The Curriculum Vitae, the resume, the one pager which lists the places you've worked, the roles you've held, the achievements you've made. It's basically currency in getting a job - it's the first thing which most employers will discover about you, long before you've even had a chance to meet. 95% of the time, you'll be filtered out based upon your CV alone - so it's little wonder that so many people put so much effort into their resume, to give themselves the best possible chance to getting an interview or an opportunity to speak further with a potential employer or client.
But, in modern work, does a list of dates of previous employment really shine a valuable light upon what you'd bring to a new company? Does it give you the space to explain your ways of working, your values, your approach, your mindset and attitude, or all of the intangibles you'd bring to a role?
Perspectives are shifting on whether employers hire for fit, or hire for growth. It's increasingly recognised that whilst capabilities are essential, it's emotional intelligence, the ability to listen, learn and collaborate well, and a drive to develop over time - which are the markers of a great employee. Tangible skills can be learned on the job, but someone's way of working, aptitude and attitude are harder to change. So when employers look towards new candidates joining the team - there's a need to understand how they might approach their work, not just what work they've done before.
The missing but critical information from your work experience.
That's why Manual of Me is increasingly being used as the 'missing page' of the CV. Not just a schedule of dates and jobs, but exposing more into how the individual works, their preferences, motivations, needs and indeed more of the operational aspects of how someone works, such as available hours, location, ability to travel, communication preferences, etc.
Candidates could opt for a two-page resume - focusing on their past experiences on one side, and their ways of working on the other. Employers will immediately have a greater level of depth of understanding of a candidate, and appreciate that the individual has worked on self reflection and self awareness.
Even if you don't share the entire manual with a potential new employer, having a bank of insightful observations about what value you bring to a team, what situations you thrive within, moments you're proud of, and an understanding of how you do your best work not only provides you with useful content for your resume and a personal statement or cover letter - it also helps you prepare for those interview questions about how you work. No more on the spot responses - you've already done the work to explore and understand how you work well.
And for recent graduates or individuals who are still early in their career, having less work experience doesnt need to be a barrier - covering the interpersonal skills you've developed already will help support your employer see the potential in you as a candidate.
We are seeing more coaches and employment support organisations using Manual of Me to give their cohorts an all important step up in communicating their suitability for a potential role.
Using a Manual of Me to extend and enhance your resume is just another one of the powerful ways in which the concept can be valuable. Create your own Manual of Me for free, or contact us if you're interested in learning more about how you could support individuals building their resumes using Manual of Me.
