The Resume That Reflects You | Pooja Anandani | TEDxTechnocrats Institute Of Technology

Key Concepts

Resume as a mirror, identity transformation, owning your story, showcasing achievements, positive mindset, brainstorming, breakthrough, self-perception, redefining your journey.

The Resume as a Mirror: Reflecting Your True Self

The speaker, Pooja Nandani, opens by emphasizing that a resume should be more than just a list of qualifications and responsibilities. It should be a reflection of the individual's personality, learnings, and unique journey. She stresses that changing the way a resume is written can change how people perceive themselves and how others perceive them.

From Failure to Redefinition: Pooja's Personal Journey

Pooja shares her personal experience of entrepreneurial failure with her first startup. This failure led to a period of unemployment and a struggle to create a resume that accurately reflected her skills and potential. She felt her resume was technically accurate but emotionally hollow, failing to capture her creativity, grit, and learnings. This experience led her to the realization that she needed to focus on who she was becoming, not just what she had done. This realization sparked a period of self-reflection and brainstorming, ultimately leading to a breakthrough in her self-perception and career path. She emphasizes the importance of asking oneself, "What do I want the world to know me as?"

Quote: "I don't want people to know what I had done, I want the world to know who Pooja Anand is becoming."

Overcoming the Struggle: Owning and Showcasing Your Story

Pooja highlights that many professionals struggle not with what they have done, but with how to own and showcase their achievements. People often perceive their daily tasks as ordinary, making it difficult to recognize and articulate their value on a resume.

Case Studies: Transforming Perceptions Through Resume Writing

Pooja shares four case studies to illustrate how resume writing can lead to identity transformation:

1. The Teacher: Transformed from "just a teacher" to a "strategist empowering the youth through education and shaping the future of India."
2. The Mother Returning to Work: Presented not as someone with a gap in their resume, but as a woman who "built herself, reinvented herself, built out on her resilience, and mastered her time management abilities."
3. The Laid-Off Finance Professional: Reframed from a victim of circumstance to someone who "built long-term relationships, a matter of trust and long-term value creating." This individual had 22 years of experience in finance.
4. The Accomplished CEO: Shifted the focus from personal achievements to the legacy he wanted to leave behind, becoming a leader who is "bringing up future leaders of this country."

These examples demonstrate how a resume can be used to redefine an individual's identity and highlight their unique contributions.

Three Key Learnings: Principles for Effective Resume Writing

Pooja outlines three key learnings from her experience:

1. Uniqueness: Every resume is different and has a story worth telling. It shouldn't be tailored to fit a generic job description or a "chat box."
2. Self-Reflection: You cannot write your resume effectively until you have faced it yourself and asked critical questions about your accomplishments, strengths, and career goals. This involves identifying what you are proud of, what you are downplaying, and whether your career goals are aligned with your values.
3. Positive Mindset: A positive mind is essential for achieving your desired career goals. Shifting from a negative self-perception to a belief in your own potential is crucial for success.

The Power of Brainstorming and Breakthrough

Pooja emphasizes that a breakthrough in self-perception and career direction is only possible through brainstorming. This process can be messy and uncomfortable, but it is essential for identifying your true value and crafting a compelling resume. She encourages viewers to trust the process and not give up, even when it feels difficult.

Conclusion: A Resume as a Journey of Self-Discovery

Pooja concludes by reiterating that a resume is more than just a document; it is a reflection of your journey, your values, and your potential. She encourages viewers to start thinking about their resume today, not just when they need a job. By embracing self-reflection and showcasing their unique story, individuals can create a resume that not only gets them hired but also helps them redefine themselves.

Quote: "A resume is not just a piece of paper or parchment or just a document or, you know, it's like a mandate in an organization, but it is a paper that defines you as an individual."