You'll find that in the job seekers actions minimal attention is paid to words. Words are thrown out at moments’ notice. Responsibility and accountability to those words is lacking in today’s society. When writing this article about Words Meaning Things, I am immediately struck by the reality of words in the resume. In the thousands of resumes that I review each month, I am taken aback by how many candidates choose their words with little or no thought. They never really think about how their resume is going to be perceived by the interviewer. Most come from the thought of a “one-size resume” will fit all of their aspirations. A serious job seekers will know that versioning is the name of the resume game.

With my corporate clients, I act as a third party interviewer and human resource trainer. One of the greatest telltale signs that I can immediately determine about candidates is their words in both the cover letter and resume. You can always tell the ones that were designed by the numerous books on the market. It is interesting to see how many resumes I receive that have virtually the same format and words in exactly the same place. One of my hobbies a few years ago was collecting resumes and filing them as to the "original" author. It surprised me to see about 25 percent of the resumes filled these files. It telegraphs that the candidate would never suspect that their thoughts would not be perceived as original by the interviewer. It is crucial for the interviewer to perceive the candidate as original and authentic in their thoughts. So from this point on when you are designing your resume, be original! You can always use resume books as a guideline, but not as a literal format.

Another area for words meaning things is of course the interview. I have conducted thousands of interviews and have found approximately 10 percent of all candidates truly research the company and rehearse their thoughts. Little preparation goes into the pre-interview stage. Most think that if they have the experience, it will speak volumes for them. It is as if they are saying “Why make a major deal out of preparing for interview when you can just adlib it? I know my industry. I know the questions they will be asking.” Yes you might know some of questions, but how much better you could have been perceived and valued as a candidate by doing your due diligence.

In this age of the Internet, it is very easy to research a company, and design some questions that you more than likely will be asked. Then you can create and rehearse creative problem solving answers. That's where the words come in. Your choice of words. What words you use and the ones you don’t make all the difference. Because most candidates do not rehearse, they are more prone to use unprofessional words or even slang.

Examples that project unprofessionalism and unpreparedness:

Genesis 11:1
At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words.

Ephesians 4:29
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Even Moses had a challenge with words:

Exodus 4: 10
But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me. I’m clumsy with words.”

Words are Powerful!

Numbers 16: 31
He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. 32The earth opened up and swallowed the men, along with their households and the followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. 33So they went down alive into the grave, along with their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished.

1 Samuel 28: 20
Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words.

Matthew 12: 35
A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.

Matthew 12: 37
The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.”

By: Jeff Farmer, CCC
©Christian Employment Resource, 2000