Compiling a resume and at a loss for what to indicate in the “About Me” section? Many applicants face this problem. Some list personal qualities in it, others remember hobbies & others write a long essay about professional records. Who is right? These are some steps for self-presentation in a resume.
Let’s say right away that the worst option is to give up and leave this block blank. Although the “About me” section is one of the final sections of the resume, recruiters almost always read it to understand how the candidate positions himself. Therefore, we recommend: no dashes and formulaic wording.
So, what should be written about, and what should not?
3 Steps for Self-Presentation in a Resume in 2023
Professional achievements
First of all, in the “About me” section, briefly list the most important knowledge, skills and experience in solving professional problems that you have. If your competencies are extremely diverse, write only about what will help you get the desired position.
In the “About me” section, you can specify:
– work experience in the profession or position;
– work experience in the industry (if it matters);
– key knowledge and skills required for this particular vacancy;
– managerial experience (for managerial positions), the number of employees in direct or functional subordination;
– successful cases and projects that can distinguish you from candidates with similar experience;
– author’s developments (mainly for technical specialists).
Let’s give examples. So, an applicant for the position of a manager in the field of logistics can write in the “About Me” section:
“More than 15 years of successful experience in organizing and managing transport and warehouse logistics.
Management and building from scratch processes in large distribution centers.
Managing departments of up to 50 people, building a staff from scratch.
Optimization and automation of business processes.
Search, selection and management of contractors (logistics operators, transport companies).
Ability to build long-term working relationships with business partners and clients.
And here is an example of the self-presentation of a candidate for the position of commercial director :
“More than 15 years in sales (B2C, B2B).
More than 5 years of experience in the positions of department head and commercial director more than 50 subordinates.
Successful experience in launching start-up projects.
Strong negotiation skills and ability to build long-term relationships with clients and suppliers.
Management of direct sales and sales through distributors.
Successful experience of working with all federal network clients.
Supply chain management from production to store, warehouse and transport logistics management.
Good knowledge in the field of foreign economic activity.
In addition, the section should describe personal qualities that are useful for work in your professional field . Choose 3-4 traits of your character and write a detailed description for each, for example:
“Ability to work in a rapidly changing environment, the ability to achieve positive results in any circumstances.
Strong communication skills, ability to negotiate, ability to negotiate at any level, the experience of working in a multinational team & public speaking skills.
Analytical skills, the ability to quickly process information from various sources, the ability to see bottlenecks in business processes.
Leadership qualities, the ability to motivate a team to achieve results.
Tip : Try not to use template characteristics: every second candidate calls himself “sociable” and “stress-resistant”.
Important information that was not included in other sections of the resume
First of all, these are personal projects and social activities that you do in your free time. This can be the development of your own software, maintaining groups in social networks, participating in the organization of mass events or volunteering. Such examples will strengthen your self-presentation .
Want to get a job after a long break ? The “About me” section is the best way to explain the reasons for the pause in the work experience. Perhaps you were dealing with family issues, going through retraining, or taking a sabbatical.
Additional information
In addition to the information listed above, in the “About me” section, you can specify any additional information that you want to tell the future employer, for example:
— preferred work format (traditional, remote, hybrid);
– the presence of a car, a driver’s license and driving experience (if the intended work is related to driving a vehicle);
– the presence of a passport & visas (if the work is related to business trips).
When filling out the “About me” section, be concise, try to express yourself briefly, but succinctly. Avoid excessive creativity, categorical statements or any information that allows for ambiguous interpretation. Remember: in many ways, this section will allow the employer to decide whether to consider your candidacy or not.
We hope that now it will be easier for you to create a resume.
✱ The opinion of the authors and experts may not coincide with the position of the editors of the remotesalt.com .