A Resume That Displays Prudence

The last post in this Virtuous Resume series dealt with the concept of Fortitude. Here is the key concept from that post:

Before sitting down to write a rough draft of your resume, spend some time brainstorming a list of times when fortitude stood at the center of your experience. Whether you directly mention these instances or not, the act of starting from a place of strength will end up informing the entirety of your resume.

Prudence can be used in much the same way. Unfortunately, the idea of actually being prudent took quite a hit thanks to Dana Carvey a few years back. Those of a certain generation will never forget Carvey parodying George H. Bush, saying that "it wouldn't be prudent at this juncture..." But what gets lost in the humor is that prudence plays a large role in all of our lives, whether we happen to be the president or the local taxi driver. You just need to make sure you include this concept on your resume.

It is not as if you are working hard to create a resume that screams, "I am a virtuous and to-be-trusted person!" What you want to do is look through your own personal experiences and see if you can frame them in a certain way. Here is our everyman definition of prudence: The ability to judge between actions with regard to proper actions. 

In other words, you gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.

For the virtue of Prudence you want to look for times when you had the foresight to either jump into a project with both feet and succeeded or for times when a more cautious approach was the correct course to take. 

Employers are looking for candidates who know how to take initiative and can be trusted to know when it is the right time to jump in or hold back. If you can make your resume communicate this, then you are a big step ahead of the competition.

A Resume with Fortitude

Last post I brought up the idea that creating a resume that focuses on the four classical virtues could be one way to differentiate you from the crowd. Today, I want to focus on the virtue of Fortitude. Let’s look at ways to naturally insert the concepts of courage, bravery and fortitude into your resume.

First, a quick definition of what is meant by fortitude in this sense. The strict meaning of the word is a mental and emotional strength when facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation in a courageous fashion. This brings to mind images of knights in shining armor battling to the death. However, when we are talking about the career setting we need to modify this somewhat, or at least re-frame it.

The adversity you face in a job setting comes in the forms of co-workers who may not be on board with your ideas or perhaps a business trend that you have to persevere against. Luckily, there are no real dragons to slay or enemies to vanquish in our day-to-day jobs ~ unless of course you work at a Renaissance faire, but then that’s a separate discussion.

So, you ask, how do I put this idea of yours into print on my resume?

There is more than one way to highlight Fortitude on your resume.

Let’s look at the four main sections of the traditional resume as our starting point. You should have an objective, a summary/profile, a work history and an education section. The places that would make the most sense to insert this information would be the summary and work history.

You could do this in a number of ways. Think of times you have had to stand against the crowd where it has lead to a positive outcome. Lists those as achievements in the history section. State your willingness to go out on a limb for a good idea in your summary. How you do this is dependent upon the types of experiences you have had. What is important is that you use this idea as a jumping off point for content for the resume.

Don’t forget about your cover letter.

The cover letter also is a great place to list these concepts, especially if you need a little more verbal freedom when describing it. The resume should be limited to bullet points, so if your example of courage needs a bit of explanation, see if it could better be told in the cover letter.

Now it is your turn. Before sitting down to write a rough draft of your resume, spend some time brainstorming a list of times when fortitude stood at the center of your experience. Whether you directly mention these instances or not, the act of starting from a place of strength will end up informing the entirety of your resume.

Stay tuned for the next post where I will be talking about the concept of Prudence and how to incorporate it into your resume and cover letter.

A Virtuous Resume

I spend a lot of time trying to understand and implement the four classical virtues in my life. These virtues are found just about everywhere throughout the history of serious thought, from The Old Testament, to classical philosophers like  Plato and Aquinas to modern thinkers like Mortimer Adler. 

The four classical, or cardinal virtues are: Prudence, the ability to judge between actions with regard to proper actions; Justice, the proper balance between self-interest and the rights and needs of others; Moderation, the practice of  self-control, abstention, and moderation, and Fortitude, he ability to confront fear and uncertainty.

So I have been thinking, Do these virtues inform how I write a resume? 

After all, a resume is the story of one’s professional life, and life should be lived virtuously, right? If nothing else, this allows me to explore one more distinct way of crafting a resume, which can only be a good thing. It would seem to me that if you could highlight how you showed these various virtues in your previous jobs, and throughout your career in general, that you would be presenting yourself at your absolute strongest to potential employers.

For instance, I don’t think I would suggest doing anything as bold as stating right on the resume, “ I have shown great fortitude by....” However, I do think that if you can show how you stood against the prevailing current at your company and your decision netted a positive outcome, that that is a strong positive to feature on your resume.

Experimentation is the key to succeeding.

 

Over the next few posts I will be working through this thought experiment here at the blog. I’ll take one virtue at a time and try to show how incorporating related experiences can be a way to make you stand out from the hundreds of other resumes employers receive. I invite comments, positive and negative. This is really meant to be a conversation. Perhaps at the end we may have created a unique take on fairly formulaic document.

Hoarders...at the Office?

Came across this story today on Twitter.

A new CareerBuilder survey suggests that many of us are hoarders, at least at the office. You might not have piles of garbage amassing in your living room, but do you have stacks of folders and documents covering your desk at work? If so, you could be unwittingly damaging your own career. When asked, 28 percent of employers admitted they are less likely to promote someone who has a disorganized or messy workspace.

Although not every employer views cubicle clutter as cause for concern, many do judge workers for a lack of tidiness. Thirty-eight percent of employers say piles of paper covering a desk negatively impact their perceptions of that worker. Another 27 percent view these workers are disorganized. Still, 16 percent simply consider these workers messy.

 Interesting. Makes you look at your desk-top clutter a little different, that is for sure. Luckily - well, my family may disagree - I am a neat freak. So, I am not too worried for myself. However, I do think that there could be some merit in this. How we take care of our space is a window into how we take care of our work.

And it is not just messy desks that are a problem.

Our fitness level, clothing choices and personal hygiene all factor into how others see you, including our supervisors. Am I saying you need to be Mr. America with a GQ wardrobe and breath that smells like roses after a summer storm. No, of course not. But I am saying that a little attention to appearances  lets people know you care.

Your boss will then assume this care transfers into your work as well. And if not, at least you'll look good!

Fight Club's Tyler Durden Gives Free Career Advice

For those of us of a certain age, well, guys of a certain age anyway, the movie Fight Club is something of a cultural touchstone. Now I’ll be the first to admit- this movie is not for everyone. Any plot that revolves around a delusional, Sybil-like leader of an underground fight club where grown men beat each other to a bloody pulp is not for everyone. 


However, the main character Tyler had a lot of interesting things to say during his various rants.  One particular rant, I think, can be used as career advice/motivation:

You’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You’re not your *&^%$# khakis.

How, you ask, does this apply to my job, my career search or my professional life in any meaningful way?

This way ~ too often we think of ourselves as our jobs, and in an economy this changing, this evolving that concept is self-limiting. Don’t limit yourself by considering yourself an insurance salesman, a dental assistant, or a retail manager. Think of yourself as a marketer, healthcare professional or leader. By changing how we define ourselves professionally, we allow other opportunities into our lives. You never know what you next job or career may be if you stay open.

There is also something to be said for breaking with the consumer culture, at least for a while. When you have your self-worth tied up in an expensive car payment you may pass on an otherwise interesting and personally fulfilling job opportunity, simply because it may not pay as well.

In the words of Tyler Durden, “Guys, what would you wish you’d done before you died?” Be open to the possibilities that come your way and you may be surprised what career doors open for you.

Community and Career Development

Community is important. Whether it is your colleagues, neighbors, civic group or family, we all need other people. This concept is especially important for job searchers and everyday career development. Staying connected to people within your field helps to build contacts that can be helpful now or in the future. besides, it just plain old nice to be in contact with people who know and share your interests, values and dreams.

In this vein I  have been doing a bit of guest posting at other career advice sites lately. The experience and response I have gotten has been extremely positive and it is something I will continue to do in the future. If you interested here are two of the latest guest posts.

1. Writing Powerful Executive Resume Summaries

Finding executive-level employment in a difficult economy can be incredibly challenging, yet at the same time, with the endless executive and management level possibilities out there, it can also be viewed as a great adventure. It all depends on how well-equipped a job hunter is. The first tool the prospective job hunter needs in his toolbox is of course an executive resume....for the rest visit Simply Hired.

2. Resume Writing for Baby Boomers

It is becoming more and more common in the current job market for the person in charge of hiring to be considerably younger than many of the job applicants. Does this sound familiar to you? Then you could be one of the thousands of baby boomers out there looking for work in an extremely competitive environment. Don’t let your resume suggest that you are past your prime. Many of the old rules about resume writing have changed and keeping up to date can keep you in the game...for the rest check out Bail Out My Career.

Do You Need Resume Service Writing?

Technically, no, you don't. That is probably not the answer you were expecting when you clicked on an article titled, "Do You Need Resume Service Writing?", that was written by a resume writing service no less; but it is the truth. There are a number of free resources available online or at your local library that can coach you through the creation of a quality resume. Of course resume writing isn't the only thing you don't need a professional for. Here is a list of jobs you can accomplish on your own if you have the determination and time to attempt them:

• Change the oil in your car
• Do your taxes
• Invest in the stock market
• Replace your shower
• Learn a foreign language
• Give your lawnmower a tune up
• Reupholster your couch
• Repair your roof

This list could of course go on and on. The point is not whether or not you could do any of these things; it is whether doing them is the most efficient and cost effective use of your time. Resume writing is no different. Doing your own taxes or repairing your own roof could end up costing you more in the long run, while also taking up hours, days (weeks?) of your valuable time. Trying to write your own resume could be just as troublesome.

What resume service writing provides is speed, efficiency and piece of mind.

Instead of laboring a week's worth of nights at the computer, experimenting with formats, styles and wording, you could have a professional complete this for you in just a couple of days. You would have the confidence that it is done correctly and done well. 

So again do you need resume service writing? No. Will it make your life and the job hunting process much easier and less stressful? Yes. If you'd like to explore what a service like Quality Resumes could do for you shoot me an email. I'll go over your case- no strings attached. What do you have to lose, besides a week long headache that is.

-Steve

Resume Writing Assistance

Apply for a job with a high quality resumes.

I wrote this a couple years ago but figured it was time to re-post. Quality Resumes has been getting a lot of increased traffic lately (thank you!) but I fully realize not everyone can afford my services. 

However, I still want to be able to help. So, for those who decide to go it alone and craft their own resume I hope this brief guide is useful.

_____________________________________

 

7 seconds. Just 7 seconds. Recent studies have shown that is all the time your resume has to make an impression (good or bad) on a potential employer. Knowing this, it becomes apparent just how important a good resume is. Unfortunately, many job seekers don't realize this fact - to their own peril. There are 5 basic mistakes that every job-seeker should avoid.
 

5 Steps to a Quality Resume

Step 1: Proofread Your Resume
The first, and most important, is also the easiest to fix: poor writing. Things like typos, misspellings, verb tenses mixed and sentences butchered. A potential employer will not struggle to get through your resume. He will simply toss it into the "circular file." Your resume must be easy to read; 7 seconds, remember?

Step 2: Keep Your CV Simple
Second, you need to use an easy-to-scan format; something a potential employer can glance over and have key details stand out. You should limit the amount of fancy formatting you do. Just because you can manipulate all of Microsoft Word's functions doesn't mean you have to show it here. Keep it clean and simple. What you should have are the four standard sections: Objective, Summary, Work History and Education. Put enough detail in to sell yourself but no more.

Step 3:Resumes Should be Scannable
Third, and this is closely related to formatting, do not over write. This is a trap all amateur writers fall into. The best authors know that less is more, and what works for books works for resumes too. Too often resumes have huge paragraphs of text explaining every single detail about their current job or even the company they currently work for. Employers and recruiters are not going to wade through volumes of text when they have another 100 or so resumes to get through. They need to know quickly and easily what you have done and what you can do. Most often a short bulleted list accomplishes this best.

Step 4: Focus on Achievement
Fourth, you need to tell potential employers what you are capable of doing. Often, people simply list the job specs. Those could apply to anyone who has held that particular job. It is not singling them out as different, better and more capable than the rest. List your achievements, what you have done above and beyond, not just the job requirements.

Step 5: Pick The Right Kind of Resume
Fifth, there is more than one type of resume. While just about every job seeker writing their own resume tries to make their professional life fit a chronological format, it simply is not the way to go for everyone. A skills-based resume allows one to focus on abilities and potential, rather that just past achievements. An education-based resume allows employers to see your training in detail; this is especially useful for recent graduates. There really is a resume fit for every person. Experiment a little bit, and find the style that fits you best.

Follow these five rules to avoid the mistakes of you job-seeking ancestors. A well-written resume is your first and best chance to make a good impression on potential employers. Make yours count. Remember, 7 seconds goes by awfully fast.

Twitter Job Hustle

When I cam across this video I just had to share. I won't work for everyone, but it worked for this person.

Twitter Job Hustle from Wonder Years on Vimeo.