I’ve been thinking about ways to make my resume stand out in a crowd, and I started thinking about infographics… and I’m still thinking about how to create a relevant infographic for my resume. But as I tinker with that I thought I share my word cloud starting point, which I created using Wordle (Admittedly this is very 2010.)
The coffee has been ground, brewed and poured. I am sitting in front of the computer scanning the job listings. Each one offers the promise of possibility for what I do next. As I start to write my cover letters it occurs to me that I wish this kind of shopping was more fun.
Let’s go downtown for one of my favorite types of shopping, clothes. As I read each job description I imagine myself as the person in the role. It really is a bit like trying on clothes. Reading the details on this one I feel like I’m wearing a fancy dress, the next is a nice tank top which would look great with jeans, and then lastly this one is more like surf wear.
If I start the process for each listing by thinking of it as a fresh new look I find that I am also keeping myself optimistic. And as I imagine each role fully if I find that I really can’t see myself wearing it, well I know I need to move on to the next listing.
I guess taking this analogy to the next level, the interview is going into the dressing room to try stuff on in front of the big three paneled mirror.
•In this outfit do I look fat or am I over-qualified.
•Do I look like I need a bigger size in this outfit or am I under-qualified.
•I love this outfit can I wear it home or this could be the perfect job for me.
Of course, in this dressing room, the mirror has a starring role and a commanding voice.
Time for Goldilocks over here to get back to writing letters to the right opportunities about why I rock .
I had the opportunity to try and do something silly, that when successful, never fails to make me happy. And by happy, I mean an ephemeral giddy schoolgirl sort of happy. I nearly skipped this fleeting chance but after consultation with friends, who share in these silly adventures, I was in the game.
A day later, the smile still on my face, I am so glad I listened to my friends.
As a master of rationalization I am now reflecting upon what meaningful lessons I can extrapolate to my current career transition. It’s not too much of a stretch for me to focus upon the following:
*You’ve got to be in it to win it. Nothing can happen if you don’t try.
*You make your own luck, your strategy counts.
*Confidence. You’ve got to believe in both yourself and in the opportunity.
*Ask questions, don’t speculate wildly.
*Smile.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein
I’ve been thinking about that statement a lot these days and I’ve decided that I am having a disagreement with Mr. Einstein. I will keep applying to jobs, and I will keep getting excited as I go through the subsequent processes because I am genuinely excited about each opportunity I seek out. And I do expect that I will get an offer from one (or more) of these opportunities.
At heart I have always been optimistic, it’s who I am. I am also pragmatic. And if I can be funny about it, I may even sound out some pessimism.
I believe I am going to intersect with the right thing and it’s going to be great for both me and the organization whose offer I accept.
The Goldilocks connection should be obvious. In the story, for Goldilocks at first it was “too hot,” then it was “too cold,” and in the end something turns out to be “just right!”
I am remaining optimistic, even when the water is turbulent. Cue up Jaws theme music please. The shark didn’t win in the end.
I’m working on getting over hearing about not getting a new gig via industry newsletter. Seriously.
Good news or bad news, if things have progressed a candidate deserves to hear about it first hand.
The Inca Trail has been on my mind lately. First, a friend told me it was mentioned on a (crappy) tv show she knows I DVR and had I seen it yet, I have now. Second, I was looking at a question on an application that brought the trail to mind.
So, I’ve been thinking about the Inca Trail. The first thing that comes to mind is just how beautiful it was up high in the Andes. The second thing that comes to mind is how the six of us in the group made such a great team. And the third thing is the memory of moments in peaceful solitude – when I lagged behind, with my camera as a visible excuse.
I am also thinking about how slowly, step by step and with each lungful of (thin) air, I accomplished something. The trail ends at Machu Picchu. It is an amazing place to see with your own eye and exploring the site is tremendous. However, for me the journey to get there was worth more than checking a landmark off the list.
Truth be told, it was a less iconic ruin I enjoyed more. My group had Winay Wayna all to ourselves for hours, and we wandered around it freely to our heart’s content.
I remember sitting inside a “room” noticing that far below was the river we started trekking beside and just above we could see the mountain called Machu Picchu – around which in the morning lay our destination. I liked how you could see how far we’d come, how close the end was.
I always love the journey, the adventure is fun, and with this job search stuff I just wish I could see where it ends. I’m ready for the next chapter – and excited to start it whatever it is.