15 February -- Is That Me?

Today I helped a gentleman rebuild his Structural Engineering résumé.  The one he brought in primarily showed his work experience and responsibilities.  At first he just wanted it checked.  I said it would be okay, but more effective if we did a skills type résumé.  At first he wasn't sure and was concerned about time.  As we started working on it, he began to doubt his skills.  I was just taking the things he had put on his résumé as responsibilities and turning them into skills.  I wasn't creating anything that wasn't already there and kept reassuring him of that.  At one point, he was even questioning if it should say Structural Engineer at the top.  I pointed to his degree (both bachelor and masters) and asked him what it said.
      "Structural Engineer," he read.
      "And that's what you are," I affirmed.
Together we continued to rearranged his résumé focusing on his skills.  It took us about an hour and half.  When it was finished he looked at it in amazement.
      "Is this really me?  I can't believe it."
He left happy and feeling much more positive about himself.