When you talk about yourself and your career to HR professionals and hiring managers, kill the fluffy stuff.
- Tell me about a time when you solved a problem at work.
- Let me know if you’ve answered organizational challenges with creative ideas and solutions.
- Convince me that you are not a needy sociopath who will cause more problems than we’re hiring you to solve.
Start with those three concepts and craft your resume, CV, and portfolio in those terms. It will make a difference.
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AMEN!
If only everyone read your blog!
Dude, I’m going to have to disagree with you on this one, but understand, it’s not because the logic isn’t sound, it totally is.
I have to disagree because the premise assumes that the person reviewing your resume will be competent. The sad truth is the odds are against that. The turn over in recruiting is so staggeringly high that the vast majority of recruiters are still inexperienced, and the hiring managers that review the resumes have the same fluffy resume for themselves.
Therefore I say “Fluff it up, use nonsense speak, wear super shiny shoes, expensive socks and have the appropriate hair helmet and you’ll go far.”
Good call Laurie! (*Hmmm…Now how can I fit the word Leader in my resume one more time…?*)
Sid.
Amen!
I agree with both Laurie and Puf, as contradictory as that sounds. Puf is absolutely correct that the market seems to be flooded with inexperienced recruiters and hiring managers who can’t sift through the bullshit. So when a resume or offer letter comes to me to evaluate the comp/offer rate, I end up asking, “How exactly does this person meet that job’s minimum qualifications? Why are you offering an executive’s salary to someone who barely has entry-level experience?”
So my analytical side says, “Yes, kill the fluffy stuff.” The perpetual job seeker in me says, “Pile it on!”
This is why I have a fluffed version and a critical thinking version of my job hunting soundbites. A few sentences of the niceties will usually give me an idea of which is appropriate for the person at hand. It’s something I picked up while waiting tables on graveyard shift; is this table one that likes abuse or are they just here at a really odd time of the night?
Who says my high school drama class didn’t have any practical applications?
@rool Why thankya.
@Michael Good lord, they would be bored. But thanks!
@Puf I get it. I’m of the opinion that the best among us don’t need resumes. They have reputations and are hired on the spot. What do you think of that?
@Sid How about team player?
@Barry Thanks!
@Whitney I know what you mean. It’s tough NOT to appeal to the lowest common denominator our there.
@mouse That’s smart. I like a tailored resume. Also, I have skills that I learned from Baskin Robbins!
Hey– needy sociopaths are people too!!!
The “flufffy” stuff is what makes me human, and what makes me good at my job
Mark
aka Mr Fluffy
@laurie, I’m totally with you on that. Lance is a great example of that. The sad truth is that for people that aren’t the best in their field, are stuck with fluff as their weapon, and it’s so effective since we live in a fluff loving society, and not the awesome marshmallow kind, but the fill the void with nonsense kind. Hell, this is a country where hard working folks can’t get a job, but crank out eight babies, with no visible means of support, and you’re a paid celebrity.
@MattyMat I have no sympathy.
@MrFluffy You’re not qualified.
@Puf I know, you’re right. For every Lance, there are sweet & nice people out there who don’t get that kind of action. I really do hate the paradigm-changing team players who leverage their skills and abilities to create synergistic opportunities.
“I really do hate the paradigm-changing team players who leverage their skills and abilities to create synergistic opportunities.”
If someone used those expressions in most parts of the UK, he (is it non-PC to imagine it’s a he?) would probably get a rude Anglo-Saxon hand gesture from the person reading it.
Laurie,
I totally agree. Unfortunately I think a lot of job seekers load their resumes up with fluff because they are trying to mirror very poorly written job specs that are loaded with words like team player, good communicator, etc. Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a world where job specs actually described both the competencies and achievements employers are looking for? Those specs are few and far between based on the junk I see posted on most job boards.