My friend Jen wrote about the fact that she doesn’t have a resume. She’s worked for the government since college and hasn’t had the need. Jen writes:
At my age and in this world, that seems shameful to me. But it’s probably not. It’s a product of circumstance.
I don’t have a resume either. I’ve got files on my mac called “resume1″ “resumetest” “functionalresume” and such, but they’re feeble attempts at best. I was out of the workforce entirely for almost eighteen years, although I was volunteering through most of that time, and teaching myself web design and other skills. My return to work has been via freelancing. No resume required.
So how do I write a resume? I suppose it would help if I knew exactly what job I’d be going after, and since I’m not really going after a job as I write this- I lack that focus. But I know (and you, potential employer, probably know) that I wasn’t in a cave for those 18 years and the skills it takes to successfully raise three boys can certainly transfer to managing adults and projects.
But not as easily to a resume.
I should have one, though. If opportunity knocks it would be nice to be able to print off or email a resume to a potential employer without panicking and throwing one together overnight. Resume writing feels like wedding planning to me- a lot of fuss over a minor detail that isn’t really what it’s all about. The wedding is to marriage as a resume is to being employed. A necessary step but not where the focus really should be. Considering the amount of “me” easily found on the web, it would probably save time for both potential employers and myself if I could, instead of offering a resume, simply say “Google me! If you like what you see, let’s talk.”
(So, potential employer, assuming that you found this post after not tossing my resume into the trash, let me show you how the skills learned from eighteen years of raising kids, volunteering, and teaching myself geeky skills can benefit you!)
8 Comments
Excellent post! That sure would make things a heck of alot easier wouldn’t it??
I find this thought process disturbing. As someone who has been in the position to review and hire personnel, the ability to format oneself into a functional one page resume is essential. The resume tells a recruiter in fifteen seconds whether or not they want to see you for an interview. Why, as a potential employer would I want to valuable spend time searching the web for information about someone that may or may not be: factual, up to date, or appropriate?
As cute as the kids like to think “Googleing” for information is, it is not how businesses recruit.
Further, to say that any sort of experience is not able to be put into a resume is borderline lazy. There are plenty of resources out there to help people with putting together a solid one page resume. No life experience should be left unrepresented if it fits the job. Anything that you feel needs more space should be presented in a portfolio at the time of the interview.
Control of ones persona and presentation is key to standing out among the throngs of sloppy applicants.
Leave the Google dredging to HR Representatives looking for a reason to not hire you.
Interesting topic. I never had a resume either as I was hired as an intern during my junior year of college and worked for the same firm for my entire career. I’ve reviewed piles of them, however, and have to say that a resume can certainly make or break an applicant’s chances for a position.
I think that the need for a formal resume depends a lot on the job that someone is trying to land. Some professions require a formal resume to get a foot in the door - and others do not.
Personally, I couldn’t possibly get away with asking a potential employer to Google me for my credentials as I actively try to keep myself un-Googleable (nice word, eh?) for my personal security. If someone Googled me they’d just find charitable contributions.
In addition, I know several people who have changed jobs over the years without resumes as they got their new positions through their networking abilities and word of mouth. Their previous work experience had made a resume redundant, so to speak. So resume or not to resume - I think it depends on who the target employer is - and who you are.
Frederick, I admit to being a bit facetious in this post. I know the part a resume plays in the hiring process and I honestly don’t expect to get by without one. But I also think more and more employers are googling people before calling them in for an interview (which is why it’s important to control what they might find!) In my case, I think it would give a better picture of who I am than a sheet of paper ever could. And honestly, I’ve tried for years to find a way to market my 18 years of being “just a mom.” Most employers would toss my resume without a second glance based on that alone.
Hooeyspewer my husband is practically un-Googleable (love the word!) I think if you google him you find me! Lots of people are. But as an employer, he does google potential employees :)! Word of mouth, networking- those are the best ways to find a job, absolutely! But even then most human resources departments need a resume “for the files.” So I guess the resume is here to stay at least for awhile.
Dayngr, I think there may come a time it will be that easy. I manage to find design clients without traditional marketing, so who knows?
Recently read an interesting tidbit from the Gartner Group advising businesses NOT to Google potential hires. Theory is, people will begin to sue for not being hired due to stuff found while Googling. I guess if someone has a really excellent Spring Break show up on the internet, that’s not supposed to be taken into consideration when hiring.
Regarding the cute Google graphic in your post - what happens if you click “I’m Feeling Lucky” ?
PS - I found out - you get this blog!
I just updated my resume to apply for a job, and found it rather difficult. I last worked full-time 20 years ago, but my volunteer and part-time experience in the meantime is much more relevant to the position I’m applying for than my full-time work was. Googling would not have helped, but it did give me a chuckle (I recognized the facetiousness!).