Caught between Originality and Conformity: Resume Design in China

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Caught between Originality and ConformityResume
Design in China

• Yining Hu Baotong Gu
• Huangshan University Georgia State
  University
• ATTW Conference
• New York, March 21, 2007

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Overview

• Content Design
• Direct persuasion
• Political, ethical, and moral content
• Issue of privacy
• Originality vs. conformity
• Format Design Individuality

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Resume ContentDirect Persuasion (Example 1)

• Self Assessment
• A love for education
• Long-time English training instructor for, with
  excellent spoken English
• Great teaching experience
• Strong research skills
• Strong and independent personality
• Concluding Remarks (at the end of the resume)
• Dear respected university leaders, If Im
  fortunate enough to become a member of your
  university, Ill do my best to utilize my
  enthusiasm and abilities to make my tiny
  contribution to the future development of your
  university and to become an excellent instructor.

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Resume ContentDirect Persuasion (Example 2)

• Opening Remarks
• Dear Respected Sir or Madam
• Greetings! When you open this page, you have
  opened, for me, the first door to opportunities
  and success. I really appreciate your taking the
  time out of your busy schedule to read my
  application, which, I hope, distinguishes itself
  from the other applications in your hand and will
  help you find the satisfactory well-rounded
  candidate amid the strong competition. Please
  read the content that follows. I hope it wont
  disappoint you.

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Resume ContentDirect Persuasion (Example 2
Continued)

• Concluding Remarks
• As you finish reading this application, I have a
  few things to tell you. I was born in the mid
  seventies of the last century and possess the
  kind of diligence characteristic of that era and
  a strong sense of teamwork. My years of education
  and professional experience have provided me with
  the qualifications needed for college-level
  teaching

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Resume ContentPolitical, Ethical, and Moral

• Example 1
• I firmly support the Community Partys basic
  principles and policies, abide by the Four Basic
  Principles, am a law-abiding citizen, am
  progressive in thoughts, and (from the self
  assessment part of a resume for a teaching
  position)
• Example 2
• This student abides by the Four Basic Principles,
  studies hard the Communist Partys policies, is
  progressive politically, and has submitted
  membership application for the Communist Party.
  He is also an active participant in various
  school and department activities and has been
  judged to be excellent in moral virtues (from an
  official recommendation by the university)

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Resume Content--Privacy

• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Marital status

• Date of birth
• Height
• Health status

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Originality vs. Conformity

• Conformity
• Every pawn (soldier) has its uses, but without
  the chess board, it can only be a pawn.

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Originality vs. Conformity

• Conformity
• Do you need me?

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Originality vs. Conformity

• Originality
• The Extraordinary 2005
• Self Recommendation
• I know myself
• I know if Im appropriate for the job
• Therefore, I recommend myself.

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Originality vs. Conformity

• Originality and Conformity
• I may not be a trump card, but Im definitely a
  good card.

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Originality vs. Conformity

• Originality and Conformity
• I am this bowl of tea (big-bowl tea).
• Which looks plain but has a long lasting taste.
• I am the pure bred (the hidden talent) are you
  the one to discover me?

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Format DesignIndividuality and Metaphors
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Format DesignIndividuality and Metaphors
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Format DesignIndividuality and Metaphors
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Format DesignIndividuality and Metaphors
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Format DesignIndividuality and Metaphors
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Format DesignIndividuality and Metaphors
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Format DesignIndividuality and Metaphors
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Far from Conclusive

• An overwhelming trend to include political
  content
• An intriguing emphasis on ethics and moral
  virtues
• A puzzling willingness to relinquish ones rights
  to privacy of information
• The dilemma to balance between originality and
  conformity
• An increasing trend to emphasize originality and
  individuality, especially in format design
• The subtle tactics of persuasion to sell ones
  credentials while preventing any signs of
  complacency
• Cultural ideologies at work?