Tell me about your resume…
Throughout the various stages of your career, especially when you are seeking new opportunities, you may be asked to tell someone about your resume. When they ask you to do so, what are they looking for? Surely, they can look at it themselves. After all, you’ve worked hard to compile and present your work history as professionally as possible! If you find yourself in this situation, take a step back and reflect before responding. Consider how important it is to tell them not only what you’ve done, but why you did it.
It’s critical to tell your professional story. As you give them your narrative, keep it concise and highlight the most vital details about the work you’ve done, skills you’ve developed, and the things you’ve accomplished. What impact has your work had on projects, initiatives, companies and/or industries? If you are applying for a specific position that is connected to the person asking you the question, align your answer with that opportunity. Provide relevant details that may not be listed in your bullet points. This is your chance to add information that helps to bring the content on your resume to life.
As you are sharing the what, don’t forget to include some of the whys. Why were you interested in certain roles or companies, and how did the experience you gained there help you build your professional knowledge and skills? Explaining your whys can illustrate your motivation, drive, goals, and ability to reach them. You can include the whys behind your successes, your challenges, and how both of those things helped you grow and learn. Life, and your career, are both journeys. They are ridden with bumps and detours that help you find out what is most important to you so you can make choices to move forward to find fulfillment. Know your audience and consider how those whys can align with the next steps in your career, and how your audience can help you achieve that.
If someone asks you to tell them about your resume, don’t just read the words on the page. Tell your story, which is all about what you’ve done and why you did it.
