Be The Tallest Poppy You Can Be

Not too long ago I had an interview where I was referred to as a "tall poppy." For those who are like me and have no idea what that means, a tall poppy refers to the tallest flower in the garden that exceeds all the others. It is the flower that stands out from the rest. They are attractive in gardens and often very recognizable because of their array of colors. Being a "tall poppy" forces you to embrace your unique qualities, and be not afraid to shine, even when it draws attention. But yes, I was referred to as a "tall poppy" because, and I quote, "My resume was fresh, was not full of fluff, and I kept it honest."?

Many are recommending that you tailor your resume for every job you apply to. They are encouraging you to fluff your resume by taking keywords from the job description and putting them into your resume. Doing this for every job you apply to is a job in itself and you will have worked 80 hours in one week without pay if you truly did this. In all honesty, it resembles the "tall poppy syndrome."

Tall poppy syndrome: Australian term that emphasizes the need for poppies to grow in uniformity. A gardener will cut down the taller poppies to maintain crops that look the same height and grow at the same speed.

(Disclaimer: Let's be real. If resumes are being read by Applicant Tracking Systems first and are getting sifted through, it is important to have words that are reminiscent of the particular field you are applying in. It just doesn't have to be full of keywords that you miss out on showcasing YOU.)

You want to stand out and not be the same when it comes to resumes. Especially when your resume is the first impression. The majority of people can use Microsoft Office. Yes, you and everyone else have created a presentation slide for a group of people to train them (speaking to my transitioning ID teachers? ??). What makes you different when you use the same software that everyone else uses? Many of us have the same baseline experience, but only a few exceed and grow past it.

3 Reasons to Be a Tall Poppy

1. Network and Opportunities: Use your influence and visibility to be impactful in your field or community when you embrace your path and the truth of experiences. Your skills and accomplishments when viewed by the right person can contribute to solving problems, innovation, and creating positive changes.?
2. Overcoming Fear and Limitation: When we feed into the tailoring of resumes, we can fall into the fear of self-doubt and imposter syndrome when the opportunity we thought could have been ours with the right resume slips between our fingers, with a no call no email. Embracing your uniqueness and being confident can break you free from these limitations and be more authentic in your job search. It is easy to apply to a multitude of jobs that sound like your skills, but when you free yourself and become more intentional, you realize that most of the jobs you are applying for will not fit you and your skills. You will end up just applying to 500 random jobs.?
3. Personal Growth: To be a tall poppy, you have to know that you are different, you have to set yourself apart and that takes looking within yourself and reflecting on your previous experiences. You will begin to acknowledge your accomplishments and talents that you did not see before. Embrace and market your strengths and abilities.

If you are hesitant about being a tall poppy, just know it is not bragging, it is not flaunting, it is marketing yourself. You want that job, right? Then act like it and find what makes you a tall poppy.

Disclosure: Why should you take into consideration what I am saying?? For three years I taught what is called PACE. It stands for Personal, Academic, and Career Exploration. This high school course is intended for students to explore post-secondary options such as the military, a vocation, or a collegiate path. Students also get the opportunity to build a resume and complete mock interviews based on a job scenario. To teach students accurately, it was important for me to stay up to date on resume building. I often referred back to my learning materials from my minor in communication, reached out to community hiring managers, and my all-time favorite, read scholarly peer-reviewed research. By no means am I a resume builder or guru, I am someone who has the experience, has had self-doubt, and felt intimidated by the many resume advice. I am here to give you a refreshing perspective.