I had the honor and privilege of meeting Nick at the foot of Mount Rushmore. Luckily he didn’t suggest that we chat in his former “office” on the granite mountain face, 500 feet off the ground! – I’m petrified of heights! Nick told me he’s the last surviving driller from the construction. As I shook the hand that literally shaped history, I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to be hired for a job like his.
I asked Nick about the application process and whether he submitted a résumé to apply. “HA,” he laughed. “Back then you just showed up; if they needed help, you were hired.” He didn’t have a résumé and he certainly didn’t have to apply online. Nick’s jackhammer skills were a critical qualification for the job. I’m sure it was also helpful that he was ok dangling high off the ground on the face of an oversized commander-in-chief!
Unlike Nick’s job hunt, a job search today involves quite a bit more than just showing up. To be successful, you’ve got to write a résumé that speaks for itself. I asked Nick what he might include on a résumé about his job on Mount Rushmore. He told me “I’m 91, I don’t think I’ll be looking for work anytime soon!” He’s got a good sense of humor and makes a great point, but let’s examine what his résumé might look like anyway. A résumé is not a job description and writing just the basics of what Nick did everyday certainly wouldn’t make his résumé stand out. Take a look at this example:
BAD EXAMPLE: · Used a jackhammer to drill holes into a mountain. · Worked on a large team with a focus on safety.
Does that sound exciting? Can you recognize this as the work of someone who had a direct hand in history? Probably not. Both of these statements simply describe what Nick did. Armed only with this information, we can’t tell if he was a miner, a tunnel digger or something else. The above example isn’t amazing and it’s not effective in showcasing his skills or his historic contributions. Instead, imagine Nick wrote a résumé that’s full of !@#$%, the Signs of a Great Résumé.
Here’s an example of how someone like Nick could use the Signs of a Great Résumé to more effectively describe his experience.
GOOD EXAMPLE
· Achieved a 100% safety record on a team of up to 400 craftsmen while carving a 60-foot tall, granite sculpture of George Washington using a jackhammer and dynamite.
This statement uses # to describe the size of the team and the height at which they worked, and includes % to showcase the ! accomplishment of having a perfect safety record. The statement clearly conveys some important skills like using a jackhammer and working in hazardous conditions. It uses the Signs of a Great Résumé to give specific details that paint a clear picture for a recruiter. When you’re specific about your skills and experience, you’ll stand out from the crowd and you résumé will speak for itself.
I’m not sure if Nick’s team truly had a 100% safety record, but as far as 1930’s jobs go, Mount Rushmore was actually a pretty safe place to work. It’s said that the project’s leader, Gutzon Borglum had a great focus on safety and not a single worker was killed during the construction. The team worked thirty years before OSHA and on a worksite chock full of hazards including high altitudes, dangerous wildlife and of course, good ole fashioned dynamite. If you use the Signs of a Great Résumé, you’ll feel safe in knowing that your recruiter will “explode” with joy (couldn’t resist the pun) as your résumé is reviewed.
Nick Clifford wrote a book on his experience which you can buy on his site www.mountrushmorecarver.com. |
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