As you may have already heard, Lane Bryant is claiming that ABC and FOX censored their plus size lingerie commercial and refused to air it because the content was too racy for prime time TV. Lane Bryant is claiming the networks have a double standard and would have aired a Victoria’s Secret commercial with rail thin models during the same time slot. The networks have been denying that Lane Bryant was treated any differently than any other advertisers and that the whole thing is a publicity stunt by Lane Bryant.
But stunt or not, it has brought the issues of beauty, size, and unrealistic standards for womens’ bodies to the forefront…again. Yet even with the recurring press (remember the Dove campaign for real women ads from a few years ago or the more recent “stars without airbrushing” photo shoots?), many women still seem to have a problem coming to terms with “what they are really supposed to look like” because media messages continue to play on some sort of revolving loop inside our brains and designers continue to make size zero jeans with inseams for women who are 5′ 11” for the 12 women in the universe who can actually fit into them. No stranger to body dysmorphia myself, I struggle with all the same mixed messaging that so many of us seem to get caught up in every day. The funny thing is that the Lane Bryant controversy made me think about people’s perceptions about resumes and the misinformed tapes that are on continuous playback in many job seekers’ minds. Here are two of the tapes that need to be erased.
Resume Length
The number one question I get from people about resumes is “How long is it supposed to be?” And the majority of the population seems to be convinced that it must be one page or you will be immediately rejected. Because people have heard this “rule” so many times, they think it must be “the standard.” Or perhaps creating a two-page resume would be considered “racy” or certainly inappropriate for “prime-time hiring.” However, just like people, resumes come in all sizes and one length is not better than another; just different. I meet some people with 30 year careers who can tell their story in one page and I meet others with seven year careers that truly benefit from a two-page document. The important thing is to communicate your unique value at the beginning of the resume and then tell your story. And if it takes one page or two pages, that is fine.
Resume Design Features
Another thing that seems to make some people uncomfortable is the concept of incorporating visual elements into a resume. Charts, graphs, and other imagery can be a great way to solidify an important point about your candidacy but people seem fearful of adding design elements that are different than what they have seen on resumes in the past. Just like some aren’t used to seeing a more voluptuous model in a lingerie ad, some can’t wrap their head around a different way of showcasing their “assets” to employers.
Stop worrying about how you think a resume “is supposed to look.” Some employers will go for the 32B and others will go for the 38EE. The point is to tell your story. Be proud of the value that you bring to an employer and don’t be afraid to flaunt it.
A great analogy, Barbara, and another truly fabulous article. The one rule about resume writing is … there are no rules. It’s about the individual, their goal, and the right strategy to help them reach that goal.
Thanks Cindy!
It can be hard to get comfortable in your own skin but it is a must for a successful job search.
Great post Barbara,
One size does not fit all. Not in the world of fashion and not when it comes to resumes.
It’s a privilege to comment here. Thank you for the clever and insightful post.
I wanted to add that I always tell my clients that they have to feel 100% comfortable following their freshly written resume into the interview. So I couldn’t agree more–no matter what a resume’s size or shape (or anything else about it), a job seeker needs to believe it reflects his or her career accurately and positively. On the flip side, the resume needs to be a believable and targeted consolidation of a job seeker’s career history. Lane Bryant didn’t get this two-way fit, but a savvy candidate can.
~Amy
Amy,
Well put. Thanks for reading!
Rosa,
Heck, one size doesn’t even fit the same person all the time. My closet of mixed sizes can attest to that. And often one resume doesn’t fit for every position so it sometimes needs to be customized based on the needs of the employer. Thanks for commenting!
Great article!
Hi Beth!
So nice to hear from you and thanks for reading!
Great article, Barbara! Rings so true and as usual, your analogies are spot on!
Hi Barb,
The media creates so many opportunities for self-doubt on so many levels and perhaps no where is self-doubt more obvious than in a job seeker that is struggling in their search…it’s really a shame since there are so many talented (but currently unemployed) people out there. Sometimes the line between self-doubt and confidence is 5 or 10 lbs…other times it is the difference between having a job and not having one. It just seems to me that both situations are worth challenging. Thanks for reading.