Resume Genie
Meet Aaron, a young man on a quest, who is trying to land a job in an area that he is really interested in and will help prepare him for the future. To get this job he needs a resume. But how does he do this? He has never prepared one before and it’s not like he has a resume genie around in a bottle to help. So what to do?
Listen to this old-time radio drama to find out how Aaron, our job seeking hero, gets a fabulous resume together that will impress his potential employer.
Transcript of Resume Genie
NARRATOR: APH CareerConnectÂŽ, a program of the American Foundation for the Blind, presents “Aaron’s Adventures in Employment.” Episode one: The Resume Genie.
Our story begins with our job-seeking hero, Aaron, at his bedroom computer, working furiously on his resume. He has a job interview tomorrow and needs to give his potential employer a description of his education and experience. It’s getting late and Aaron is getting nowhere!
AARON: AAARGH! I don’t know what to do, I just sound stupid. I’m only in high school, what can I say about my education or experience? I hate this, I hate this, I HATE this! They’ll never hire me. AAARGH!
[Knocking sound]
Whaaat??
AARON’s MOM: Hi honey, it’s mom. Is everything ok?
AARON: No. I have to have a resume for a job interview tomorrow and I don’t have anything good to put on it.
AARON’s MOM: I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think. Can I see it?
Okay, let’s see. You start with your name, address and phone number. That’s good, honey!
AARON: That’s all that’s good.
AARON’s MOM: And you have a goal here, that’s good. “To make money so I can take my girlfriend on dates?” Oh, Aaron, really, do you think an employer will care about that?
AARON: I don’t know.
AARON’s MOM: Honey, a resume is how you SELL yourself to an employer. Think about the amazing qualities you have that they would be most interested in.
AARON: Well, I don’t have any. This is stupid.
AARON’s MOM: Well, keep working, you’ll figure it out. Here, I brought you some juice, maybe it will stimulate some brain cells.
AARON: What kind is it?
AARON’s MOM: I don’t know, something new, I guess, that I found at a little market downtown. The packaging is very fancy. These juice bottle designs are so creative these days! Good luck, sweetie. Call me if you need anything.
AARON: [Muttering] Whatever. Maybe I just don’t need a job. There’s plenty of time for that later. Who cares? This resume is stupid, people should hire me because I’m cool, not because of a stupid piece of paper.
Hmm, this juice bottle feels kind of weird, I wonder what it tastes like? [Popping sound]
[Coughing] What in the… [Cough] What kind of juice is this? [Cough] It’s smoking!.
GENIE: [Booming voice] I am the Great Resume Genie! Your employer’s wish is my command!
AARON: [Stammering] Who is it? Who are you?
GENIE: [Normal voice] Okay, okay, I’ll repeat myself, since you weren’t listening the first time.
[Booming voice] I am the Great Resume Genie! Your employer’s wish is my command!
AARON: [Flabbergasted] Ohmigosh! Did you just come out of a fruit bottle?
GENIE: Oh, yes. Thank you for releasing me. I would have expired and been recycled in just a few more days. Whew, that was close.
AARON: Wow, this is awesome! My very own genie! Do I get three wishes? Can I wish to be a rock star? Can I wish to be a millionaire? Can I wish…
GENIE: [Clearing his throat, in an annoyed tone] Don’t you kids know how to listen these days? I am a RESUME Genie. I can only grant wishes related to your RESUME!
AARON: Oh, I’ve never heard of that kind of genie before.
GENIE: [Pompous tone] Well, it’s much more competitive in the genie business these days. You really need to diversify and specialize in your area of expertise.
AARON: [Half-heartedly] Oh, well that’s just great.
GENIE: So, tell me what you have so far that we can work with.
[In a perplexed tone] “My special skills include playing guitar and video games. I love listening to rock music and eating mashed potatoes.”
[Frustrated] Oooh, I see we have a lot of work to do.
AARON: [Irritated] Yeah, well, here are my three wishes, then. Number one: make me a Harvard graduate. Number two: give me 10 years of experience at MTV. And number three: why don’t you just wave your magic wand or whatever you dumb genies do and give me the stupid job.
GENIE: [Sarcastically] Well, you know, Aaron, I could do that, that is definitely possible and within the realm of my expertise. But ask yourself, would that really help you unleash the power that’s inside of you?
AARON: Huh?
GENIE: The real magic is already right inside your mind.
AARON: Oh brother, not only did I get a dumb resume genie, you’re some sort of self-help guru, too! Hooray! So, what kind of wishes can I make?
GENIE: Aaron, that’s where you’re making your biggest mistake. This resume is not about YOU, or YOUR wishes.
AARON: It’s not?
GENIE: No! A resume should demonstrate how you will fulfill the wishes of your employer.
AARON: Well, how am I supposed to know that?
GENIE: Well, it’s not hard. Basically, all employers have the same three wishes. They want an employee who has a proven record of reliability, versatility and creativity.
AARON: Oh, well, that’s me! Wish granted!
GENIE: Not so fast. Your resume doesn’t reflect that. In fact, this resume is an employer’s worst nightmare.
AARON: So help me fix it!
GENIE: [Music starts playing] Ok. Let’s start with employer wish number one. RELIABILITY.
[Singing]
What does an employer want?
What do they desire?
Of all the many applicants
Which one will they hire?
Reliability is key
It’s all about the work you show
Can you start and finish on time
And help the company grow?
Show them you’re reliable
Show them you are true
Your resume should always say
You’ll do what they need you to do.
AARON: [Sarcastically, clapping] That was great.
GENIE: Employers want to know if you will show up when they need you and work hard when you are there. They want to know that you have a history of proving that you will follow through on what you say you will do, and when you say you will do it!
AARON: My resume doesn’t say that?
GENIE: No! Your resume says that the most important things in your life are your girlfriend and your guitar.
AARON: Hmmm, true, but…
GENIE: AbraCurriculumVitaeCadabra!!
AARON: [Coughing] Dude, what’d you do?
GENIE: Take a look at your computer, Aaron.
AARON: Oh wow, you added that I volunteered as a counselor at summer camp last year. That’s cool, I almost forgot about that. And that I have a 3.8 GPA, and that I won that speaking award. You think that’ll help?
GENIE: Of course! All of these things show that you have been responsible in following through on the things you are asked to do. That’s RELIABILITY.
AARON: [Excited] Awesome! What’s next?
GENIE: [Music begins playing again] Employer wish number two. VERSATILITY.
[Singing]
What does an employer want?
What do they desire?
Of all the many applicants
Which one will they hire?
Versatility is key
It’s all about what you know
Do you have the expertise
To help their company grow?
Show them you are versatile
Show what you can do
Your resume should always say
You work and learn hard too.
Aaron, I think it’s great that you play video games. [clapping] Really, that’s a talent you should be proud of. But you’re applying for a job in the health care field. While your ability to gun down robots using a variety of weaponry is impressive, I’m not sure it helps your case here. AbraCurriculumVitaeCadabra!
AARON: Okay, so this time you added that I have experience in different computer programs, that I earned my first aid badge in scouts and that I am in the honors biology and chemistry classes. And you added that I want to be a doctor someday. Cool!
GENIE: All of these things show your potential employer that you bring a lot to the table, and that you have interest and passion in the kind of work they do. They can look at your resume and think of many different ways you can help them. And they know that you are not afraidâactually excitedâto learn the things you don’t know yet.
AARON: Cool! Okay Genie, one more wish!
GENIE: The final employer wish is CREATIVITY. Grab your guitar, Aaron, and play along!
[Singing, with Aaron on electric guitar]
What does an employer want?
What do they desire?
Of all the many applicants
Which one will they hire?
Creativity is key
It’s all about passion and more
Can you think of new ideas
That will help their company grow?
Show them creativity
Show them you have flair
Your resume should always say
You’ve got good ideas to spare.
[Aaron riffing on his guitar]
GENIE: [Surprised] Dude, you rock!
AARON: Thanks, Genie.
GENIE: Creativity is important to employers, not just your skills in painting or music, but how you creatively solve problems and bring new ideas to the table. While your first draft of your resume was [clearing his throat] definitely unique, you want to highlight the creative skills you have that work in their workplace. AbraCurriculumVitaeCadabra!
Tah-dah! I have magically transformed the look of your resume, with a clean layout and design. I wonder if the dual use of both Arial and Times Roman is too much? [In a wild and crazy voice] You don’t want to be too crazy with fonts.
AARON: Why does it matter what it looks like?
GENIE: Well, the creative resume tells employers that you know how to organize and arrange information in a way that appeals to people.
AARON: And you’ve added that I created the database for the Latin Club, and went to Space Camp. I can see why that would matter to an employer who appreciates creativity.
GENIE: Hit print on that, baby. Aaron, your resume is DONE! [Applause]
You see, Aaron, you never needed magic to do this. You just needed to think about your employer’s three wishes for someone reliable, versatile and creative. Now you can go to your job interview with confidence and pride.
AARON: Right on! Thanks, bro.
GENIE: Well, my work here is done. I’m off to another fruit juice bottle. Rock on, Aaron, and good luck on your interview… [His voice trails off]
AARON: Good-bye, Resume Genie! I’ll never forget you!
[Music playing]
NARRATOR: It looks like Aaron is ready for his job interview and ready to make his employer’s wishes come true. But, will he survive the trials and tribulations of the first day on the job? Tune in next time for another installment of Aaron’s Adventures in Employment, brought to you by CareerConnect, a program of the American Foundation for the Blind. For more information, go to aphcareerconnect.org.