It's that time of year - the very beginning - when we all get a fresh start. For job searchers that often leads to a desire to reinvent or at least better oneself on the only piece of paper that seems to follow us wherever we go - our resumes.Rarely, however, are people willing to rip up the resume they have and start from scratch. As a result, most of us have a resume that gets more and more confusing and diluted over time as we simply add new skills and experiences on top of others without looking at the integrated whole and how it will impress the reader. I'm not suggesting that we need to actually throw away our comfortable resumes but if you find that the one you have has not been fundamentally revamped in several years or through several jobs, you might want to consider a few things about resume preparation and the typical resume's failure to truly maximize a description of a job seeker's value in the workplace.
Many years ago when I worked with an outplacement firm that was helping me through a significant corporate downsize, I received some excellent advice and it has helped me in my preparation of my own resume over the years. First, most people simply don't appreciate how many or how significant their accomplishments have been through their long, or short, careers. Particularly if we've been in one position for any length of time, the things we do, the work we perform everyday, becomes pretty routine, sometimes downright easy. As a result we don't really see what we do as having any great value. But try taking a step back and examining all the things you have learned, the experiences you have had and the skills you have developed over the years of employment. The everyday skills we take for granted will often appear as significant attributes to others in the right setting.
For example, I have worked many years as an attorney, in various capacities, and when I sit down to list the skills I have developed over time, I naturally focus on those things which seem significant from a pure law practice perspective - drafting contracts, arguing cases, interviewing witnesses or persuading others. But I have acquired many other skills and have had many other experiences which can create a platform for a very good resume in a variety of different arenas - public speaking, cultural sensitivity, organizing disparate facts into cohesive plans, managing others and resolving conflicts. And I also have developed many additional every day skills which may be particularly useful if I find myself seeking a position I may be overqualified for, a common scenario these days - research, business letter writing, report preparation, training and employee counseling. I've done all of these "other" things and would normally gloss over them because they just don't seem to be the "core" skills of an experienced attorney. But they are valuable skills, particularly to those who may not have acquired them. The bottom line - all of us have done a great deal more than we really ever give ourselves credit for. Take the time to examine all you have to offer an employer.
So here is my suggestion, before you start to complete some resume preparation form, take a fresh pad of paper, put your feet up, start at the very beginning of your life, and list every job you've ever had. Next to each job list all of the skills you developed in that position - things you knew when you left that you didn't know when you started. Really think about this and list everything no matter how mundane the skill or experience seems to you. Close your eyes and let your mind go beyond the obvious. Think about how these skills and experiences might be perceived by someone who has never done what you've done. You'll be surprised, especially when you move into your more mature working years with this approach. There will be more to your work experience than you think.
Next: Writing a Resume
