Ask Liz: What's an "S" Got to Crow About?

Dear Liz,

I love your idea of "I Left a Wake" statements in your resume, but I know my resume is pure "I Showed Up" drivel. The thing is that I'm not a leader type. I took the DiSC profile and I'm almost all "S." I like to keep the home fires burning. I like to keep things organized, rather than to start things. What can I say on my resume that will make me appealing to employers?

Thanks,

Marie-Anne


Dear Marie Anne,

The great thing about "S" types (steadfast, stable, solid) is that these are employers' favorite folks. As you say, they keep the engines turning! You can crow about your "S" characteristics in your Summary, your cover letters and even the sections of your resume that describe each job. Here's a bit of "S"-crowing to get you started:

"At Sympatico Systems, I ran the publications schedule and coordinated ads with our tech folks, sales reps and clients. My forte is taking projects that have become unfocused with parts strewn about, and getting them back on track. I'm a bit fanatical about weekly reports arriving on time, keeping processes current and functioning, and knowing that my colleagues are well-informed. I thrive in a job where the pressure's on to keep scores of large and small items from falling through the cracks."

This is pure "S" lingo. You don't have to single-handedly get a new product to market or steal the competitor's biggest customer, to be a star. As you know Marie-Anne, there's more than one way to be a leader. :-)

Cheers -- Liz