“It will look good on a resume.” How many times have we heard or even found ourselves saying those exact words? The “it” usually refers to some job or project that is not particularly appealing or one that may not reap substantial benefits for the person undertaking the activity. But, the endeavor, which otherwise seems disagreeable, may make a good impression on a resume. As a professional resume writer and career coach, I cringe whenever I hear someone use this justification for involvement in some pursuit for which there is little interest or passion. Such an attitude seems to me both a misunderstanding and an over-simplification of the resume. At the same time, the philosophy espoused in this phrase undermines the authenticity with which we should all approach our career paths. At the end of the day, however, I cannot help but ask myself: What does look good on a resume?
Over the course of the past five years, the job market has changed immensely. Finding employment has become a competitive sport, and the savvy jobseeker must do everything possible to get ahead in the game. It seems that the entire landscape has changed, from the manner in which one conducts a job search to the types of questions being asked on interviews. Employers have set aside the standard questions like, “What do you consider your primary strengths?” in favor of behavioral interview questions. It seems that the Human Resources field currently subscribes to Dr. Phil’s philosophy that the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. In fact, one of my friends recently described how surprised he was when he was asked to talk about what he did not enjoy or found unappealing about his last job. Behavioral job interviews are becoming more the rule than the exception. Knowing this, your approach to writing a good resume—what looks good on a resume, if you will—must follow suit.
Approaching resume writing with more of a “behavioral slant” is certainly a paradigm shift. Jobseekers commonly tackle resume writing from the same stance with which they would undertake completing a job application. It’s important to realize that the purpose of a resume differs greatly from the purpose of a job application. Your resume is a marketing tool and as such should focus on your accomplishments and achievements in the workplace. While your resume will contain information which describes your typical job duties, the bulk of the resume should illustrate the unique contributions you made to the overall success of the organization. Your resume must portray those behaviors that will interest a potential employer, the behaviors that lead to career success. These are the attributes that look best on a resume. A job application falls short when it comes to assessing a candidate’s soft skills, things like problem-solving abilities, customer service acumen, and work ethic. As you construct your resume, keep these qualities in mind and find ways to demonstrate them. Your resume should be a snapshot of who you are as an employee.
Remember, you are not your job title. Your job description does not define you. Each of us possesses a wealth of experiences and knowledge as well as a unique perspective. These are the characteristics that set you apart from other jobseekers. Your resume is your way of introducing a potential employer to all of those wonderful traits and aptitudes that make you who you are. Your resume should be as unique as your thumbprint.
Comments
Resumes and interviews have become increasingly difficult for me over the years. Not only do I have little interrest in the jobs and opportunities available to me, but I've come to understand that regardless of how hard I work, how many hours I put in or how good my work is, it will never be enough for the employer and they will always demand more for less with little to no appreciation, no concern for how work demands are affecting me personally, and absolutely no loyalty to me as a person or an employee. I was once asked in an interview what would make me loyal to the company. I was unable to respond, because I could think of no good reason to be loyal to a company that I knew would not be loyal to me. Such is the reality in today's workplace. Labor of any kind anymore is undervalued and the perception is that there are 1000 other me's willing to do the same job and probably for less. How then is anybody supposed to be optimistic about prospective employment?
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