Your resume is you, on paper.

Your resume tells your story.

I recently completed a resume for a Marine. Notice I did not say former Marine because once a Marine, I’m told, always a Marine! I have a soft spot for military people. My dad was a Command Sergeant Major in the army.  We also had other active duty and POW family members.

For this Marine, I started the process like I start all resumes. We began by just talking about his work history and accomplishments. Soon his persona started to take shape.

Now I just needed to capture ‘him’ in his resume.

The purpose of the resume is to get the interview.

Applying for a job has become an almost faceless activity. The process is impersonal, and applicants can feel disconnected. The resume is now more important than ever and it is your electronic first impression.

Every piece of information is important and connecting the dots for the human resources or hiring professional is critical. It should tell a story as the resume unfolds. The content speaks to the changes and growth in your professional life. Your resume is in front of them, now they absolutely MUST meet you. You got a first round interview appointment!

Talking about yourself is never easy.

Why are we so afraid to toot our own horns? The resume in your hand is a reflection of your life! According to an article on payscale.com:

“On average, people now spend approximately 13 years and two months of their lives at work. If you often put in overtime, you can factor in an additional year and two months. The average worker spends nearly a quarter of their time on the job during a typical 50-year stint of employment.”

 Therefore, depending on where you are in that estimated 50-year commitment, you have a story to tell! There is value there and some of it is very unique to you.

I love what I do.

Nothing is better than getting the call after a client gets an interview or better yet gets the job! It completely validates the time we spent together culminating in a great outcome. Not all of my clients have gotten the job, but they all, 100% of them, got the interview. Score!

Tell you what.

Take a look at your resume. Does it tell your story? Now, take out a pencil and mark it up.  Find your voice and let it shout out from the piece of paper in your hand. Good luck to you.

You are better than you know!