Is it possible for a recruiter or hiring manager to get the impression you are arrogant when reviewing your resume? Is it possible that your answers to typical interview questions, even the classic “tell me about yourself," leaves the interviewer the impression – maybe just a first impression – that you a self-absorbed – and arrogant?
The answer is yes – but it's not that easy because the lines can be very hard to define among confidence, humility, and arrogance. Related:Would HR Managers Review YOUR Resume? My interest in this is prompted by several resumes that I've been asked to critique recently – the last one in particular. The individual's resume was not very well constructed – but buried in document were some indications of a very accomplished individual. But what stood out on the resume on both my first (“first impression") read through and second very careful examination was my conclusion the person is clearly motivated by receiving formal recognition. The impression I could not ignore after multiple readings was that this person might be “arrogant," or at a minimum, is convinced that formal awards are a key part of his experience. The conclusion that he's strongly motivated by formal rewards is good information – if I'm recruiting for an organization that, in fact, provides a high number of formal rewards. If not this might be a person to become quickly dissatisfied without receiving formal, “employee of the month" type awards. I believe there's a strong link between recognition and retention and a key part of that is knowing how an employee wants to be recognized. Specifically, in this particular case, the resume listed six specific “awards." They were not included as the result of something he accomplished – although in fact they had to be. They were listed as specific “Experiences." He actually listed receiving the same award three different times. I'm personally familiar with this particular reward – but I'm proud of what I actually did to receive the award – not just that I received it. In this particular example, I can speculate from the “experiences" what led to the awards – but I can't be sure when multiple “experiences" are listed along with the award.
Recognition and awards should be on your resume
I am absolutely not saying that recognition and awards should be deleted from a resume. But they should be part of the results of something you did to earn the award – not just earning the award. Winning Sales Person of the Year is significant but that's not the job. How about these:- Generated $200+ million in sales in each of the last two years, increasing sales in one territory by 20% and opening a new territory the second year, earning Sales Person of the Year award both years.
- Developed, implemented, including training 125 member sales force, an Excel-based sales reporting system that featured pivot tables and macro-based generation of reports. Decreased monthly reporting time by 8-10 hours per salesperson. Received annual “Sales Innovation" award.
