What to Know About Yourself Before Writing a Resume

Before you start writing a single bullet point, you need to get to know the product you’re selling: you.

The second “R” of resume development is reflection—and in my opinion it’s one of the most valuable steps in the entire process.        

Once you’ve clarified the reason for your resume (are you looking for new, better, or elevated employment?), the next step is to spend some time introspecting. This isn’t fluff. It’s fundamental. You can’t build a compelling, authentic resume if you don’t have a strong sense of what you bring to the table.

Why Reflection Matters

In your resume, you’re telling your professional story. And to tell it well, you need to understand your own narrative. Reflection is your chance to press pause and ask yourself:

• What are you passionate about?

• What gets you out of bed in the morning?

• What are your “superpowers”?

• What do you love about your job? What don’t you love?

• What are your fears? What’s holding you back?

• What are your long-term goals—personally and professionally?

• What values drive your work?

• Where do you want to be in 5 years?

  
  

The answers to these questions will help you write a resume that reflects more than just experience—they’ll help you show up with clarity and confidence.

You Can’t Market What You Don’t Understand

Reflection is about taking inventory. What skills do you naturally lean into? What have others always counted on you for? What lights you up? When you understand your strengths, your values, and your goals, you’re better equipped to position yourself for the right role—not just any role.

And when you don’t take this time? That’s when resumes start to sound robotic or scattered. That’s when your message gets lost in translation.

So take a beat. Get to know yourself before you start to market yourself.

You may just discover you’re even more awesome than you thought.

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Next up: We’ll walk through the third “R” of resume development—research—and how a simple Google search can unlock surprising insights about your future career path.