What to write about yourself in your resume, and why it is so important

The resume item called «About Me» is called the strangest section. What to tell there? Some people leave it blank, and some present themselves there as too extraordinary a person. The «About Me» section is designed to present yourself to your employer in a beneficial way, to get into his heart. That is why it is so important to think carefully about its content.

Why talk about yourself on your resume

The purpose of the About Me section is to show the employer that you are perfect for the job you want. Therefore, everything that is said there should be related to the future job. Before making a resume, you need to get acquainted with the mission and philosophy of the company, ask what kind of employees - the company's website often has a section on employees, and social media can tell a lot.

What to write in the «About Me» section

There are no clear limits on what you can say about yourself on your resume. The main thing is to consider the specifics of the company and the job. An accountant or programmer is evaluated more by skills and experience. Workers in a photo studio, advertising agency or art gallery are expected to be creative and have an unconventional view of the world. In this case, it is worth telling about yourself in a moderately original way, remembering that too much creativity can discourage recruiters. Let's take a closer look at what you can say about yourself on your resume.

Tell about your hobbies

If the programmer writes that he's fond of playing guitar in the country style, it will be unnecessary detail, because such a hobby is not related to the profession. Their talents are presented as skills useful for work, for example:

• At university I organized forums and conferences - I know how to design a program and conduct it, controlling the attention of the audience.
• Acting school taught me to speak in public and not to be afraid to communicate with different people.
• I am engaged in breathing practices that help me to remain calm in stressful situations and not to have conflicts with people around.
• In my free time I knit, as an accountant it helps me to develop attentiveness and diligence.
• Passion for soccer has helped me work harmoniously in a team and react quickly to surprises.

Talk about your personality

It is not enough to simply list attractive character traits such as responsibility, punctuality, determination, hard work. They can be presented in an unusual way:

• I love new, unconventional tasks;
• bring all projects to completion on time;
• I come to work among the first, and leave among the last.

What to tell about your approach to work:

• Communicate your preferences for work organization according to the position. If it involves working independently, it's appropriate to talk about your ability to work on a project with concentration without help. When there will be close interaction with the team, it is worth saying about his love of working in a team, the ability to get along with different people.
• A desirable rhythm of work, if it corresponds to what is expected in the desired position. You could say I work at a fast pace, can switch between tasks quickly, or work effectively on a project at a steady pace, paying attention to detail.
• Explain my approach to the business: freedom in decision making and methods is important, or the opposite - clear requirements and a specific plan of action.
• If there is going to be a complete change of activity, in the About Me section you can explain why this was necessary. It is worth explaining the reason for a break in seniority, e.g. for child care.

The «About Me» section of your resume should not repeat information from other sections. A description of your work style, useful skills, and personality can be crucial to an employer's decision to make an appointment.