Resumes are funny little things, aren’t they? An incredibly important piece of paper that can be the difference between the opportunity of a lifetime or a failed attempt in your desire to be better.

I doubt I’m alone when I express how disheartening it can be to get the canned rejection letter from an auto-bot. When in reality, you’re the perfect fit for a position– but unless your resume has a ridiculous collection of keywords and phrases, you’re likely to not even be viewed by a live human.

Or maybe they did look at your application?

And maybe your resume just sucks? Maybe you just suck?

You see this? This is how the job hunt can make you feel: unconfident, unmotivated, underqualified, and generally in poor faith of ever achieving those far off dreams. (Or maybe I’m completely alone in these emotions, but I have a keen sense that I’m not.)

There are so many things that I wish my resume could say to hiring managers. If only they could read between the lines to see and know the person sitting on the other side, someone who is anxiously awaiting the opportunity to prove herself but just needing someone to see between those lines.

“Why is there a gap in employment here?” Maternity leave. Oh, and I also went through a divorce and moved back in with my mom with an infant.

“Why did you leave this company?” Because my peer-turned-boss was insecure that my abilities would outshine theirs, so he pushed me to quit a job I loved (and then quit two weeks later himself.)

“And this one?” Well, the commute was unpredictable and I’m a single mom so I have a limited span of when I can drop-off/pick-up my kid from school. It was also said during the interview process that WFH two days a week was an option…until it wasn’t.

“Your reference said you had terrible attendance.” Well, yes and no. I was dealing with depression and anxiety during that period so it’s possible my attendance was undesirable, but I can guarantee you that the quality of my work never suffered.

“Didn’t you say you had leadership experience?” I do, yes at a restaurant. “Well, no, that doesn’t apply.” Oh, well I’m pretty sure leaders are made throughout every facet of life, not only when sitting at a desk. I’ve dealt with unexpected pregnancies, employees living out of their car, and irate guests who only left because they were sitting in the back of a cop car. I’ve been spit on. I’ve had upper management call me in at 5 in the morning after getting home at 3 to pick up a rag that I forgot to put in the bin. I’ve been tested and pushed, but every day I came back. And even better? I came back with the same smile.

…

So, no. I may not have the most impressive resume out there. But it’s the things that managers don’t ask that make me who I am.

Can you help me put together this presentation? I don’t understand how LinkedIn works, can you help me? Can I help you carry that to your car? I’m having a birthday party for my daughter; can you design some invitations?! Did you bring in these homemade cupcakes? (Ok, yes, that last one was for suck-up purposes.)

I’m a team player. I praise colleagues and highlight their success. I accept defeat as my own and I make sure that every failure provides a lesson. I don’t stop when I clock out. I’m a marketer, I’m a storyteller. The world around me influences the ideas that I bring with me to work. I don’t ignore articles or tweets because they’re work related, I read them because I enjoy my job and I’m constantly striving to learn more.

Maybe that should be in my cover letter (if those even get read.)

I’m not making up excuses for myself, I’m just saying that my resume doesn’t define me. Everyone can present the same set of skills, experience, and credentials; there are enough people in the job market to offer an option or two for opens roles. I am advocating that each person is made unique by the experiences that they’ve had. The trials and tribulations that they’ve overcome and their continued positive outlook despite everything fighting against them. So maybe don’t ask me about the biggest challenge I’ve overcome at work – to which I’ll likely answer with an over-the-top scenario from like a year ago – ask me the challenges that I’ve overcome just this morning or this week. I guarantee you’ll be just as impressed, if not more.

I’m asking for a chance to be better and the confidence to make a difference. All I want to do is make my daughter proud (and actually pay my bills on time for once.)