Influencers

Today, meeting up & catching up with one of my high school friends from decades ago, I recounted how my storied interests in tennis, and photography are traceable back to the times we were together in high school…boarding school to be more precise because that condition was critical – in my mind. We had tennis courts at the school. We had a dark room as well. He was a great influencer and I was definitely a follower.

And following up on my recent note on your first resume, I want to suggest that such influencers might find a way to…well…influence your resume…in content as well as theme. Close friends who have had a influence on how you think, what you choose & your life experiences are worth considering for your resume.

I remember one example from the SUHSD CTE volunteering earlier this year, where I saw a resume which mentioned experience helping with a family catering business. In my discussion with the student, I asked for vivid detail about what they did, what responsibilities they had, and who they interacted with. And to lighten the Q&A load, I asked what food was being served & about the success of the event. Along the way, I formed a story in my mind and asked for details where I thought there were gaps. The storyline, the detail & the human-element are all important in conveying – in your resume – how you could be trusted with the responsibilities.

So if you are working on your first resume, try to recall one or more such events & shape your resume entry to show your situational awareness & how the people & experience has influenced your mindset & outlook…and who is the influencer that made it possible.

PS. In case the thought crosses your mind: social media influencers do not count. At least, the value of such influencers is minimal since there isn’t a direct or bilateral interaction. You may be influenced by social media and feel it is ok & harmless…even had positive results. It’s just not likely to make your resume look good.