It’s been five years since I’ve applied for any position. A small business facilitator role came up recently so I got out my dusty old resume and looked at it for the first time in along time…I was mortified! Hey I write these things professionally every day, yet getting myself to have a neutral, informed, critical eye was incredibly hard. I could see all sorts of things that I thought I should put in; because they showed this or that strength and exposure to this experience, or that methodology… it was turning into a epic novel. I ended up having to send it to my elder sister for a second opinion and input.
This amazed me, and reminded me of how difficult this can be for us as individuals: Here I am - a professional resume writer and recruiter and by sitting so close to the picture I experienced first hand the ‘blindness’ that can come with too much proximity and not enough objectivity.
I’ve had so many people say to me “Oh, I can’t sell myself. I’m lousy at it.”
Yes, I agree, it can be tricky - too much information is just as bad as not enough.
Selling yourself on paper vs selling yourself in person - again a very different strategy required.
How insightful it would be, if we could see ourselves as others see us. And what a powerful reminder for me to walk a mile in my clients’ shoes.
