Creating a resume can increase your confidence in your job search when you focus on the process instead of the end product.
I am romantic about resumes and believe that resumes are the most important content piece and business document we can create.
Many people tasked with updating their resumes, search for:
- the right font
- the preferred format
- keywords
- what does a modern resume look like?
You could have the most perfect looking resume, and still not land a job. Your resume could be a featured sample in resume books and still not do its work. Now, that is confusing.
The real work of the resume is using the creation and reflection process to help you figure out your skills and career direction. Once you have that, you can tidy it up in any format you like and it can start to work.
The importance of creating a resume is not perfection. It’s direction.
How do you know this to be true?
Many people contact me after they have worked with another resume writer and they say things like:
- It doesn’t sound like me
- I spent $2,000 on this resume and I’m not getting any more interviews
- I don’t know what to do with this
- It doesn’t tell a story. It is flat. I am interesting and this doesn’t show it
They have a nice-looking resume, but they are no further ahead.
Companies hire people, they don’t hire pieces of paper.
A resume is a beautiful workhorse that gets people to call you, but you need to show up as you. You need to sell your skills, give solid examples of your work, know your worth, and where you are going. If you don’t do this work in advance, it is hard to fake or master during an interview.
How does this increase my confidence?
It increases your confidence, or the appearance of confidence because you now know the value and skills you bring to the table. You aren’t writing the resume trying to be perfect, or sound different, it sounds like you and your awesomeness.
It sounds human.
It sounds like someone who knows what they’re about and what they can do for others.
That sounds like confidence to me.
Want to write your own resume, but not sure where to start?
The place to start, and I say this to everyone: is your stories. Here’s a way to get to know your stories:
- Identify moments in your career where you made a difference, when you helped someone, how you did it, how you improved systems or fix the problem
- Then look at all those stories and identify which are your most favorite and stick those into your resume. You can turn them into accomplishment statements, here is a video to show you how.
- Hop into Resume in a Weekend and learn how to use those stories and a job ad to make a great resume every time.
