Once we realize that we do not want to do the work we are doing—we think that the first step in doing something different is to update our resumes. We have been taught that we cannot look for a job without having a current resume. Why? Because that is what potential employers will want to see.

Makes sense, or does it?

What if you have discovered that you no longer enjoy the work you are doing, but you are not sure what you would rather be doing. If you are not sure what the next job looks like, you will have a difficult time crafting an appropriate resume.

Our resumes report what we have done –not what we hope to do, so they are little help in envisioning our future work. Resumes are historical documents that provide potential employers a snapshot of our career histories. They do not paint a picture of our futures.

Nor are our resumes blueprints for what we enjoy doing. Our resumes are not intended to showcase our needs, dreams and values. If we are trying to figure out what is next…updating our resumes is not the best place to start.

A better place to begin is by putting aside your resume and examining yourself. What do you want? What do you enjoy? What do you want to take with you when you leave the work you are doing– and what do you want to leave behind?

This entry was posted on Friday, February 1st, 2008 at 10:44 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.