Resumés are not obituaries
Talk about yourself in a new light
When one project ends, it’s time to begin again.
Beginning again means revisiting that old resumé. I wrestled with this recently and got myself past what I call “the obituary” format. You know, that chronological listing of projects that can be traced into the last century.
It’s an interesting list. It says something about you and then nothing at all. Especially when it's rearranged repeatedly and taken out of context to demonstrate your relevance to whoever or whatever tracking system is passing judgment on your body of work.
"Place the most relevant experience at the top," they say. Somehow I think "career building" is not the best term for this process. I think a better word is “shapeshifting." It’s what society asks of you and expects of you. While I understand the reason for it, it doesn’t feel right.
I have often worried about what I haven’t done and what I need to do more of to be considered a professional in others' eyes. Do I need another degree before my self-initiated project is taken seriously? Can I write my own book, or do I need to do it through “them”?
These questions still swirl in my head. What’s changed is that I’ve become more comfortable with leadership words and am currently embracing the word impresario. Bringing people together and making introductions is something I’ve always done. For years I connected artists, naturalists, and educators at ArtPlantae.
What word describes how you move through the world?
Not the one you default to.
That other word that always feels too grand for polite company.
