One of the lessons I have always tried to teach both of my children, most times with great difficulty, is that “life is not fair…get used to it.” I want to illustrate and expound upon this simple lesson today and point it in a direction we can expressly apply to our approach to writing resumes.

Whether you are writing copy, preparing a resume, composing a cover letter, writing a business plan, or coveting the content and the on-line success of those popular web-sites and blogs you visit everyday.

“Life is not fair…get used to it”

I visit web sites and blogs on a regular basis in an effort to develop a broader sense of illumination on how I can convey my message in a significant, meaningful way. What have I discovered, that true success is not something we duplicate by copying what others do but rather creating our own buzz, our own unique style and unforgettable delivery of our message. You make your own breaks by exploring those areas external to your own comfort zone or what is accepted (as long as it’s legal). You are your best selling asset when you flee from those self-inflicted boundaries we all impose on ourselves.

The same is true with writing your resume…

You can apply all the rules and standards we all see that are “accepted” and still not be successful in the delivery of your message. No matter what it is. Here’ a classic illustration of one of the most successful resumes I have ever developed. No, I am not going to entice you to buy it or show you a template of my own…I am going to give it to you. Only I am going to deliver it via a written idea, and let you explore your own possibilities with it. I spoke of it briefly in my post “The Unique You in your Resume” It’s about how you can deliver not only verbally, but visually and memorably.

We’ve all seen the typical resumes…they are everywhere, right? You can download them for free, you can pay for them, and you can pay someone else to create them for you. Have you ever thought of presenting your unique qualifications and talents in a way that nobody, or at least nobody in my experience, has seen?

Take at look at a newsletter that captures your attention, or the design of a magazine article that grabs you and ask yourself…why couldn’t I present myself to a potential employer in this way? Who says I have to use the standard accepted formats and designs? “They” do…but who are “They?” Industry professionals? Perhaps. Human resource experts…Yes, those too. Someone who wants to sell you his or her service, yes, thousands!

Take this tid-bit and explore your own possibilities and apply your own creativity and style. It may or may not work for you, but I, and others I have given this fresh, unique approach to have had remarkable success with winning an interview and capitalizing on its presentation in their interview.

Again, anything that is terrifically successful starts with an expression and idea extraordinarily unique and unusual. Risky, yes…but what do you have to lose? “Lifes not fair…get used to it” and capitalize on that truth with an outside-the-box idea.