This week I was privy to one of the cooler “introductions” to a new staff person ever…via the personal resume.

At my workplace, I had been privileged to be part of the interview team for this administrative position and as a result had seen the real resume for this new supervisor.

The traditional resume told me about his career journey in dates and titles, but that was about it. On Friday, as a way of jumpstarting his inclusion into his new work family, this individual sent a personal resume to all 150+ staff members.  The resume included the following:

• Hobbies
• Favorite quote
• Likes
• Dislikes
• Things I’m ashamed to admit
• Things people may find strange about me
• Why I went into this line of work

Some of his responses were serious, others funny, but all gave me some insight into who he is as an individual. For example, I now know we share an appreciation for peanut M&Ms and reality TV!

In return, he asked that staff members erase his answers and put their own answers in the blanks. Because I thought this was such a great way to share information, I eagerly responded. Not only was it a fun way to help him become comfortable in our work environment, it was also an exercise in self-reflection. Some of my answers weren’t too insightful. In the “dislike” category, I mentioned both the serious (anything that smacks of racism) and the not so serious (when people say “OMG” a lot).

A little while later, I received a follow-up email from the “newbie.” His response not only showed he had really read it, but he reflected on a couple of my responses, which made me feel great about my new co-worker. This type of communication may not be for every workplace, but in an environment where teamwork is vital, the personal resume is a great icebreaker.

Oh, and in case you are interested, here is my response to the “personal resume”:

Full name: Leigh Leyshock Spence (Many kids still call me Mrs. Leyshock)

Huband’s name: Sean Spence (married in Oct. 2008)

Kids: Clark Leyshock, RBHS class of 2007, age 21

Hometown: born in Columbia, raised in Nashville, TN

Hobbies:

1. Travel
2. Reading
3. Eating out (and drinking wine), particularly anywhere downtown
4. Painting, although I haven’t done it with any regularity in a long time
5. Hanging out with friends

Favorite Quote:

“You learn from people what you want to be like and what you don’t want to be like.” My former boss, Ruth Lohmeyer.

Likes:

1. Frozen Reese’s PB cups (minis only), seafood/fish, wine, brunch
2. Going to movies (Ragtag particularly) with my husband
3. Listening to my son play the drums
4. Writing
5. Making our home look nice and having a place that is “home.”
6. RB, our yellow lab. (Like the name? Here, she is sometimes called QP)
7. Art
8. Adoption – Clark was adopted from Honduras and I am an adoption specialist as my second job.

Dislikes:

1. Anything that smacks of racism
2. When people say “OMG” a lot
3. Complainers/negativity
4. People who talk about their health all the time on FB
5. Mushrooms (I’m allergic)
6. That I have not ever in my entire life been able to eat whatever I want without being conscious of how fattening it is
7. Educational theory and its acronyms – tell me stories about real people, real situations
8. People who spend too much for normal things. $2 million for Chelsea Clinton’s wedding? Even when people are generous philanthropically it just feels wrong.

Things that I’m ashamed to admit:

1. I like some reality TV, but very particularly: Hell’s Kitchen, American Idol, Celebrity Apprentice… and an occasional episode of Millionaire Matchmaker
2. Huge Justin Timberlake fan.
3. I like T.V. and don’t like the idea of a vacation resort without one. Some of my favorites are “In Treatment,” “Mad Men,” and “Big Bang Theory.”
4. My mom lives in a facility for people with dementia. Even though I am usually fascinated by visiting, I have to convince myself to go.

Things some people may find strange about me:

1. I would MUCH rather help kids who struggle to succeed than help high fliers get into Ivy Leagues. I still like those kids but I am drawn to the resilient kiddos who succeed despite their circumstances.
2. I shave my legs every day and don’t get why women make such a big deal of out it. How long does it take? A minute?

Why I went into education:

1. I came to it despite myself. I was a journalist for 10+ years. When my former husband went to law school in his late 30s, I needed to work full time and got a job managing the Caring Communities grant for the district. Went to Stephens College and earned my M.Ed in counseling in 2003
2. I am an only child who has always loved children. I was a daycare worker, camp counselor, babysitter, everyone said I should be a teacher. I resisted education because it was what most southern women said they were going to do in the late 70s and I didn’t want to follow suit. Thought I wanted to be an attorney like my dad.
3. I love teenagers.
4. Education can launch young people from the confines of their circumstances.

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