May 3, 2024
12: You May Be Diluting Your Personal Narrative
Words and phrases you think you need in your resume and LinkedIn profile can unintentionally dilute your personal narrative. As a hiring manager, executive recruiter and coach, host Doug Lester shares the prime suspects and makes a case for avoiding them. He also explains how using them may even work against you by raising unneeded questions in your readers' minds.
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Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.246 --> 00:00:06.487
Are you using any of the following words or phrases in your resume or LinkedIn profile?
00:00:07.028 --> 00:00:08.259
Experienced leader.
00:00:08.798 --> 00:00:10.148
Accomplished professional.
00:00:10.569 --> 00:00:11.948
Results oriented.
00:00:12.278 --> 00:00:13.239
Strategic.
00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:14.409
Innovative.
00:00:14.708 --> 00:00:15.728
Team player.
00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:17.708
Proven track record.
00:00:18.248 --> 00:00:20.349
I could go on and on.
00:00:20.798 --> 00:00:24.518
If you are using any of these, you're in good company.
00:00:24.699 --> 00:00:26.048
A lot of people do.
00:00:26.507 --> 00:00:39.646
Stick around and I'll share how using these words and phrases in the materials that represent you dilute rather than strengthen your personal narrative, making it less compelling and less unique.
00:00:40.097 --> 00:00:46.817
And it may actually raise questions in the minds of your readers about your capabilities and your experience.
00:01:25.545 --> 00:01:38.114
As an executive recruiter and then a coach to well over a thousand professionals, many of them MBAs in mid and senior level roles, I've seen my fair share of resumes and LinkedIn profiles.
00:01:38.534 --> 00:01:45.525
And even in the really good ones, I find myself reading the same words and phrases over and over again.
00:01:46.064 --> 00:01:54.314
It's the list I went through in the introduction that includes experienced leader, accomplished professional and proven track record.
00:01:54.855 --> 00:01:59.924
Just repeating them like that essentially proves the first point I'd like to make.
00:02:00.478 --> 00:02:06.989
You've seen them, too, in resumes and LinkedIn profiles, probably more times than you can count.
00:02:07.618 --> 00:02:17.459
When you use phrases like that, the intention, and it's a good one, is to distinguish yourself and convey the extent and depth of your experience.
00:02:18.008 --> 00:02:19.959
The problem is a classic one, though.
00:02:20.618 --> 00:02:30.549
When everyone uses phrases like that to describe their experience, and so many people do, those phrases and words, they become meaningless.
00:02:30.878 --> 00:02:40.209
They end up just being filler words that might sound good and flow well, but they don't provide any useful information to your reader.
00:02:40.658 --> 00:02:41.588
They're a crutch.
00:02:41.965 --> 00:02:43.615
So, what do you do instead?
00:02:44.245 --> 00:02:49.764
I would propose that you share what actually makes you experienced or accomplished.
00:02:50.215 --> 00:02:55.764
If your experience spans 15 years in market-leading B2C healthcare companies.
00:02:56.185 --> 00:02:57.235
Then say that.
00:02:57.594 --> 00:03:07.194
If you're accomplished because you've launched a well-known product or service in your industry, or maybe you're associated with a few, then say that.
00:03:07.525 --> 00:03:12.205
It will sound just as good and be a lot more meaningful to your reader.
00:03:12.814 --> 00:03:23.224
And if you do, it will also prevent a problem you may unintentionally be causing and that's generating skepticism or doubt in the mind of your reader.
00:03:23.697 --> 00:03:40.917
I don't know about you, but when I read someone describing themselves as experienced or accomplished, or maybe as strategic or innovative, or any of those other words and phrases I mentioned at the opening, I experienced a little doubt.
00:03:41.364 --> 00:03:44.693
It feels evasive like a challenge.
00:03:44.993 --> 00:03:49.554
You're asking your reader to accept your judgment about yourself.
00:03:50.093 --> 00:03:55.014
And it is a judgment when you describe yourself as any of those things.
00:03:55.463 --> 00:03:56.693
Think about it this way.
00:03:57.144 --> 00:04:03.894
I think we all know that when someone says they're not something, then there's a good chance they probably are.
00:04:03.894 --> 00:04:05.454
You know what I'm talking about.
00:04:05.843 --> 00:04:10.854
I'm not a difficult person, but, or I'm not cheap, but.
00:04:11.574 --> 00:04:17.483
And when the opposite is happening and someone is saying something especially positive about themselves.
00:04:17.963 --> 00:04:20.754
Don't you doubt it just a little?
00:04:21.113 --> 00:04:27.564
Like when you hear someone say, oh, I'm very generous or I'm a very caring person.
00:04:28.194 --> 00:04:29.274
Don't get me wrong.
00:04:29.694 --> 00:04:32.663
Some people say that and it's true.
00:04:32.934 --> 00:04:38.814
But when they do say it, doesn't a plant, just a little seed of doubt in your mind?
00:04:39.473 --> 00:04:42.173
Don't you then want some proof?
00:04:42.702 --> 00:04:44.533
Don't do that to your reader.
00:04:44.682 --> 00:04:46.783
Don't plant that seed of doubt.
00:04:47.173 --> 00:04:50.442
Give them the proof that they need right away.
00:04:50.802 --> 00:04:55.093
Tell them what you've done that's strategic or innovative and relevant.
00:04:55.543 --> 00:05:01.812
Maybe you've been at the forefront of investing in new technology that ended up transforming an industry.
00:05:02.153 --> 00:05:08.153
Say that, and then follow it up with the specifics and there's less room for doubt or skepticism.
00:05:08.632 --> 00:05:11.182
And then you're not making a judgment about yourself.
00:05:11.483 --> 00:05:17.242
You're not saying that you're innovative and asking your reader to take it at face value.
00:05:17.632 --> 00:05:19.312
You're showing that you're innovative.
00:05:19.973 --> 00:05:21.353
But I know what you're thinking.
00:05:21.603 --> 00:05:22.583
Can't I do both?
00:05:23.093 --> 00:05:27.083
Can't I say that I'm innovative and then give the specifics?
00:05:27.502 --> 00:05:32.812
Again, I'd encourage you not to plant the seeds of doubt in your readers' minds.
00:05:33.353 --> 00:05:46.853
And if you do load up your resume or LinkedIn profile with those relatively meaningless words and phrases, you'll just end up making your materials longer, denser and ultimately harder to read.
00:05:47.182 --> 00:05:54.742
Your reader will need to, in their minds, do the editing work you probably should have done for them on the page.
00:05:55.492 --> 00:06:01.583
And they'll have to skip over the filler words and search for the ones that are relevant and based in fact.
00:06:02.093 --> 00:06:18.892
Based on my experience as an executive recruiter, I can tell you with certainty that the information I shared with clients when I was presenting candidates had to be based in the relevant facts and not the judgments that candidates might've been making about themselves.
00:06:19.358 --> 00:06:30.937
And those filler words and phrases, like experienced leader or accomplished professional, usually appear at the very beginning of a resume summary or LinkedIn About section.
00:06:31.418 --> 00:06:46.718
You could be signaling to your reader without meaning to that the rest of your resume or profile is going to be loaded up with low-value words and phrases, and they may lose interest and never make it to the relevant facts.
00:06:47.048 --> 00:06:59.798
This is especially true when you consider that the average time people spend reading a resume or a LinkedIn profile can probably be measured in seconds, or maybe it's a minute or two at the most.
00:07:00.137 --> 00:07:13.158
And if they're reading either of those things on a mobile device's screen, then your filler words and phrases will likely push the important information off the screen entirely.
00:07:13.709 --> 00:07:25.185
So if you find yourself relying far too much on filler words, maybe now's a good time to check, and you need to think about what's going to be truly meaningful and relevant to your target.
00:07:25.665 --> 00:07:28.935
Or maybe you're not even certain who your target is.
00:07:29.295 --> 00:07:31.036
Let's think through it together.
00:07:31.918 --> 00:07:52.319
Consider signing up for a Career Strategy Session with me at careernarratives.com/strategy and we'll work on identifying your target reader and the information that will be most valuable to them if they're considering you for what may be the next step in your career.
00:00:00.246 --> 00:00:06.487
Are you using any of the following words or phrases in your resume or LinkedIn profile?
00:00:07.028 --> 00:00:08.259
Experienced leader.
00:00:08.798 --> 00:00:10.148
Accomplished professional.
00:00:10.569 --> 00:00:11.948
Results oriented.
00:00:12.278 --> 00:00:13.239
Strategic.
00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:14.409
Innovative.
00:00:14.708 --> 00:00:15.728
Team player.
00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:17.708
Proven track record.
00:00:18.248 --> 00:00:20.349
I could go on and on.
00:00:20.798 --> 00:00:24.518
If you are using any of these, you're in good company.
00:00:24.699 --> 00:00:26.048
A lot of people do.
00:00:26.507 --> 00:00:39.646
Stick around and I'll share how using these words and phrases in the materials that represent you dilute rather than strengthen your personal narrative, making it less compelling and less unique.
00:00:40.097 --> 00:00:46.817
And it may actually raise questions in the minds of your readers about your capabilities and your experience.
00:01:25.545 --> 00:01:38.114
As an executive recruiter and then a coach to well over a thousand professionals, many of them MBAs in mid and senior level roles, I've seen my fair share of resumes and LinkedIn profiles.
00:01:38.534 --> 00:01:45.525
And even in the really good ones, I find myself reading the same words and phrases over and over again.
00:01:46.064 --> 00:01:54.314
It's the list I went through in the introduction that includes experienced leader, accomplished professional and proven track record.
00:01:54.855 --> 00:01:59.924
Just repeating them like that essentially proves the first point I'd like to make.
00:02:00.478 --> 00:02:06.989
You've seen them, too, in resumes and LinkedIn profiles, probably more times than you can count.
00:02:07.618 --> 00:02:17.459
When you use phrases like that, the intention, and it's a good one, is to distinguish yourself and convey the extent and depth of your experience.
00:02:18.008 --> 00:02:19.959
The problem is a classic one, though.
00:02:20.618 --> 00:02:30.549
When everyone uses phrases like that to describe their experience, and so many people do, those phrases and words, they become meaningless.
00:02:30.878 --> 00:02:40.209
They end up just being filler words that might sound good and flow well, but they don't provide any useful information to your reader.
00:02:40.658 --> 00:02:41.588
They're a crutch.
00:02:41.965 --> 00:02:43.615
So, what do you do instead?
00:02:44.245 --> 00:02:49.764
I would propose that you share what actually makes you experienced or accomplished.
00:02:50.215 --> 00:02:55.764
If your experience spans 15 years in market-leading B2C healthcare companies.
00:02:56.185 --> 00:02:57.235
Then say that.
00:02:57.594 --> 00:03:07.194
If you're accomplished because you've launched a well-known product or service in your industry, or maybe you're associated with a few, then say that.
00:03:07.525 --> 00:03:12.205
It will sound just as good and be a lot more meaningful to your reader.
00:03:12.814 --> 00:03:23.224
And if you do, it will also prevent a problem you may unintentionally be causing and that's generating skepticism or doubt in the mind of your reader.
00:03:23.697 --> 00:03:40.917
I don't know about you, but when I read someone describing themselves as experienced or accomplished, or maybe as strategic or innovative, or any of those other words and phrases I mentioned at the opening, I experienced a little doubt.
00:03:41.364 --> 00:03:44.693
It feels evasive like a challenge.
00:03:44.993 --> 00:03:49.554
You're asking your reader to accept your judgment about yourself.
00:03:50.093 --> 00:03:55.014
And it is a judgment when you describe yourself as any of those things.
00:03:55.463 --> 00:03:56.693
Think about it this way.
00:03:57.144 --> 00:04:03.894
I think we all know that when someone says they're not something, then there's a good chance they probably are.
00:04:03.894 --> 00:04:05.454
You know what I'm talking about.
00:04:05.843 --> 00:04:10.854
I'm not a difficult person, but, or I'm not cheap, but.
00:04:11.574 --> 00:04:17.483
And when the opposite is happening and someone is saying something especially positive about themselves.
00:04:17.963 --> 00:04:20.754
Don't you doubt it just a little?
00:04:21.113 --> 00:04:27.564
Like when you hear someone say, oh, I'm very generous or I'm a very caring person.
00:04:28.194 --> 00:04:29.274
Don't get me wrong.
00:04:29.694 --> 00:04:32.663
Some people say that and it's true.
00:04:32.934 --> 00:04:38.814
But when they do say it, doesn't a plant, just a little seed of doubt in your mind?
00:04:39.473 --> 00:04:42.173
Don't you then want some proof?
00:04:42.702 --> 00:04:44.533
Don't do that to your reader.
00:04:44.682 --> 00:04:46.783
Don't plant that seed of doubt.
00:04:47.173 --> 00:04:50.442
Give them the proof that they need right away.
00:04:50.802 --> 00:04:55.093
Tell them what you've done that's strategic or innovative and relevant.
00:04:55.543 --> 00:05:01.812
Maybe you've been at the forefront of investing in new technology that ended up transforming an industry.
00:05:02.153 --> 00:05:08.153
Say that, and then follow it up with the specifics and there's less room for doubt or skepticism.
00:05:08.632 --> 00:05:11.182
And then you're not making a judgment about yourself.
00:05:11.483 --> 00:05:17.242
You're not saying that you're innovative and asking your reader to take it at face value.
00:05:17.632 --> 00:05:19.312
You're showing that you're innovative.
00:05:19.973 --> 00:05:21.353
But I know what you're thinking.
00:05:21.603 --> 00:05:22.583
Can't I do both?
00:05:23.093 --> 00:05:27.083
Can't I say that I'm innovative and then give the specifics?
00:05:27.502 --> 00:05:32.812
Again, I'd encourage you not to plant the seeds of doubt in your readers' minds.
00:05:33.353 --> 00:05:46.853
And if you do load up your resume or LinkedIn profile with those relatively meaningless words and phrases, you'll just end up making your materials longer, denser and ultimately harder to read.
00:05:47.182 --> 00:05:54.742
Your reader will need to, in their minds, do the editing work you probably should have done for them on the page.
00:05:55.492 --> 00:06:01.583
And they'll have to skip over the filler words and search for the ones that are relevant and based in fact.
00:06:02.093 --> 00:06:18.892
Based on my experience as an executive recruiter, I can tell you with certainty that the information I shared with clients when I was presenting candidates had to be based in the relevant facts and not the judgments that candidates might've been making about themselves.
00:06:19.358 --> 00:06:30.937
And those filler words and phrases, like experienced leader or accomplished professional, usually appear at the very beginning of a resume summary or LinkedIn About section.
00:06:31.418 --> 00:06:46.718
You could be signaling to your reader without meaning to that the rest of your resume or profile is going to be loaded up with low-value words and phrases, and they may lose interest and never make it to the relevant facts.
00:06:47.048 --> 00:06:59.798
This is especially true when you consider that the average time people spend reading a resume or a LinkedIn profile can probably be measured in seconds, or maybe it's a minute or two at the most.
00:07:00.137 --> 00:07:13.158
And if they're reading either of those things on a mobile device's screen, then your filler words and phrases will likely push the important information off the screen entirely.
00:07:13.709 --> 00:07:25.185
So if you find yourself relying far too much on filler words, maybe now's a good time to check, and you need to think about what's going to be truly meaningful and relevant to your target.
00:07:25.665 --> 00:07:28.935
Or maybe you're not even certain who your target is.
00:07:29.295 --> 00:07:31.036
Let's think through it together.
00:07:31.918 --> 00:07:52.319
Consider signing up for a Career Strategy Session with me at careernarratives.com/strategy and we'll work on identifying your target reader and the information that will be most valuable to them if they're considering you for what may be the next step in your career.
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