Several weeks ago I was contacted by the folks organizing the Storytelling Summit, inviting me to participate and blog about it. It was all about personal and professional reinvention.
I didn't participate or write about it at all, and now it's over. I think this theme was too painfully apt for me to acknowledge at first, but now I feel I have no choice! Reinvent or perish!
I've been hating on resumes for so long now. The traditional resume/cover letter combo is just not doing it for me. Reading job listings and taking random stabs at things has resulted in some interesting experiences, but little fulfillment. I've decided to completely reinvent the job hunt. My experience, aptitudes, and aspirations cannot be effectively shared with the world using a resume. And I know that this must be true for many others as well! I'm going to create a website in order to gain clarity and connect with the people and circumstances that are right for my life at this time. Rather than "job seeking" or "job hunting" I will be conceiving of and creating a living for myself.
I feel like the way I've always approached job hunting is like half browsing, half begging. I'd read the job listings like an unappetizing dinner menu, considering each one in turn and trying to quell the nausea. Then I'd make a bid on the most palatable selection. ('Dear Sir or Madam, I'd be pleased to be considered for the position of chair-warmer in your fluorescent light department...') The bid would then be accepted or rejected. And I would feel disappointed either way.
This is a very slow and sad way to go about it! Trust me!
To me, a resume is an outdated, incomplete way of telling your story. I want to create a comprehensive, inspired, dynamic and concise way to show the world what I've done, what I have to offer, and what excites me. I really believe that if I do this authentically and to the best of my abilities, I can attract the ideal circumstances and people into my life and finally live up to my potential. Ideally during this process I will discover some universal truths and techniques that will help other people who are feeling the same way.
Since a resume is basically a way of telling the story of one's work life, I'm going to start by reading the storytelling manifesto which was provided as a free download (e-book) by the creators of the Storytelling Summit. It is still available at the Believe Me website as a .pdf.
I'll let you know what I think of it, and I'd love to hear your thoughts as well!
3 comments:
I am very interested in following your journey on this. I know this feeling you speak of, picking through uninspiring options, feeling despair that will never be quite right but will check the 'have job' box. I'll let you know what I think after reading the manifesto. You could be on to something big here. Think of how it would be if employer and employee alike could make better decisions about the teams they want to join....
I too can SO identify with your descriptions, in fact you could have been talking about me when I was younger.
I think it is a brilliant idea and shows real initiative and already shows SO much about you that you decided to do this. I think you will get so much out of this personally too, as you identify what it is that makes you unique.
I also think it is a perfect reflection of having come through your Saturn return (see my comment on your previous post.)
A Leos greatest creation should always be themselves and they must find a way to allow themselves to shine...looks like you are doing that.
Shine on lady! :-)
Ava, Susannah, thank you so much for your thoughtful, honest comments!
I read the entire storytelling manifesto yesterday, and it rang so true and gave me so much to think about that I had to sit down and work on art so my brain could process it :)
Your encouragement and support don't feel virtual at all, and I can't thank you enough.
(Getting all sappy on Christmas Eve!)
Love,
Tamara
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