The balance between being honest and being professional in an interview.

When I moved to Melbourne I was trying to find work. I had written up a resume and cover letter and I got it proof read by a few friends

and people who know what a employer is looking for. Every time my resume came back, the only thing that was really changed was things I had put in that were not considered professional, like a little joke comment or something that made my resume stand out from the rest like a modern layout rather than a standard, boring New Times Roman font. I included these things in my resume because I imagined myself in the employer’s position, looking at hundreds of boring resumes and I thought this could make mine stand out from the rest.

I ended up getting an interview because my resume stood out and it reflected my personality. I also think it works in the same way with interviews, if you go to an interview and just spew out what you think your employer wants to hear, you’re not going to stand out as an exceptional candidate for the position. But if you go to the interview and be more relaxed, and be honest about things, you will stand out but you might also come off as inexperienced or unprofessional. It’s a constant balancing act between standing out and being professional, and this varies between your employer’s personality.