Many people have heard me say “I have never known a company to hire a piece of paper nor a Recruiter to place a piece of paper with a client.” There are as many different ways to write a resume as there are people to write them. Likewise there are many people who give advice on format, content, length, etc. (including myself). Starting with the question, What is a Resume? A self-portrait which we wish others to see someone who can cross boundaries, invent ways to apply our past skills in a manner which meets their needs both present and future so that they develop an interest to the point that they are willing to invest time to talk with us about possible mutual interest.  This is the sole purpose of a resume, to start communication. Once that communication takes place it is useless unless you are extended an offer and except, become an employee then it goes into your employers personnel file.

Before you begin to compose your resume think MUSIC. Music has always been an important part of my life and I like all types of music from Bob Seger to Jazz to Mozart. Following the music thought process attempt to synthesize rather than analyze your various roles in the past employers and positions you have held. “Pick up the Pieces” (that’s a song folks) and look for the relationships between seemingly unrelated positions, employers and tie them together. You were promoted internally because those skills were needed in another area or you changed positions externally because another employer felt they could build on you experience. You are looking for an analogy or seeing one thing in terms of another, unrelated fields to combine elements you nor anyone else thought of putting together.

Ask yourself several questions about each employer/position you have worked in during your career direction. “Why was I hired in my last position, the one(s) prior. What Value-Added benefit did I bring to the table? Now, What Value-Added benefit will I take away from that table”? What’s the relationship from all of the answers?

Assume the role of a composer or conductor and corral your diverse experiences, environments, industry experience, projects, successes, etc. into a document that if played like a piece of music would make a unified and pleasing sound. With a resume you attempt to create an image of you, your skills set, your experience. The reader is looking for an image that shows relationship. Relationship to the need, the process, the group, the environment, etc. Just as notes in a symphony cross different boundaries to create a good sound your skills must reflect that they crossed different boundaries in the work place where you are and those where you were. Too often a resume is something “remembered” rather than reflecting that you can succeed in a starkly different role. If for instance you had to “Multitask” in your position then you should be “Multifaceted” in your abilities.

People take what they read or see and draw their own image. We want to analyze our experiences, skills when we compose a resume vs. approaching the process as a systems thinking process. We live in an age of abundance. Drive through most new neighborhoods and see how many single car garages you see on a house built after 2000 or perhaps the mid ’90′s. The downside of abundance is that it entices one to a state of apathy. I think that in this new world market place we have evolved into it’s time to re-think the way we both compose a resume and the way we listen to the “MUSIC” or read a resume. Your challenge is to make it “PLAY”. The reader will hear the tune.