When we prepare our resume, we gently breathe clues about the work we really want to do into the document. But we also hold our breath for fear we won’t be able to find a role doing what we really want to do, what really lights up. We add in anvils of examples we think an employer wants to hear so they will hire us for a position we think we should have.
I was coaching a job seeker and advised that the content of a resume needs to make the case that you are the best candidate for the role. That is, you are a great fit for this role that is right for you.
He looked at me and said, “All this time I was trying to prove my value.” Like smelling salts jerking the eyes of the unconscious open, we both realized in this moment how impactful a subtle shift in mindset can be.
Setting out to prove our value is common. Maybe it is the default approach for all of us. We think, I need to put as many accomplishments on my resume as possible and show everything I know to prove I am worthy of having a conversation with you about a role.
What if instead we assumed we are a great candidate, and we show the experiences, accomplishments and skills illustrating how we think we are aligned with the available position? And if our skills, talents, experience, and desires do not align, haven’t we done both the potential employer and us a favor?
Let’s think this through. Say you accept a job based on skills you don’t particularly like doing. Will you ever do your best work? Or will the second hand on the clock reverberate at a slower and slower interval until it is finally the end.of.the.day? All the time you spend in the new misaligned role you are not spending somewhere doing work that energizes you.
I do understand there are times when it is necessary to take a role because your circumstances are such that you must. If you are in that position, do your best, and when you find a bit of time and/or stability, assess what you would rather be doing and go after it.
The resume is typically one or two pages which is the tiny house of real estate. To get the most curb appeal from your few strides of frontage, ask yourself what accomplishments you highlight, what skills you showcase, and what words you use to describe yourself to inform the reader on the value you will add to the role.
In order to do this, you need to be honest with yourself. Let the true direction you want to head in shine on your resume. Any role will not do if you want to add the most value, be the most engaged, and feel the most fulfilled. Bottom line is avoid putting stuff in your resume to look important. Instead, add information the hiring manager can use to determine if you are a good fit for this fizzy bright role that wakes up your soul.