You Are Kind of a Big Deal

“I’m kind of a big deal.”  When Ron Burgundy uttered this famous line in Anchorman, everyone in America laughed and started throwing this phrase around.  Of course, the line was funny because it would be ridiculous for anyone to say this about themselves in real life … right?

One of the greatest challenges people face in writing their resumes is feeling comfortable talking about their accomplishments and achievements.  The very idea of bragging about themselves is so uncomfortable for many people that they end up selling themselves short.  This is one of the advantages of working with a professional—we have no reservations about highlighting other people’s talents!

For example, I recently wrote a resume for someone in the financial department of a Fortune 50 company.  During his tenure, the company had done the largest-ever migration to a popular software system that is considered the gold standard in his industry.  Due to his broad understanding of both his field and of technology, he was one of only a dozen people chosen throughout the company to work with the consultants who were designing, testing, and implementing the new system.  The kicker was, he never mentioned any of this to me until our very last phone conversation.  What a valuable piece of his professional life!

Many times, I don’t really know much about my friends’ professional lives unless they happen to get a promotion or change jobs altogether.  Because I don’t interact with them in a business setting, I’m often surprised to learn that my friends are out doing some pretty impressive things in their work lives.  For instance, a couple of months ago I learned that a good friend has been maintaining a 4.0 in the master’s program she’s been in for several years—while working full-time.  No wonder she’s always studying!

As you begin a job search, it may take some time to become comfortable talking about your academic and professional accomplishments.  Attending networking functions that focus on this type of conversation can help you overcome this roadblock.  This is also why it’s important to have a professional, colleagues, or friends look over your resume before you start sending it off.  If your current resume doesn’t scream, “I’m kind of a big deal”, you need to rework it until your strengths shine through!