One of the things students in my Portfolio Preparation class have to do is to write a brief description of who they are, to be used on their resumes.
This isn't easy for most. For some, a kind of false modesty takes over. They don't want to "toot their own horn." Others have the opposite problem: they over-inflate their skills and knowledge, trying to be all things to all people.
How to get that middle road? I think these statements need to answer four questions, not necessarily in this order:
- What do I know? (education, skills, software competencies, etc.)
- Where have I been? (work experience, education, maybe relevant details about prior life)
- What is my philosophy? (specifically about the job area, i.e., design, illustration, video, etc.)
- What is my goal? (phrase your personal goal in terms of how it will help a potential employer).
And these things need to be written in one's own voice. The language and phrasing should fit the person, not be one-size-fits-all formal resume language.
A tall order, to put all the pieces together, but necessary. Next week we'll see how the students did.