This blog is for you.

I know you.

I know you because I was you. I know you because I graduated with a degree in a field that I loved instead of a field that would return the most money. I sent beautifully sculpted resumes and perfectly constructed cover letters into the digital void with discouraging results. I interviewed and was rejected. I interviewed and never heard back. The job search was an endless emotional roller coaster - the end of every ride was me stumbling back to reality, wishing that I hadn't eaten that bag of cotton candy and four caramel apples. I was anxious about the future, frustrated about the world, and cursing myself for not studying computer programming.

And then, late one night, I sat down and I wrote a resume. A real resume. The resume that I've always wanted to write. I didn't write it with the intention of sending it to an employer, I wrote it for myself. I posted it in my blog. I posted it on Craigslist.

And the responses started rolling in.

People understood. They were also frustrated and discouraged, either with the job they have or the job that they just couldn't seem to get. I did get a handful of job offers, but more importantly, I realized that writing this "resume" was the most useful and therapeutic thing that I could have done. It made me realize - in a more concrete way - exactly who I was and what I wanted to do. And it inspired others.

This is where you come in.

I want to see your resume. Your real resume. The one that you would write if you were standing before a benevolent benefactor who wanted to give you the perfect job.

There aren't many rules. Length and content are entirely up to you. The resume can be six pages or two sentences. You can be happily or unhappily employed, completely unemployed, retired, a student, or anywhere in between. It's not (necessarily) a resume for a job. Think of it as a resume for life.

You have a few options regarding the resume's publication on this blog.

1. You can be anonymous. Plain and simple. Just let me know that you don't want to be identified.

2. You can be known by your name. Again, just let me know. It can be a first name, last name, first and last name, email address, internet handle, blog link, etc. If you actually want potential employers to contact you (I'm not promising anything, just sayin'), then it's best to include some form of contact information.

3. You can include other information. For example, you might be a 17-year-old high school student, a 30-year-old who recently quit your job, a 52-year-old schoolteacher, a 75-year-old retiree... if you think that sort of information gives important context to your resume (or even if it doesn't!), feel free to include it. You can also do this in lieu of a name.

4. Each resume is and will remain the intellectual property of its author.

5. As I pointed out before, the content is entirely up to you. My "resume" was sort of a mix of a cover letter/resume, but it can take whatever form you decide. Be creative.

6. Email resumes, questions, concerns, suggestions, etc. to theresumeproject@gmail.com.

Good luck. I can't wait to hear from all of you.