It's Okay to Be Inspired by Other People's Resumes in Your Field

Chris Morgan
Posted by in Career Advice


Career building can be a highly competitive experience, and crafting a resume that stands out can be tricky! If you are trying to create the perfect resume in your field, you’re likely familiar with the hurdles that come with crafting one. One way to help make your resume stand out is by learning how others in your field did theirs. It's easy to overlook the benefits of drawing inspiration from other resumes; however, this approach can be a game-changer when crafting your own.

Here are a few reasons why it is okay to gather inspiration from other people's resumes, and how doing so can boost your chances of securing a position in your chosen field:

Learn By Example

Crafting a resume entails more than just listing qualifications, experience, and skills. A resume showcases both the achievements and challenges faced by those in the field you're applying for. Having insights on what works and what doesn't in your industry can help shape your understanding of the content, formatting, and skills you should include in your resume.

Think of it as peeking into the playbook of professionals--you get to see which qualities are the most sought after, what type of experiences are valued, and how accomplishments are showcased. Understanding these factors may put you in a better position to secure a role in your industry.

Explore Diverse Resumes

No two career paths are the same, and neither are any two resumes. Everyone brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to the table. By exploring a diverse range of resumes, you may find ideas and approaches for your resume that you might not have considered otherwise.

Whether you're learning how someone successfully navigated a career transition or simply discovering a new way to highlight your qualities and attributes, finding inspiration through a diverse set of resumes is an excellent way to provide yourself with a structure for curating your unique resume.

Boost Your Confidence

Crafting and presenting a resume can be challenging, especially if you’re new to it. Drawing inspiration from the resumes of others, especially if you're just beginning your career journey, can help boost your confidence when presenting or sharing your resume with employers. Seeing tangible examples of successful resumes can reassure you that your resume is going in the right direction. In addition to building a compelling resume, you may become more confident in your professional interactions even after securing a position!

View Timely Resumes

In tandem with the job market, resume expectations are dynamic and constantly changing. By staying on top of current trends and best practices for resume building, you can ensure that your resume stays relevant and impactful in the current competitive landscape. Drawing inspiration from recent resumes can help solidify your understanding of which design elements to use, what keywords are impactful, and terminology specific to your field.

Learn From Success

Within every impressive resume lies a story of perseverance and hard work. By evaluating the resumes of successful professionals in your field, you may gain valuable insights and strategies that propelled them toward success. These success stories may become invaluable learning opportunities to help you better navigate your career journey.

Be Authentic

While you may be tempted to imitate the resumes you see, remaining true to your unique professional identity is essential. Gathering inspiration from others’ resumes is not about copying their resumes exactly. Instead, it's about discovering which ideas align with your experiences the most and how to use them to showcase your professional attributes in your own way.

So, there you have it. In the competitive scene of career building, inspiration can be found in entirely unexpected places, including other people's resumes. Having an idea of the types of resumes that stand out amongst others in your field can help you achieve success. Thus, there is undeniable value in drawing inspiration from other people's accomplishments, especially when it comes to creating your resume. 

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

Jobs to Watch