Behind the résumé

“I’m just doing it for my résumé.”

We’ve all heard this phrase from our peers (or maybe even said it ourselves). In today’s hyper-competitive job market, many students are doing everything they can to get a leg-up on their competition.

But is going through the motions just for self-promotion worth it?

I would be lying if I said I have never considered how any of my activities would look to a potential employer. I’m a college student, too. I’m nervously watching the job market just like everyone else.

However, there is a clear line between doing something you care about and something a recruiter will care about.

It bewilders me that the résumé is one of the main highlights some student organizations use when pitching their groups to students.

Is that the message your club wants to send to potential members — that it only exists to fill lines on a piece of paper?

True dedication to something you believe in will yield not only great interview fodder, but also new and unexpected opportunities to learn and grow as an individual.
Take community service, for example. Bloomington is in the bottom half of all cities and towns in Indiana when ranked by per-capita income. There is a dire need for help at many of the myriad nonprofits in our area.

Instead of “doing it for the résumé”, do it for your fellow Indianans who need a helping hand; do it for yourself as you learn how fortunate you are compared to many in the state and world.

While volunteering is a great activity to put on your résumé, I feel like part of your service is to truly believe in what you are doing. A higher motivation than just looking good is necessary if you’re going to get much out of your effort.

Then there’s education. The vast majority of students at this school (and others) are here because a college degree is a strict prerequisite for an increasing array of jobs.

A bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma; a master’s is the new bachelor’s.
 
With internships and jobs often hard to come by, many students are willing to do literally anything necessary to pad their résumés.

As a student, though, it’s hard for me to look at the time I spend in and out of class and the amount of money I’m paying to be here simply as a means to a job.

Sure, it’s an investment in my future, but more importantly, it’s a chance for me to be exposed to new ideas and learn more than I ever thought possible.

Obviously, we are all inherently self-motivated. And when it comes down to it, almost all of us are here because we want to be self-sufficient adults with gainful employment someday.

But always remember that the résumé is not an end — it’s a means to an end. So discover something new, help someone in need or meet a new professional acquaintance — for the good of your personal own growth, not just your
résumé.

— biglehar@indiana.edu