Rewriting your résumé
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
It had been a while since my last freelance job. I’d searched the employment ads and pursued leads, but nothing resulted in a job offer. I also kept networking and calling everyone I knew for ideas.
Of course I updated my résumé, trying to think up new ways to present my skills. And I kept praying to know God had a great opportunity for me just around the corner.
But as time wore on and no job came my way, I began to lose confidence. I called a friend for support, because she thinks along spiritual lines, and I knew she’d have an inspired idea.
“Is your résumé up to date?” she asked.
“Well, of course,” I told her.
“Not your paper résumé,” she continued. “Your spiritual résumé!”
I had to admit I didn’t know what she was talking about. She clarified: Had I described my work experience from a spiritual perspective? Had I put in writing the valuable lessons learned from each job experience, and described why they had blessed me and others?
Now I’d had no problem creatively listing my past jobs and experiences. But to be honest, some of them didn’t seem much like blessings. There were instances of misunderstandings and lack of respect for the work accomplished.
My friend was now asking me to think in a new direction—to see each new experience as proof that I was learning more, gaining expertise, responding better—that I was making progress.
So I revised my outlook and wrote out my work history like this: In one job I’d learned to communicate new ideas better; in another, I’d learned how to appreciate others’ contributions more; and so on.
My friend was now asking me to see each new experience as proof that I was learning more, gaining expertise, responding better.
But I went further. Thinking about myself and others as supported by God’s spiritual goodness, I realized I was not a victim of how other people viewed me—nor were they a victim of my notions about them. Individuals, even bosses, don’t really have the power to adversely harm my life, career, or progress. I had to be clear about this and realize God, good, alone is the ultimate employer of all of us. He creates us with unique gifts and a purpose that we alone can fulfill.
This new view of myself, acknowledging the growth and progress I’d made, replaced the view that I was just banging around life and sometimes making a mess of it. And as this view became clearer, I saw ways I could revise my paper résumé as well, to better reflect my best qualities.
This new résumé called for copies—and I was eager to send it out! So, I dashed to the copy shop. While I was waiting in line to pay, a man looked at my résumé over my shoulder and asked me to phone his assistant. A few weeks later, I had a job in a whole new arena for me.
Now I had no doubt that the timing of our meeting was far more than coincidence. That’s because I’d been strongly impelled to go to the copy shop first that day, before taking care of four other errands that seemed much more important. So to me this was evidence that the new spiritual outlook I’d gained was bringing good results to me, my co-workers—even the boss. And even though he was hard to work with and the job only lasted the four months he said it would, I left at the top of my game, much farther ahead financially because of the pay. Also, I’d learned so much more about what I could achieve professionally and spiritually.
To this day, I consider this one of the best work experiences I’ve ever had.
One last note: After I’d spent a month working side by side with my boss, and praying hour by hour for harmonious solutions, he told me I’d helped him in many more ways than he could ever adequately thank me for.
So even now I keep my spiritual résumé up to date, despite the fact that I’m not currently looking for work. That’s because focusing on God’s view continues to define the most important work I do, praying for myself, my community, and the world.
So what does your résumé look like these days?