, simple tables, work

Do as I say, not as I do – I just spent 20minutes fiddling with dates that don’t line up becaue I moved a word!  

6. Remember you can Hyperlink

You can link to things you have done from word documents these days.

7. What? There are gaps in time Between Jobs?

a. Try and fill in gaps – I am sure you have worked as something, somewhere during that time!?

b. Or if for instance you have gone travelling for 1 year, perhaps explain it in a sentence/two. 

I actually don’t think Employer’s mind gaps of time that much anymore (I would like to believe they want well-rounded interesting people). I would recommend showing that there has been something valuable gained eg you learned a language, learned about other cultures etc and how it relates to why you are good for the job.

8 9 & 10 Bonus Steps

8. You may consider writing a failure CV 

9. Or combining resume writing with any of these: a. b. c

10. Laugh, a lot!

^ Too many lawyers are my friends – on said legal advice I don’t officially stand by 9.   

PS Don’t forget to prepare for the interview!

- Again, 1-4 will help, a lot! Especially 1 and 2.

- Remember S-A-O: Situation, Action, Outcome. Will get back to you on other tips – haven’t had my interview yet.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 23rd, 2007 at 1:56 am and is filed under action, art, change, musings, stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.