You do not see the whole you.

Because you are not seeing all you can offer the employer, the 'You-nicity' that you want to show is missing out on showing the real, well, you!

There are many things that describe you and that can show the employer that YOU are the right person for the job, but they do not fit into today's "cookie cutter" type resumes.

Resumes and interview preparation.

Many resume and job preparation materials ask you to repeat basic information about jobs you have had or classes you have taken, but they do not look under the surface and find the other parts of your experience and personality that make you a stronger candidate for the job.

Sit down and make long lists about the HERO aspects of who you are and connect them to the way the employer is looking at the position and you will find those hidden aspects that make the whole "You-nicity" special.

See yourself differently.

H points you to consider your heart. How do you get along with others different from yourself? Can you show how you can appreciate the perspectives of others who will be your new clients? Look at your work and personal experiences to find those connections. How about your ability to work well with others or appreciate the concerns of the other people who have a stake in what your new employer would do?

E is for the energy you bring to the job. Describe the experiences where you had to bring energy and dedication to a situation - from high school sports to working double shifts.

R Your ability to relearn things and adapt to a changing environment is all part of the letter R. Getting an "A" in trigonometry is one thing, but your ability to learn something like an ailing parent's medicine regimen or for a waitress learning changes in a restaurant's menu shows your ability to learn and use what you know on the fly.

O refers to your ability to "own" the work that you do and take responsibility for your actions. Everyone 'talks the talk' of addressing weaknesses but can you give more specifics of how you can turn constructive criticism and improve your work, turn responsibilities into a chance to show leadership?

Now that you see yourself more clearly, here is how you can tell the employer.

Expressing in the employer's language.

The trick to this one is to put the HERO Method into the way the employer sees the job. Then you connect the dots.

H If your new job involves working with people who have disabilities, show how you can appreciate their worldview. Personal experience, college internships, volunteer work - it is all a way to show that you have the heart to work with people who have a different world view from yourself.

E Imagine the level of energy that you are expected to put into the new job and importance of delivering the same level of hard work on days you are feeling well to days you are not. Can you give the straight answer that you CAN put in that level of energy? Well, prove it.

R Employers need to be able to leave you alone to do the work taught to you knowing that you have the ability to learn and use what is learned in a relatively short period of training. Connect the dots of your ability to adapt - even in ways that are not eaily put on a 'typical' resume.

O In what is often an unspoken question, employers want to know that you will not blame others for the faults you have made and instead will grow from inevitable errors you will make. How can you show the employer has nothing to worry about where your work is concerned?

Together, maybe you can see sides to yourself that are not part of a cookie cutter resume. That would be fantastic... now go out there and find a way to express it and move on toward your dreams.