You’re a better resume away from having a job that doesn’t suck.
The commute used to be horrible; now you’re indifferent about it, maybe complacent. The gray-taupe cubicle was small when you first started, now this little box feels like an actual box and you’re trapped inside of it. Your boss, who was “decent” at first, is now someone you avoid at all cost, even planning your lunch and bathroom breaks so that you don’t run into him.
During your interview you were told about the advancement opportunities, the strategic growth the company had planned, and the trajectory they were on. They showed you charts to prove they were heading in the right direction,and they wanted you to be a part of the team!
A few years later and you’re in the same position. The astonishing growth your company is experiencing is more like 18% of the workforce being cut, no bonuses, and your boss trying to convince you that the reason they can’t promote you isn’t because you’re not ready, qualified or deserving, but because “you’re really good at what you do and we really need you in this role and I just can’t understand why you’d want to move on”.
Or, maybe you’re at an amazing company doing all of the right things in the right ways. They’re improving their profit margin year over year, they have plenty of advancement opportunities and you never miss a bonus. But you still want to stab yourself in the temple with your pen.
I don’t want you to stab yourself in the temple with your pen.
Here on Mrs. Jones Could Use a Beer, I’m always looking for ways to help you simplify your life. Today, I want to talk to you about how creating a better resume can help you land a better job, or, help you change careers all together. And it’s easier than you think.
Before going out on my own as a freelance writer, I worked as a corporate recruiter for 17 years. I want to help you understand how having a great resume can make all the difference.
Too many people feel like they’re doing the best they can in their current company or current job, and that no matter how hard they try, things can’t or won’t improve. This is the furthest thing from true.
What Is and What Really Is
The truth is, that you’re not stuck in any job. Especially a job you hate. What’s likely happened is that you’ve stopped seeing opportunities, you’re exhausted, you’re out of energy, and now you’re putting in your time until the finish line.
You’ve lost your passion, and you’ve lost sight of who you are and what you wanted for your life.
Or, you haven’t lost sight of who you are and your passions at all, and it eats you alive every day. On your commute to and from work, in the shower, at your kid’s ball game, at lunch, on vacation, when you’re working in the yard, all you think about is who you want to be, who you really are, what you really want to do with your life, and how it’s slipping through your fingers year after year, slowly but surely. You’re frustrated, and sometimes angry. But doing something to change your situation is overwhelming.
In both cases you spend a fair amount of time beating yourself up. You tell yourself you’re lazy, you’re old, it’s too hard, or that you have no talent.
None of that is true and you need to tell the person inside of you who talks to you like that to take a hike.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, what kind of debt or wealth you have, and what you’ve done so far, there’s always a way to make the changes you need to put yourself on the path toward achieving what it is you’re after.
For Example…
Consider moving outside of your current position into lateral level positions within your company, thus, rounding out your skill set and making you more marketable, and putting you in the driver’s seat as it relates to the opportunities you want to consider down the road.
Or, this seems scary, but what about moving on? Your company isn’t your significant other. Loyalty can pay off, if it’s mutually beneficial, but if being loyal gets you nothing but the same job, a pat on the back and a “thanks for your years of service” and teeny incremental raises over the course of 40 years, that’s not a win-win.
You can’t wait around hoping that someone else will swoop in and give you the new promotion or new position you’re hoping for.
This is on you. Which is why we need to get you out there.
Why a Great Resume is Critical
You’ve got to showcase who you are and what you can do. There’s so much more to you than you think. You have skills and experiences that you’re likely taking for granted. Let’s dust those off and bring them out into the light, and get you the job you really want.
For some of you, you’re assuming that getting from A to B is too far of a leap. You want to do something that’s too far out of reach as it relates to the skills and experience you currently have. We’re going to take a look at how to get the job you want by taking a few jobs in-between in order to get you there.
A great resume is one that doesn’t just vomit out a bunch of old job descriptions. You need something that really packs some punch. Something that announces you. Something that says, “Hi my name is Joe, and I’m freakin’ awesome! Look at all this crazy cool stuff I’ve done!”
Make it impossible for hiring managers and recruiters not to at least give you a call.
Writing an amazing resume is easier than you think. Let me show you how.