Resume Abuse
Resumes are funny animals. They’re used, and abused, by a lot of people for things that they were never intended to do. For example …
A resume is NOT an introduction piece. Yet the first contact I get from hundreds of people from all over the world is their resume.
A resume is NOT a complete life’s story. Yet so many people cram every little detail of their lives into a few short pages … or worse yet, they don’t cram it in and send tens of pages.
A resume is NOT a business card, yet sometimes I get it at a networking event … “I just happen to have my resume here …” Really?
So your career move this week? Stop resume abuse! Use it for what it’s for … provide it when it’s requested (like in a job application) to SUMMARIZE the highlights of your career. First and foremost, your resume is an advertising piece, not a novel. Like an advertising piece, make it concise and readable so that whoever reads it wants to call you – and really get to know you.
Are You Far Left?
Are you far left?
No, this isn’t a political question. It’s a resume question.
It could be the times, or maybe it’s the technology, but I’m seeing more resumes that are “unique.” That’s good, but only to a point.
For example, I’ve received resumes that are completely centered – top to bottom. Others are in “fancy fonts” that appeared in Greek – literally – on my computer. Just yesterday I received one that had a “split” heading – name and contact information on one side and summary of job objective on the other. Did it stand out? Yes … so much so that it really wasn’t readable. All in all, it’s pretty annoying.
Do you want your resume to stand out? Yes! Do you want to annoy your reader? No.
How is this a career move? Make your resume stand out. How? Be effective in what you do … and write about it! Did you raise $100,000 last year? Say it. Did you engage 50 volunteers? Put it on your resume. Nothing speaks louder, and more noticeably, than success.
A Trick Question …
How many job offers do you need to have to get the best job you ever had? Okay, trick question … One!
Yes, it would be nice to have multiple offers all at once, but really, you only need one. But it has to be the right one.
The right one? How would you know? It’s not a matter of knowing after you get the offer; it’s a matter of knowing before the offer is made.
No, I’m not talking about being clairvoyant, although that would make the process MUCH easier. It’s all about knowing what you need to have BEFORE the offer is made.
Think of it this way … Don’t you usually know your campaign goal before you visit a donor? You don’t just wait for a donor to name a number and decide right then and there to make that your goal, right? But too many times folks get a job offer AND THEN decide whether it’s the right job for them at the right amount.
How is this a career move? Make up your mind about what you need before you walk into the interview. It doesn’t just save time; it lets you bargain from a position of strength and makes you a much more attractive candidate.
Is It Good To Be King?
I know you’ve heard the expression, “It’s good to be King.” There’s a lot to be said for being in charge. There’s a sense of control. You may get to set your own schedule. There’s the respect that comes with the job. And, of course, there’s the money.
But are you suited to be King? Is your personality right for leadership?
That’s not a slam against you or your abilities, it’s just a fact. Some are better able to deal with the issues that come with being in charge.
I think we’ve all met them. You know the type … s/he is a great person and really good at what was valued in the organization: major gifts, direct mail, planned giving, whatever. It was clear that this was a leader among those who did that important task. So when an opening came up, naturally, s/he filled the job.
And it was a disaster.
Personnel issues, organization problems, difficulty dealing with new peers and superiors. And what’s more, s/he was never again as effective at doing what got he or she there in the first place!
So much for it being great to be King!
So our career take-away today? Yeah, it’s great to be King. But you have to prepare to be King. That means a candid assessment of your own personality and skills. Is being in charge right for you, or are you more successful focusing your natural talents and skills on what makes you happy and effective?
We’re All Individuals
Sorry, but there are some things that just stick in my mind. For example, I am embarrassed to say that I just love the part in Monte Python’s “Life of Brian” where someone shouts to the crowd (and I paraphrase), “You are all individuals.” And they shout back in unison, “We are all individuals,” whereupon one person shouts out, “I’m not!”
So, are you an individual?
I can hear you say, “Of course.” Okay, prove it.
There are some times and places where fitting into a crowd is important. For example, when you’re playing a sport, fitting in is essential. That’s one of the reasons that uniforms are important. They say to others, and especially the team members, that we’re all in this together.
But while looking for a job can have the elements of a team sport, in the end, you really need to be you. You need to show that you’re unique. After all, there are probably dozens of people who do pretty much what you do. For example, I can’t count the number of grant proposal writers that I know.
So your career move is to reflect on what makes you unique. What is it about you that makes you different enough so that an employer sees that YOU are the one they want because your individuality meets their needs?
Your unique attributes do not need to be huge. In fact, subtle can be good. But what is essential is that you know what makes you unique, so that when the crowd is saying, “Hey, we’re all the same,” you can shout, “I’m not!”
