That’s what I look for in a resume.
That’s what I look for in a website.
You have to make sure that your materials do the job, that is—to show people that you have the skills and experience that matches up with what they need. You have to craft your materials for your specific audience. You have to know your purpose. You have to be clear about who you’re trying to reach and to what end. If you’re not clear, it won’t be clear to the reader that you’re it, or that you’re a match.
One of the challenges is that so many of us are very talented. We have lots of experience. We have wonderful stories and examples of fabulous things we’ve done. And we don’t want to diminish those stories by distilling them to their essence (or worse leaving them out of our materials altogether). But at the end of the day what’s important is that our resumes and websites and collateral lines up and communicates that we’re competent. Interviews, cover letters and conversations after we’re hired are times to share more depth about ourselves. But first we have to show competency.
Where does elegant come in?
- Layout. Bullets. Bolding, Fonts. Guiding our eyes toward what is important.
- Effective language. Words like produced, directed, transformed, initiated that convey strength and spirit and action.
- Words that are easily visualized and experienced: images, symbols, personality, and emotion.
So get out your red pen and take a critical look at your resume (or your website). Get down to the essence of what you want people to know to see that you are a match for their needs. Make sure you’re clear. And then come back for a second pass at what will add elegance.