SHOW, DON’T TELL
A couple of years ago I got the sudden urge to become an author and wanted to write a book. Romantic-travel fiction. Just for fun.
Who doesn’t have this image of a relaxed writer, sitting at a cool location overlooking some gorgeous landscape and speed-typing an amazing story. (spoiler alert: no, it’s not like that!)
Since I have no training in writing, I engaged with a writing coach, so she would help me and guide me on this new path.
One of the most important things I had to learn at the very beginning was the golden rule of writing well: “show, don’t tell”.
Meaning? We don’t write “Sarah was happy”. You describe happy.
Now - surprise, surprise - the same goes for when applying for a job.
Don’t list you are a team-player, a hard worker, a problem-solving genius.
I read these lists and think “Says who?” Adjectives are subjective. Adjectives mirror what you think of yourself.
Want to make a real impression?
Describe, how you solved that problem; give an example of your consultative sales technique, explain how you work.
This is what captures recruiter’s and hiring manager’s attention. Describing how you work, how you solve a problem or get out of of a tough situation will tell them a lot more about you, than a list of adjectives and will make it credible and make you authentic.
This is the reason behind the behavioural type questions during interviews. But first, you need to get to that interview. This is what a good CV can do - opens the door for you. But that’s another topic for another occasion.
Think about your successes, even of your failures - how can you tell those stories, so that you show them who you are, how you work and what value you bring.
Ps: my book - is still work in progress….