Reimagining Your Resume: Debunking Overrated Advice
The Myth of Objectivity and Quantification
According to hiring expert Marissa Morrison, the idea that a resume should be purely objective, quantified, and devoid of personality is overrated. While there is ongoing debate about including a one-sentence objective or summary, it can be an opportunity to showcase your passions and career goals, particularly if you're early in your career or transitioning industries.
Showcasing Passion and Excitement
Morrison emphasizes the merit of allowing your passion for the job and excitement for the opportunity to shine through in your resume. As the first impression you make with recruiters and hiring managers, infusing your resume with enthusiasm can help you stand out from the crowd.
Highlighting Side Projects and Accomplishments
It's beneficial to make room on your resume to mention side projects and accomplishments that you enjoyed working on, even if they were not part of your official job responsibilities. For instance, if you held a leadership role in an employee resource group, you can showcase how you influenced company culture or drove positive change, even if it wasn't part of your primary job.
Quantifiable Leadership Opportunities
Morrison suggests that there are still quantifiable opportunities to demonstrate your leadership skills in non-traditional areas. By showcasing these experiences, you can add a touch of personality, authenticity, and highlight the impact you've made in previous roles.
Setting Yourself Apart and Embracing Company Culture
Including side projects and accomplishments can also help differentiate yourself from other candidates and demonstrate your excitement for specific aspects of a company's culture. This can be particularly valuable when applying for roles where cultural fit is highly valued.
Aligning with Job Descriptions
While infusing personality and showcasing accomplishments, it's essential to ensure that your resume aligns with the job description. Take the time to quantify your achievements and responsibilities, ensuring they mirror the requirements outlined in the job posting.
In conclusion, reimagining your resume involves challenging the overrated notion of objectivity and quantification. By showcasing passion, highlighting side projects, and aligning with job descriptions, you can create a resume that stands out, reflects your authentic self, and captures the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.
Conclusion: Implications for New Businesses
Hot Take: The Power of Authenticity in Hiring
The notion of reimagining resumes has profound implications for new businesses, particularly those in the hiring phase. The overrated advice of maintaining pure objectivity and quantification in resumes can limit the ability to truly understand a candidate's passion, excitement, and cultural fit.
Recognizing the Value of Passion and Excitement
New businesses must recognize the value of passion and excitement as indicators of potential employee engagement and commitment. By encouraging candidates to showcase these elements in their resumes, businesses can attract individuals who are genuinely interested in the role and the company.
Embracing Non-traditional Leadership Experiences
Furthermore, acknowledging the importance of non-traditional leadership experiences can help businesses identify candidates with diverse skills and experiences. This can enhance the team's creativity, problem-solving abilities, and overall performance.
Aligning with Company Culture
Finally, by appreciating resumes that align with the company culture, new businesses can ensure a better cultural fit, leading to improved team cohesion and productivity.
In conclusion, new businesses can benefit from challenging traditional resume norms. By valuing authenticity, passion, diverse experiences, and cultural alignment, businesses can attract and retain talent that contributes to their success and growth.