Think in resume-speak
Perhaps after 20+ years in the resume writing and career industry, I have come to think in resume-speak more often than not.
I make my to-do lists using action verbs: create, write, prepare, or review. I haven’t found ways to weave ignite, rejuvenate, revitalize, spearhead, or champion into my to-do list. I will confess, however, one of my daily repeat reminder items is “Manage laundry.” Laugh if you will, but it is a management task for me and a never-ending one at that.
Yesterday, I was working on my submissions for Career Directors International’s Annual TORI awards. As a member of CDI, I can compete for the resume writing industry’s most prestigious Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI™) awards. I joined CDI last year and knew about the awards for a number of years. This year, after reading much encouragement from Laura DeCarlo, the Executive Director of CDI and personally knowing many of the past TORI winners, I thought I would submit some of my resumes.
Laura has been sending out reminders for months both to get registered and to make the deadline. She even offered a TORI mentoring course to help resume writers get on track. I thought about taking the course even though I have been writing resumes for a long time. I am sure that the course would have given me pointers that would have benefited me beyond the contest itself. Resume writing, like any skill, needs continuing education to stay on the cutting edge. This year though my investment is in the industry conferences, including CDI’s in October in San Diego.
The Deadline
But yesterday at 12 midnight Pacific time was the cut-off for submissions. Wouldn’t you know it, I was working hard to get my entries fictionalized and the project notes written yesterday afternoon. Fictionalize Tori’s was on my to-do list for several weeks now but I had other deadline-driven projects to deliver on time. Clients were waiting and they came first.
I posted on Twitter and Facebook that I was working on my Tori’s:
Julie Walraven: I have until 12 midnight tonight Pacific time to submit my #CDI Tori entries, anyone else deadline-driven?
Cindy Kraft, CFO Coach answered: Yes AND I’m an incubator!
I’ve heard Cindy say that before. She doesn’t procrastinate, she incubates. She can explain that more fully in the comments if she would like. For me, deadlines drive me to reach my goals. It seems that many of us in the career industry work that way.
Camille Carboneau Roberts also answered me on Facebook:
Camille Carboneau Roberts: My biz life revolves around deadlines! As the saying goes, if there wasn’t a deadline, nothing would get done… right? 
I often ask my clients if they have a deadline because I have to schedule projects in order of the deadlines. Like many other career professionals, I am often working with 5-10 clients at a given time and I need to know if someone needs their project for a specific target because those people will get expedited.
I remember Gayle Howard saying in 2008 that she was juggling 23 client projects at time. Every time she finished one, another project took its place. Definitely deadline-driven.
When I ask my clients to complete worksheets that ask for personality characteristics, deadline-driven, results-driven, goal-driven are often selected. I think people who get things done often use those words to describe themselves.
For me, deadline-driven is several things, it could be used on my resume but it also is how I approach life in general. How about you? Are you deadline-driven?
I agree with Camille that without a deadline (and my calendar pop-up reminders of that deadline) I would never get anything done. I carry non-deadline items on my to do list for months.
However, my deadline orientation is driven by incubation. I always thought I was a procrastinator (waiting until the last minute to do things) until I read a post about incubators. Those folks, me included, are actually subconsciously working on the project in our heads before the deadline hits. Because we do so much of the work in our heads, it allows us to be very focused and efficient in completing the project.
Today’s blog post is a perfect example. I’ve been incubating that one for almost a week and it actually came together in my head last night. I find that when I allow myself an incubation time, I think of different angles and details I would not have otherwise had time to consider.
I also love the empowerment that being an incubator over a procrastinator creates!
Thanks for the mention, Julie! And all the best with the TORI awards!
.-= Cindy Kraft´s last blog ..What Salary Do You Want =-.
Thank you, Cindy. I knew I had read more about your philosophy on procrastination vs. incubation and truthfully, this is how I work too. I cook many things up in my head before they get pounded out on the keyboard. I find clarity in the oddest places… the shower, mowing the lawn, working in the garden and other places. Thank you for the TORI encouragement! My goal is complete. I submitted. The outcome is with the judges but I now know I finished what I started.
I also want to say a public thanks for your latest post. I have already tweeted it and put it on Design Resumes FB page. I think everyone needs to know that you are speaking for the whole career industry with that post and we thank you!
Good blog entry, Julie! I’ve begun using resume-speak in my casual conversations lately so I guess I’ve begun thinking in it, too!
Thanks, Ed! It definitely is habit-forming! Blessings on your job search this week!
Wow! I have not heard of the term incubator. That does describes me. I am analytical by nature, and do think about projects well before I get to them. In fact, when I am quoting a project, I take mental notes and somehow they find their way back to the forefront when I go to do the project. (I wonder how long that will last though). LOL.
I am not a procrastinator by any stretch of the imagination. With me, it just has to make my to do list and it will get done. My time is usually scheduled at least 3-4 weeks in advance, but I have learned to allow/block time in my schedule for procrastinators…which happens most all the time. =)
Like Cindy, I take full advantage of technology and the pop up reminders. However, I now have Windows 7 and Microsoft did incorporate one of my ideas and named it Sticky Notes. My right monitor has become home to my myriad of to do lists using Sticky Notes. (That is not the only program I have open on that monitor though).
The other day, it occurred to me I should put the stickies in order according to the ‘flow’ of work. (It was a V-8 moment). For example, I have stickies titled: Calls to Make, Quotes, Pending, Deadline Projects, CDI, then personal ones such as To Do (for the person I care for), My personal To Do lists, and my other business to do’s. What I love about the Sticky Notes is I can copy and paste from one list to another and don’t have to re-write. Yay! We know that one of our talents as resume writers is juggling. Not everything makes a Sticky Note though…I have a whole pad of things incubating in my head. =)
Good luck on the TORI’s, Julie! I’m looking forward to meeting you at the conference!
Camille
Camille, you are my favorite source for Windows and Microsoft help! Now I have to find Sticky Notes… I was clueless. I do use a paper Daytimer just because I find that something paper makes me remember somethings better.
As I said on FB, the big deal with the TORIs was the challenge of meeting the deadline and being considered along with my peers and colleagues. If I end up with one, I will be delighted but the fact that I got them there and I know that they were some of my favorite clients made it fun. I had permission from so many great clients that it was hard to pick.
I will look forward to meeting you too Camille! I’m so glad you are going!
My Mac has sticky notes and it is a feature I use all the time for my to do list. Great minds ….!
.-= Cindy Kraft´s last blog ..What Salary Do You Want =-.
You two… inspiring! I just found my Sticky notes… now I have to figure out how to organize them. Where do they go if you close them? are they gone or back to a storage place?
Can’t speak to how they work in Windows/Word but on my Mac, I leave them open until I shut down. When I open them again the next day they are there – just as I’ve updated them.
.-= Cindy Kraft´s last blog ..What Salary Do You Want =-.