How Sherlock Holmes Got Me a Job
Why it’s important to be yourself in job applications
I stepped out of the elevator into this gorgeous, modern office space in downtown Toronto, guarded by glass doors. I tried to subtly wipe my sweaty palms on my pants as I approached the door to be buzzed in by the receptionist.
After a brief explanation of who I was and why I was there, I was ushered into a small meeting room by a friendly employee who set up the TV screen for a video call with my interviewer.
“Alright, let’s be calm and professional. Smile. You’ve got this.” I thought to myself.
The interview started with all the basic questions about my skills and experiences. So far so good. Then, my interviewer asked me a question that I never expected.
“Do you watch Sherlock?” he said.
I let out a muffled umm.
“Yes, it’s actually my favourite show” I responded.
We spent the next ten minutes discussing the current season and our theories for the next one. I felt completely at ease for the rest of the interview. I felt like myself, not the polished, professional version I had been going for. My nerves dissipated and I left the interview with a smile on my face.
A couple of days later, I received a call saying that I got the internship.
Who knew watching Netflix would come in handy?
Now, you may be wondering why my interviewer brought up the BBC show, Sherlock, in my first interview.
He brought it up because that was a little piece of myself that I decided to share on my resume, under the “Interests” section at the bottom of the page.
Most people think that everything on their resume and in their interview needs to be strictly professional. To a degree, I agree with that. This is a job you’re applying to after all.
Who are you, really?
What is often forgotten or omitted are the traits and interests that make you, you. The hobbies, the sports, the books, the movies — all of those interests help you to stand out amongst candidates for a job.
Those interests are what help an interviewer to determine if you’re the type of person they would chat with on a coffee break or at lunch. Those interests help paint a fuller picture of who you are outside of your experiences and accomplishments. They help answer the question:
Is this someone I would enjoy working with?
Your resume is a reflection of you
I don’t know who else was interviewed for the internship I got. Maybe I simply had the most relevant experiences for the job. Yet, I do think that a brief conversation about the greatest detective of all time really sealed the deal because I was able to connect with my interviewer on a human level. During that part of the interview, we were just fans of a great TV show discussing our favourite episodes.
When you’re writing your resume and have a little extra space at the bottom (one line even), I encourage you to write a couple of things that you love to do. You never know what you may have in common with the person reading it.
This one-page is a reflection of who you are as a professional seeking employment, but don’t pass up the opportunity to connect in a personal way too.
Looking for more resume writing tips and advice? Visit birchwoodresumes.ca for resources and online coaching to help you take your resume to the next level.
