productivemarketer's picture Submitted by productivemarketer on
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Career Management

Our skip-level VP has requested, through my boss, copies of our division's resumes. My direct has already submitted her resume to my boss, and I was cc:ed on a few interchanges where my boss grilled her about the bulleted achievements she listed.

I'm now working on my resume, and I'm concerned about whether/how to word my achievements at my organization, since I worked hand-in-hand with my boss from the beginning on everything.  My boss will preview my resume before it goes to the VP, and I'm a little concerned about the potential for competition with her for "steel-cage-death-match" implications.

Should I keep the achievement bullets and risk conflict with my boss over who gets credit for wh, or should I leave them out and risk not looking as good for the VP? The VP is at the headquarters, and my division is at another branch, so we have very limited face time with him.

Thanks for the advice.

buhlerar's picture
Submitted by buhlerar on Wednesday August 31st, 2011 5:31 pm

How many accomplishments could you possibly have that no one else contributed to?  Sounds like you're just considering taking off accomplishments where the boss was involved, not every accomplishment you've ever had.  I have no inside information about why the VP is asking for this, but I'm pretty sure you want to put your best foot forward so include your best accomplishments.

As for your concern that the boss would object, I don't see why both of you couldn't claim the same thing if you both worked together on it.  The only difference is that your boss can claim your work (and those of your coworkers) but you can only claim your own (and your directs).  That's the point of being a manager -- you're given a team and expected to accomplish something as a team.  So if you're worried about who gets credit -- you both do.  Hopefully the VP would see through any effort by your boss to take credit at your expense, since there's no real conflict here.

And if you're worried about a steel-cage-death-match then by all means please don't sell yourself short.  And if your boss would do something unethical like change your resume without your consent, then all the more reason to prepare your resume -- you don't want to work for her and you'll have a hard time winning a fight you won't be invited to.

How is your relationship with the VP?