Does the idiom "Swiss Army knife" make sense to people in Switzerland? I used it at the beginning of my resume when I applied to grad school in Switzerland and surprisingly didn't get in (not meant in an arrogant way, just a little surprised).

I just reached out for feedback, but I'm trying to diagnose all the possible places where I could have fallen short, and I'm curious if this American idiom feels witty to me but caused confusion on their end.

Does this make sense to non-American eyes?

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Your resume would have to be absolutely outstanding for this to not annoy me and possibly disqualify you, honestly. Keep resumes professional 🤷‍♂️

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Attorney / SC -

I used to agree with you both and left all of that off of my resume, and it was difficult to get interviews. It wasn't until I added it that those experiences set my resume apart from cookie cutter entry applicants, and started getting invited to the interviews I wanted.

Why do you think McKinsey goes after so many Everest Climbers, Concert Musicians, and Olympic Medalists? It shows personality and commitment to practice, discipline, refinement, maturity, high performance, time management, and achievement, and it's more appropriate for a resume at my age, though it'll likely make its way out in a few years.

I took up a skill, stuck with it, and succeeded at the highest levels of the field. In piano, that included winning competitions and performing on some of the most prestigious stages around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Wiener Konzerthaus. And I replicated that success in multiple fields. There's probably a way to say it in fewer words but without it I come across a lot more generic.

When I interviewed with McKinsey earlier this year (FWIW, with this resume), the Partner specifically wanted me to focus on stories from this section of my resume. She looked up my piano music beforehand and listened to a few pieces, and she was impressed. My interviewer in the next round was a former concert pianist turned consultant, and we hit it off talking about our favorite composers. One of the interviewers of my current role was a guitarist and we talked about our experiences as musicians.

So this part generated conversation that was more interesting to them in an interview than hearing typical business stories. Once I demonstrated I could do the work, it moved the conversation in a different direction when they wanted to get to know me better.

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It’s ok Ted.

likefunny

Thanks for the reply! I realize that and in many ways it's what I'm intending to say, open to the possibility that it can be taken either way, but nailing down a personal brand that's a bit slicker than generalist.

I've learned in recent positions that I'm definitely a generalist at the moment, but I'm okay with that, because I'm 24, and I'm learning from a bunch of different industries and experiences before landing on one where I want to build a career. I'm interested in specializing in sustainable management and technology, and that's what I applied to.

I have a lot to learn and I don't think my experience is better than anyone else's, but I probably have a bit wider experience then most people at my age, and I think Swiss Army knife is a more slick brand identity compared to generalist or jack of all trades.

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There was NO other reason for rejecting Ted, it all came down to the knife metaphor. Choose your symbolism wisely, fishies🫡

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Just trying to rule out the little stuff that keeps me up at night 😂

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Why try to be cute on a resume, Ted?

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I agree with Accenture, BUT I think Attorney is right that the age plays into it. If we get to Big Ted we can help him.

I would immediately throw away any resumes with references to weapons of war…doesn’t belong in a professional environment.

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I feel like it doesn’t read quite right. A Swiss Army knife of interests? That doesn’t say you necessarily have the ability to do a variety of tasks. I’d rather see “skills and abilities” if you’re going to use it. In any case, I believe it’s an American term, so it might not have translated well. It’s also a bit cliché.

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Doesn’t this mean you’re a jack of all trades, master of none? Lol

It does, just a slicker way of saying it. Better to show self-awareness and define yourself for others than be defined by them in a less positive light.

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