One of the things I’ve slowly been doing is updating my resume (or CV) as I hadn’t touched it since 2016.
Really, there’s no rhyme or reason for it as I am thinking of my future at the moment and considering when would be the best time to ‘retire’. Part of me thinks I have another few years of working in me yet. Another part of me would happily resign tomorrow.
Depends on my mood on any given day.
The thing is, I enjoy working (some parts like when I’m creating or learning stuff from colleagues). I can’t see myself not doing something in the future – especially if I am making a difference and feel part of a team. I’m always someone who has a finger in every pie. Yes, I entertain thoughts of pottering about in the garden with my pot plants, playing golf, learning French or knitting but there comes a time where I always want to do something as part of a team that is part of making the world a better place.
That last point is really important to me – doing something that gives back to the community – in some way is integral to my values.
I think it’s more about what I define as work as well. I am attracted to the idea of picking up short term contracts anything from a few weeks to a few months that are varied and interesting and that I could space out over the year. I could do a couple of 3 month contracts and intersperse the year with short term assignments here and there and it would work out the same for me.
Truth be told, I’d also happily do everything from receptionist to dog walking. I’m eyeing off jobs as movie and film extras. I entertain the idea of working as a receptionist or even working as a writer in a marketing team. A librarian’s assistant. I really don’t care. I think it’s more like doing something that keeps me talking to people, helping get their story out, being connected to local community.
I thought by updating my CV, it would force me to really think hard about the different roles and achievements in them over the last 10 years and distil them into 3 pages only.
I can’t bring myself to look at my LinkedIn profile because to me, it’s a dump of every detail, every project, every certification, every testimonial and recommendation. Sometimes LinkedIn is TOO MUCH. Just like with everything that is online nowadays, it’s overwhelming. There’s so much noise (much of it my own making).
So today I managed to write my new CV in less than 3 pages!
Trying to filter and pick out only the cream of the achievements and projects I have worked on and with organisations has allowed me to distill what’s important and to make visible the projects that showcase my skills in communications, community, content development and learning.
Will I ever use it?
I have no idea. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. That’s not the point.
Printing it and seeing it in my hands made it evident that over the last ten years, I have achieved a lot – and created so many things. Everything from building communities, authoring books, creating courses and masterclasses. I have helped so many people, teams and organisations.
I have done TONNES of stuff and all of it pretty good, challenging and rewarding at the same time.
It was only when I saw it on paper that the realisation hit me, “you don’t need to prove anything to anyone anymore. You got this, you know your stuff and you’ll fall on your feet whatever you decide to do.”
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com
Feel Free to Share Your Thoughts