What Does Your Celebrity Resume Look Like?
Recently, I changed my profile picture on Facebook to that of a celebrity that bears a small resemblance to me. The photo received a surprising amount of positive comments from family and friends who assumed I put in some extra effort with a new outfit and lipstick before posing for the picture.
Throughout the day, I thought about the effort people put in to make a good impression. Sometimes the image we project only tells half the story or portrays us in a way that might not be an accurate representation. People not only do this on social media, but also in other social situations, at networking events and especially on a resume.
A resume is the best way to tell the story of your experience, where we paint ourselves as the ideal candidate that fits whatever an employer is looking for in an employee. We put forth our best skills, experiences and education in hopes it will make us look like a celebrity in the eyes of a potential employer. This first impression is critical when competing against other highly qualified professionals for the same position.
While we take great care in crafting a resume that puts our best qualities to the forefront, it is important to keep one thing in mind. As much as you have your eye on a dream job, a resume should reflect more than just the right buzzwords you think an employer wants to see.
The last thing a job seeker wants to do on a resume is to list experience you do not have or inflate current skills. If this happens, the employer will quickly discover if you cannot do the job you were hired to do. A successful resume will demonstrate your true, authentic self as you highlight the experience you have personally gained through hard work and dedication.
A strong resume will show a potential employer not only what you have done in the past, but what you can do with those skills in the future to help advance a company.
Your resume is the place to show off:
- Increases in production, sales or traffic
- Successful initiatives
- Awards received by you or as part of a team
- Cost saving measures you implemented
- Educational classes completed relevant to the field
- Professional organization memberships
- Volunteer experience
Over on Facebook it was nice to walk a few miles in someone else’s shoes, but in the end I revealed the truth behind the photograph. Just as on a resume, I want to be recognized for my own merits and professional successes without projecting an inauthentic version of who I am.
If you need help matching your movie star skills for a new job in Madison, Wisconsin, contact one of our recruiters at (608) 257-2411.
Stephanie Beirne Leuer is the Marketing Coordinator at Drake & Company Staffing Solutions, a staffing firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. Drake & Company specializes in temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire administrative, clerical and legal placements. Since 1978, Drake has reached beyond skills and qualifications to match candidate personalities with a company’s culture. You can connect with Stephanie by , and you can find Drake & Company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.