I first came across this “resume twin” concept on an MBA admissions consulting website. A resume twin broadly refers to a successful applicant who has a similar portfolio or track record as you in a position you are interested in.
The first question you want to ask yourself when you want to apply somewhere is, “Do people like me get selected here?”. By people like you, I am not just referring to colour, race or gender, though these factors may also come into play. I’m referring to academic background, skills, qualifications, and experiences. Humans build predictive models from data all around them, which will then affect future decisions.
Once a pattern is established, people like to follow the norm to make faster decisions or set a standardized process. If at all anything goes outside that norm, it’s tagged an exception or anomaly.
Benefits of having a resume twin
- Determine eligibility: If you can find someone who has a similar portfolio and was successful in the application, this can point you to the essential eligibility criteria for that position. It also tells you what the selection committee may consider important in that application.
- Boost your confidence: We all like to have some familiarity around us to give us a sense of security. Once you have established an existing resume twin, it bolsters your confidence in winning that offer.
- Strengthen application: Knowing that you have a resume twin can help you better position yourself and improve your application. You can find out from your twin what they thought made them stand out in the application and then look at how it applies to you. If there are weak areas in your application, it will be an opportunity to address them. You also have an additional layer of accountability, as your twin may offer to proof-read your work and give you feedback. Don’t wait for the offer; ask for it!
Some scenarios for a resume twin
- You are applying for a scholarship that states in the eligibility criteria that only second class upper and above are eligible. However, you find a resume twin who had a second class lower with many years of work experience like yourself.
- You are traditionally from a biochemistry background and looking to apply for a Master’s in Data Science. You find a resume twin who also came from this background, but they also took additional online learning programs with internship experience as a junior data scientist.
- Applying for a PhD in a top 50 university globally, but you completed your Masters in a 1000+ ranked university. You find a resume twin who got a fully-funded PhD studentship in one of your dream universities.
- You want to apply for a PhD with your Bachelor’s degree. You have met a twin who got a PhD offer straight out of Bachelors without needing to do a Master’s degree.
How to find your resume twin
Networking is the short answer. You can ask those in your network if they know anyone with your kind of profile who has gotten the offer you desire.
Alumni forum or network: Alumni are among the greatest sources of information about any institution because they have experienced the selection process first-hand and gone through the institution. You can look out for Alumni groups for the position you are seeking. The good thing about reaching out to alumni is that you can eventually get referred to the right person, even if those you contact do not fit your profile.
Current candidates: Apart from Alumni, the current students in that institution are another great asset. These students were not only selected but also have more recent information about the selection process.
LinkedIn: You can also look at people’s LinkedIn profiles to find their background and experiences and how it fits into your profile.
What to look out for
How many resume twins can you find: If you can only find one or two persons, it might tell you that the selection could have been a serious exception and not the norm. In that case, you need to understand why this person was selected despite having an unusual profile.
How long ago was the selection? Because selection criteria may evolve with time, consider that time could play a role in your resume twin’s relevance. If the resume twin was selected five years ago, you might need to look for a more recent twin.
Pay attention to the differences: Your resume twin may not be 100% your portfolio match. As you pay attention to the similarities between you both, it’s also important to consider the attributes your twin has that you do not possess and vice versa. It could be those differences that contributed to what made your twin outstanding to the selection committee. Also, there may be other things in your portfolio that your twin did not possess. You need to evaluate carefully if they will be useful to strengthen your application.
Now you know more about a resume twin, I hope you will be able to find yours. I would love to hear what situation you are in right now and how you think you might benefit from a resume twin.
Thanks for sharing. This is my first of knowing about resume twin, though i have prior understanding to somethings you write. Despite, i was able to comprehend more about the concept.
incidences may occur when you find a twin resume, but such personality seem over burden with grad works and activities. Kindly suggest best possible practices in gain such attentions.