Creating a Resume that Stands Out…Regardless of Your Past Experience: TOOL

Career searching requires tenacity

Creating a Resume that Stands Out…No Matter What Your Past Experience

I could say, like many others. I’ve primarily worked in the non-profit world. I’ve only ever really done donation-based work. I’m 48 years old. What do I have to offer?

When I compare myself to men who didn’t take time off to raise children, or others who didn’t spend time learning language or moving cross-culturally, I feel as though my life, to date, may not have much to show for it.

I’m not typically bothered by these things as I chose this path and loved most of it! However, when applying for a new position, when one’s self esteem is shaky, it is easy to get trapped in the limiting language of vocational success. The familiar voices of condescend sound: What have I done with my life? how much have I earned? what have I done with the time? What have I accomplished? it’s too late to start over now.

When we mine transferable skills, looking at the details of the whole of our experiences, we can begin to see that the common, everyday tasks unique to MY life have mattered. I can see clearer that God has used my life for good. And I still have a lot to offer!

Putting a resume together:

~60 minutes

1.     Find a resume template you like. There are many free ones on the web. If you’re skilled with design, create your own or use a free platform like Canva. You can also hire a one-time designer on 99designs.com or fiverr.com.

2.     Start with the transferable skills list you created (see “building your transferable skill list for resumes”)

3.     List the top 3-4 organizations most relevant to the job you’re seeking in chronological order, most recent first. The most logical way to represent this is to include the name of the organization, location and general role title. Include the years worked, as well.

4.     When listing the transferable skills, put them in the most relevant order. Combine skills if they are similar or don’t say something new.

5.     On the most looked at area of the page, the right hand side, include a picture, your contact information and any other relevant information such as degrees earned and interests. Keep it brief, but give interesting information that highlights why you are unique and worth consideration for the position you’re seeking.

6.     Finally, at the bottom, include a few relevant references. Having a few names of key people who can attest to your hard work, validates and gives credibility to what you’ve listed above, regardless of if they are ever contacted. A former employer, professor, or relevant connection. Be intentional in who you list particular to the job responding to.

You are trying to limit the information to what is most relevant in a field of work you would like to do more of. As well, you’re intent is to keep it concise and to the point. One page is still the norm, but depending on your age, up to 2 is still considered permissible. (The exception to the rule is an expressed request for publications or an added portfolio for artists and designers).

Because we want to err on the side of relevant and concise, recognize you can’t include everything. Consider making 2-3 versions of your resume, targeting different types of work.

Many hesitate if there have been a break in years if you went back to school, had children, or performed tasks that are not as important to the job you’re applying for. Be ready and willing to share what those dates, without apology. Listing other hobbies or certificates gained in the break in years or voluntary positions held in those windows, may serve as explanation enough.

There is no need to list all of your certificates, accolades, or knowledge gained. A website, a linkedIn profile, a biography or a blog are other places to link on your resume and point people to your history of work. Likely they will do the work of discovering who you are in this information age. There is no need to list everything.

Show the diversity of who you are and what you do. Don’t underestimate a simple job. One friend of mine who is an engineer, highlighted that he was a waiter in college. They said they gave him the job because they knew he would have great people and conflict management skills, historically lacking in this field. 

Now, step back, reevaluate, don’t be too hard on yourself, ask for feedback, share this fine piece of hard work with others in a similar field. And ultimately be proud of yourself for all that you have done in your life!

The 7 Attitudes Needed in Vocational Discernment: Following the Ignatian Way

As I probed further into my own understanding of how I showed up with people on a daily basis in vocational discernment work, I began to realize the unique nature of how I got here. It was three-fold.

I had been gifted wise people on my developmental journey through seminary, through organizational affiliation and professional helpers who spoke this language. I read a lot of supporting material through wise literary mentors like Henri Nouwen, Parker Palmer, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Bobby Clinton and Terry Walling.

But quite possibly my best teacher was the many years I had lived making decisions without wise input. Those were years (decades) of painful learnings where I tried to go it alone.  I learned what not to do and how I would do it different.

Since that time, I have sought for hindsight to guide my insight. Asking questions like, “What would I have done differently given what I know now? and “Who would I have liked alongside of me?” This last transition gave me an opportunity to apply that hard learning.

When faced with the decision to return from overseas assignment after 11 years, I experienced not one, or even two, but three intentional discernment times over the course of 3 years with trusted mentors and advisors. Arguably three may have been overkill, but given the nature and complexity of the decisions, each one illuminated the path directly in front of me in a way I needed to discern. As well, this repetition provided unified confirmation that I personally needed during a hard season of learning to trust my voice. I needed that space to surrender, listen, wait, and trust.   

What is vocational discernment

It wasn’t until I put myself in the position of those who we work with  - people in places of confusion, stuckness, isolation and hopelessness - that I began to really unpack how this is done. I was asked to unpack questions like, “What does vocational discernment actually look like?” “What is the difference between decision-making and discernment?” “How does one best posture themselves to receive in this time?” “What do the stages of discernment look like?” And, “How do you do this in community?”

While each of those questions needs addressing, worth noting of first priority is that creating space in your life, through monastic practices like silence, solitude, contemplation and centeredness will greatly aide in this process. Noise, busyness, and a scattered mind on the other hand will distract. An intentional sabbatical or set-aside period of time helps to create boundaries for those who suffer from decision-making fatigue.

St. Ignatius of Loyola talks often about indifference and attachment, especially as they relate to decision-making and discernment. He states that there are 7 qualities or attitudes required of us to wholly engage in a discernment process 1.) openness 2.) courage 3.) generosity 4.) interior freedom 5.) habit of prayerful reflection 6.) having one’s priorities straight 7.) not confusing the ends with the means. How we posture ourselves directly determines how we will receive.  

7 attitudes in a discernment and decision-making process  

1.     An attitude of surrender and openness with the trajectory of our life path being held with open hands willing to receive or to let go of whatever may come. We see many who want the benefits of intentional time, without actually releasing their ideas and plans to what might come. Admittedly this can be scary, we see our unhealthy attachments to power in a position, security of job, organizational ties, and all that we’ve worked hard for, being put in an Isaac & Abraham, all-things-on-the-altar request.

2.     We remind those we work with that this is bold and courageous work and the next necessary posture. It requires us to stay faithful and patient to believe and trust that God has a perfect plan for our lives. It requires boldness to keep showing up to the hard conversations, to the difficult relationships, to our time with God.  

3.     Directly linked, our hearts need to be open and generous, putting no conditions on what God might be asking of us. It will likely require seeing others as first and ourselves as second. The posture of generosity allows us to enter into a place of hospitality. Hosting our creator in our midst, willing to co-create but also willing to wait. Hosting others’ needs and concerns before our own.

4.     The ignatian exerices often talk about creating a place of interior freedom. That space inside of ourselves that is often filled with many other attachments – people, material possessions, and other idols. We must be willing to do what God asks of us, in a posture of release of what we might normally strive towards.

5.     A habit of prayerful reflection. Utilizing spiritual habits and disciplines that create an ability to hear God’s voice, alongside of trusted others. Covering the vocational discernment in prayer, repeatedly giving it to the Lord.

6.     The posture of having one’s priorities straight, asking, “Not my will but yours be done”. Here we are not allowing the things of this world to deter us from God’s best plan for our life but rather keeping our focus on what is good, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy. Asking for His priorities to be our priorities.  

7.     And finally asking for God to reveal to us where we confuse the ends with the means. Not putting God in second place, and our desires in first, but rather the other way around. Asking that our desires align with God’s in humility and sacrifice.

This is risky and vulnerable work that few fully enter into. And understandably these 7 postures overlap. What we most often see with those entering into discernment is that they are challenged with one or two, not bad things, but to really release something or someone in the process that is holding them back.

For Deeper Reflection:

How long have you been considering a shift in your own life?

What is holding you back?

What do you fear is the worst that will happen?