Resumes

I’ve been working on my resume the last few days. When you’ve been in the workforce for as long as me, and are as settled in what you are doing as I was, trying to work up a resume feels a lot like what re-entering the dating market must feel like after being married forever. Like middle-aged (and beyond) dating, I’m afraid there is a tendency to make things sound just a little better than they probably really are.

I’m learning a lot. For instance, Ive learned that you don’t just type up a resume and mail it out to potential employers anymore. Instead you are supposed to have a personal website where you post your resume which includes certain words so when employers “Google” they’ll find your web-resume with its powerful message that reflects your value and professionalism. And, naturally, you can’t work up this resume on your own – you need to pay someone who is specially trained to write resumes so all the right words are used.

Blogger Seth Godin has some interesting things to say about resumes. He disagrees with the “post it and they will hire” resume mentality. Godin says, “I think if you're remarkable, amazing or just plain spectacular, you probably shouldn't have a resume at all.” He believes that if you have to tell people how special you are in a resume you’re probably pretty ordinary to begin with. He says your time would be better spent actually creating something that reflects your worth to a potential employer.

Marina Ricci, in another blog post agrees. She says that instead working up a fancy resume listing everything you have ever done in your life; be proactive instead. Think up something that will convince an employer to create a position that will benefit them and you. Her argument is that when you do so, your passion about the project will be there and success (yours and theirs) is much more likely than simply finding a pre-existing slot to fill. Demonstrate to the employer that they not only need to offer whatever it is you are pitching, they also need you to be the one to provide that particular service. In other words, they can’t afford not to hire you!

Meanwhile, I’m not taking any chances. I’m amping up the adjectives: resourceful, creative, dynamic, self-motivated, hard working, married to a good-looking woman… I hope some employer will take a chance on me!