Think about the last time someone asked you for a resume. I know I always find it difficult, trying to assess and present myself in the best possible light…and next week, we will focus on resume building. For now, though, think about what you bring to the table.
You have been becoming the person you are now for quite some time. Along the way you’ve acquired work experience and life experience…but some of that can be leveraged to broaden your appeal. For example, you may be setting up displays right now, but think about what you are learning in the process:
- How do display items to create maximum sales
- How to inventory and take care of merchandise
- How to make reports
- How to manage your time more effectively.
These skill sets often lead to other areas of interest. If you love setting up an eye-catching display, learning more about art and presentation is an area of interest. If you make great reports, data management may be an area of interest. Do you see where I’m going here?
You have skills, and fulfillment in life rests on expanding skill sets as well as developing new ones. Never rest on the laurels of what you have accomplished. Always be looking for ways to make yourself more valuable to your employers…and to future employers as well! Your next step in life may take place when you are noticed for what you are doing, and a promotion leads you into new avenues. Your next opportunity may rest on a great referral from us. Either way, your future is more than who and what you are right now.
There are a lot of ways to go about this, but be direct. The Simple Dollar is a great place to start. They offer ten steps for seeing a new you emerge in 2020. It begins with knowing something you want to learn and ends with bragging rights. It doesn’t happen by accident, but by design.
We’ve skirted this a few times. We’ve talked about setting goals. We’ve talked about being on our best. Yet it all revolves around becoming the person we want to be. That almost always involves new skill sets. It doesn’t have to be expensive or formal. Libraries are full of self-help books and topics for every interest. It doesn’t have to be part of a degree. Realize that you and you alone get to choose what your resume will look like and what it will include.
Look back at previous interests and look ahead to future opportunities. Become the person you want to be by adding to yourself. This is one investment you will never regret.
