If you are looking for resume & interview tips in a buttoned up list #1, #2, #3 — there are so many wonderful resources out there that can provide content for you. But that’s not my jam.
It’s not my jam because a) it feels kind of clinical and b) I want to provide a different lens on what advice/ guidance can sound like and feel like— not just what it should LOOK like.
It’s TOO easy to breeze down a punch list and check, check, check, “oh, I’ve got this”… go on your way and start applying for random jobs. I think we can do better for ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to be thoughtful and reflective about our careers.
So here we go!
Lots of people have an “Objective” header on their resume— key skills, etc. I’m not mad at that.
However, when I see “seeking SVP job” or “contribute @ C-suite-level”, I start to feel cringe-y. Why?
Anchorman. #becauseRonBurgundy.
Anchorman is hilarious. RIDICULOUS & HILARIOUS.
For those of you who don’t know Anchorman, Ron Burgundy is totally full $#it. Also, it is just hilarious.
So when I read the career goal is to attain a certain level, I start to wonder what is important to them— is it doing a great job OR the level? It doesn’t tell me the what they do or the HOW they do it, just the outcome THEY are seeking.
If the hiring manager doesn’t know you because you’re an external candidate, they have no idea what your definition of “level” or “success” really is. They are trying to learn more about what you can do.
And that’s when I’m reminded of our friend of Ron. (cringe!)
Honestly, I don’t know that you’re NOT a big deal, but you’d need to provide me the decoder ring of what “level” means to you as a candidate… Is it a greater bonus target? Is it a bigger team? is it a corner office? Is it a title? And that decoder ring is nearly impossible to decipher over a resume.
The best case scenario? The employer will take you at your word. #your’reabigdeal
The worst case scenario? The employer thinks you’re high maintenance or believes you’ll be unsatisfied with a job that is too “small” for you. (which maybe you think and maybe you don’t)
The big job, more pay, etc…all of those things are perfectly fine to aspire to— but you need to lay some groundwork before you go there.
You need to convey two things:
What PROBLEMS are you going to solve for the company?
How will you help them ACHIEVE their strategic goals?
I read a parenting article the other day and it suggested, instead of asking your child the traditional question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”—a worthy alternative might be… “what kind of problems do you want to solve when you grow up?
I think that is GENIUS.
Now, I ask myself this question all of time. No joke.
It also brings you back to a fundamental place of, “what do I enjoy doing?”
It’s a Marie Kondo-type question that helps you separate what is necessary for you to be engaged and contribute to the success of an organization AND to be self-content.
From an employer standpoint, it is imperative for you to remind yourself that they have posted that job because they have a problem to solve. During the interview process, they want to know that YOU can solve their problems and HOW you’ve done it in the past.
Yes, it benefits everyone for your goals and their problems to be aligned, but make no mistake, they are there to make achieve their goals— not yours.
The lesson of Ron Burgundy? Reframe your story.
Here’s what I do.
Here’s what I’ve done.
And the problems your organization faces now…
I will fix them!
It’s a lot more effective than, “I’m kind of a big deal”.
Companies, small businesses, individuals - I’m here to solve YOUR problems & love a good challenge. Reach out for a consult if you’re stumped.
Be well, stay well.
Jean