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Resume Tips For Jobs
JerseyTom writes "SAGEWire reports that with the economy speeding
up, more and more people
are freshening up their
resumés. They've printed an article by Tom
Limoncelli, co-author of TPoSaNA, that offers specific advice for geeks writing resumes." 'Course, I'm not sure how much I believe the economy speeding up - but still good information.,
Probably referring to 'the economy speeding up', ie. a faster and faster rate at which everything is getting cut back...
Cheers,
Ian
I'm currently building my resume, and as a App Developer it is tempting to lists all the projects I worked on. In my case diversity was the thinking. To counter the overload of projects, I instead listed just the most complex projects, and also listed the other roles that I had played at the company. Uber g33k? Yeah but, I don't have to sound like one all the time.
First of all, it is no longer sufficient to simply mention that you are a programmer. It isn't even sufficient to mention that you know C++. I've seen requirements that specifically want 2+ years of experience using Visual Studio. This is the most idiotic thing I've ever seen, but that doesn't stop companies from putting that in the job description. And we all know how HR departments are. If you don't have exactly what they're looking for, you don't get called back.
Another thing is the certification hang-up. I've known people with certifications that don't know sh*t, but that won't stop them from getting a job before me, because I don't have any certifications. Hiring managers (particularly those who are non-technical) are fooled into believing that certifications somehow equate to a higher quality employee. It doesn't matter that this isn't true; it can easily keep you from getting a job.
Thirdly, the "Jack of All Trades" background is getting harder to place. Employers want someone with large (sometimes unreasonably so) amounts of experience in particular (sometimes obscure) areas. It used to be that having a generic background was a good thing. It meant you could easily adapt to new technologies, and had a wide range of experience to draw on for coming up with novel solutions to problems. Nowadays, employers don't want you to solve anything. They want to purchase a solution-in-a-box and hire a technician (not really a programmer) to implement it. Finally, employers are looking for more on your resume than "I wrote some software". They want to see how you drastically reduced the running time, or saved a bunch of money, or lead a team on to beat a tight deadline, save money, and make the manager look like a champion. Remember: they aren't hiring you to just get a job done. They are hiring you so that they can pad their own resumes with accomplishments that you pulled off. So, make sure that the things on your resume support what your potential manager would want on his resume.
After all this, I would like to mention that I am starting to feel burned out, and am looking towards getting back into academia. I'd rather do research than spend the rest of my life feeling like a corporate flunky.
bytesmythe
Hypocrisy is the resin that holds the plywood of society together.
-- Scott Meyer
I'm not asking for much. I just want a chance to live at least as well as I did with no income at college (meaning: don't starve, basic cable, internet, and shelter), not default on my loans, and most importantly to me gain experience toward building a better career. I'm looking for an opportunity, not compensation.
Screw the job market. I'm going back to the college life, late nights, late mornings, parties, beautiful women everywhere, lots of beer, and no drug tests. In a few years, I'll have at least a Master's, but that's only if I completely fail to achieve a PhD. Screw the job market. Screw the job market. Stay in school. A teaching assistantship + college lifestyle if far superior and better for your future than developing an ulcer at 23 trying to get an entry level job.
DO NOT put an "Objective" section at the top of your resume, they're all bullshit, never relevant and only limiting, and when you hand someone your resume, your objective is simple - TO GET A JOB FROM THEM.
Put an Objective on there--but make it relevant to your career search. Do you want a long-term job that will last you to retirement? Do your plans only focus on the short-term now? Do you want a part-time job to support you while you go to school?
I'd recommend a general objective, instead of customization per company. Use the cover letter for that--to display your interest in and knowledge of the company. Your resume should be static, so it feels honest and trustworthy, and they don't think that they're lying.
(So call Apple or MS or Be or whomever "the greatest" in the cover letter, not the resume...)
Oh, and keeping it consice sounds good to. One page is a good limit for a physical resume; if there's extraneous stuff (education breakdown, career breakdown, hobbies) that are relevant but not essential, pt them on the back or leave them out.
you can always add "did volunteer work rating messages submitted to a public web site. Work involved reading posted comments, deciding quality and relevance of posting, and moderating accordingly. Also did oversight work rating moderators performance."
Perhaps you could add "Rated people poorly who made comments that were over my head by moderating them down despite the fact they were insightful, funny, or full of usefull information. Continue to do this because I am an idiot"
I like that idea.
The Internet is generally stupid
...so that it sounds like an achievement.
e.g. Was a member of a team that selected a new problem management tool
becomes
Selected a new problem management tool
Do this on every line and use bullet points.
BYU
All things in moderation; including moderation
I would agree, unless your hobbies/interests include computer related issues.
This can be especially useful in interviews. In my experience, they like to hear about the wireless LAN you have at home running off a Linux box you built from scratch, etc.
This tells them you're not just some 'tard that went to college and got a degree in computers because everyone lied to you and said there would be guys lined up with bags of money after you graduate. You actually have genuine interest...or so they'll think...
-- Scientist: You aren't going to leave me here, are you? Boagh! Thump...
I can't tell you how many resume's we see that have *gross* spelling errors or serious grammar issues. Plus, we get a ton of resume's without cover letters. I know some companies don't require this, but when you read that a job description says "send resume and cover letter to..." then it's a good idea to include it.
People aren't handing jobs out anymore and there's alot of competition for them now, even for really qualified and experienced people, so that means you have to compete for the job, which also means you have to actually put effort in to getting it.
We just filled a sys admin job where we interviewed almost 30 candidates. We actually had guys showing up in shorts, torn jeans and t-shirts. I mean come on folks, even though many west coast jobs aren't "tie required" most employers like to see candidates who look presentable.
Just check your work. If you don't care about the job you're applying for, don't waste everyone's time.
-s
I first wrote a real resume (i.e., not just a high school assignment) about 10 years ago. I spent a lot of time worrying about the format and language. Up until recently, every time I updated it, I assiduously read tips given by job-hunting and other professionals. I spoke with friends who were technical writers and document design specialists. Earlier this year I read a few books on it and asked all my professional friends and a few unprofessional friends and finally, and after much ado the conclusion I came to....
The advice is often useless.
Well, not totally useless. But very, very subjective. Some people will tell you to put in an objective. Others will tell you it's irrelevant. Some people will tell you hobbies are irrelevant; others will tell you it shows a holistic person who'll have more to give to a job. Some people will tell you being holistic is important; others will tell you that focus on skills relevant to the job is all that matters. Some people will tell you to use action buzzwords; others will tell you those will get you dismissed as a charlatan. You get the idea.
My guess is they're all correct. Resume design is an art, not a science. Every person looking at your resume is looking for different things from a slightly different perspective. I've come to the conclusion that there's no set of tips you can follow to get you a resume that will get you in the door. You just have to design and refine as professionally as possible, think a little bit about your audience, and hope the message you intended to send gets across.
And sometimes I think that your own judgement may be as important as someone else's. If you walk into an interview with a resume you are confident in, that's a good precursor to success.
This is the result of my thinking. Feel free to send/post critiques of the thing. Or job offers, for that matter.
Tweet, tweet.
I revamped my resume because of the exact opposite reason. The economy is not speeding up, so I need to compete better with my fellow nerds.
You have 100 applicants for one position. You have limited time to sort through them all. So when you see a resume that has an error in it, or is three pages long, or doesn't speak specifically to the job you're hiring for, you can it immediately, with out even bothering to read it.
If a job applicant can't even take the time to tailor the resume to the job I'm offering them, then why should I bother reading it? If the applicant doesn't take the time to spellcheck something as critical as a job application, then they probably will miss other important details on the job. Sure, not everyone is a good speller. But everyone has the ability to correct their spelling.
If a resume has a generic objective statement, it's going in the circular file. Employers want to know that you've actually taken the time to show them in your resume how your goals and your skills match what the company is looking for. You don't have to lie or exaggerate, you just have to articulate your goals and skills in a way that they can understand, given their own organizational leanings.
One of the best things you can do is to have someone else read your resume. Have a friend who isn't afraid to be critical read it, checking for errors and overall flow. Writing is as much a skill as programming, and if you are a good writer, it's always helpful to have someone check your work.
Electronic methods are great for employers, because they allow for huge keyword-based searches. But the object here is to get your resume noticed, so that it gets read, so that you get called in for an interview. While the resume is a filtering tool for the hiring company, for you it's sole aim is to land you that critical first interview. From there, it's all about your opportunity to sell yourself, and the resume is practically meaningless.
So where possible, send a hard copy of your resume, along with a cover letter tailored exactly to the company you're attempting to get a job with. Research the company, show them that you're actually interested in what they're doing. This shows the hiring party that you don't just see this as another potential job out of 500 that you're applying for.
If you can't send hardcopy, try to use an electronic cover letter (depending on which online resume service you're using, you may or may not be able to do this). The cover letter is helpful because it is seen *before* the resume. In essence, it is your opportunity to intercede and present yourself as a valuable hire, before they even see your qualifications.
Finally, getting a job through want-ads, either online or off, is the worst way to get hired. It's all about connections - if you know someone at the company, even distantly, attempt to use that connection to obtain an informational interview first. Make a personal connection with someone in the department you'd like to be hired for, and your odds of bypassing the "needle in a haystack" hiring process are much higher.
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
I would agree, unless your hobbies/interests include computer related issues.
On the other hand...
I have been told by headhunters that you should not put computer-related items in your hobbies, because it makes you look like a stereotypical geek, and turns prospective employers off unless they are also geeks (which is rare).
Bottom line is, I don't think there's a right answer on this one. Go with what feels best to you.
I get a lot of conflicting information about tuning IT resumes for this tech depression.
:-)
Is there any statistical analysis of what works and what doesn't? (Probably not because too few people are being hired to produce good data
Heresay is nearly useless if it is all over the map. How about advice from people who have recently gotten hired, at least. Posting successful resumes (minus address, etc.) would be nice.
Table-ized A.I.
This is sadly true. If you want a job, your resume must proudly wear your bullshit. And when you go for your interview, be at least somewhat well versed in the bullshit from your resume. Smile alot and make eye contact. Also if you look nice when you go to an interview the interviewer is usually more concerned by how you look than what you know. SHAVE!, or if you don't you better have a well groomed beard or goatee even. Get a haircut three days before the interview, so that it looks fresh, but not like you got all fixed up JUST for the interview. And go and buy some new clothes, or have what you plan to wear dry cleaned and well pressed.
If you see a secretary, be sure to make small talk with her and be nice and flirt a little even. Make sure she remembers your name and resume. She will be the one calling your references. If you impress her, she won't give her boss a bad report on you.
When you shake your interviewer's hand, be sure to do so firmly. Ladies should not present their hand with the palm to the floor as they sometimes do. If you are a man shaking a womans hand and she does this, turn her hand vertical. Try to avoid clasping the hand with your other hand. This is a controlling posture, and not what you are going for since you are the one seeking a job.
There are hundreds of little things you can do to land a job. Just remember that it's usually more about your presentation than the substance of who you are and what you know. If you project an image of excellence, you will be perceived that way.
It -may- be the longest bear market, but it certain is -not- the worst, job wise.
.gov unemployment website:
We're still under 7% unemployment (or is it still under 6?). That -by itself- tells me that while it's hanging on, it certainly isn't nearly as sever as it could have been.
For those of you who don't know what the unemployment indicator means(like this poster) it represents the current number of unemployment claims being made. Republicans like my father love this number, because they think it means that 7 out of 100 people in the US don't have jobs...and if the other 93 people can work, so can I. Here's a quote from the
"Benefits can be paid for a maximum of 26 weeks in most States. "
26 weeks is approximately 6 months. What that means is, if you get laid off you have 6 months to find another job. If you don't manage to find another job in 6 months, you are no longer eligible for unemployment. Now, the "IT depression" has been around for...about 2 years now give or take. So anyone who didn't manage to find work in 6 months(and I know many) is not included in this indicator. Potentially 75% of the people fired since 2000 could still be out of work...and this would not be reflected in the often quoted unemployment figures.
Additionally, the market is -now- at about the levels it should have been if the tech bubble hadn't existed.
As an investor, I'd be buying
Ya, but you're not an investor anymore are you? Why? Because you're living from pay-check to pay-check just like everyone else.
How many other "techies" have you worked with that didn't have a clue, and only had the job because some manager needed a body to put in that seat?
Yes during the dot-com era there was a lot of miss-distribution of personelle. Many people were in positions they weren't qualified for...does that mean that anyone in that category doesn't deserve to have a job? You're worse than my parents.
And don't let that lack of a degree get you down
I have a BS in Computer Science from a top 20 engineering school.
The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
Umm...the tech bubble burst in 2000. You know, when Mr. Clinton was still in office. Kenneth Lay and Co. were high on the value of Enron in 2000. You know, when Clinton was in office.
I'm not saying that Clinton had anything to do with either situation. But come on now, at least try to get something right, before you're sarcastic about it.
Just to agree with the other posters...
:-)
:-)
Do you have ANY data to back this up? Why is it that they are considering lowering intrest rates again? It isn't because the economy is flat or growing.
Being conservative is one thing. I consider myself conservative, and I will admit that the economy was slowing down before GWB got in office, but to say that it is picking up makes you sound like an idiot. I guess you could point out that not as many companies are folding this year as last...
Just because someone is concervative doens't mean they have to take everything Rush says as gospil. Please remember that he still believes that Microsoft didn't do anything wrong.
The more I learn about science, the more my faith in God increases.
The current job situation in the IT industry reminds me of the energy industry nearly two decades ago. At that time, I was graduating with a bachelor's degree in geology and was looking forward to employment in an oil or mineral exploration company.
Then the price of oil dropped to less than $20 a barrel.
The immediate fallout was that oil and mineral companies put a hiring freeze on new undergraduates. Several of them were holding on to their graduates and PhDs in the hope that oil prices would recover leaving them with a core exploration group to field when it was needed.
It wasn't long before energy companies started laying off the people with masters degrees and, soon, the PhDs. In short, there was blood in the streets. The old joke was renewed: "Why did the guy with a bachelors in geology fail to get a job at McDonalds? Because he didn't have his PhD."
I couldn't stand the idea of going back to school. I was tired of school (starvation) and wanted to start working again. I gathered up all of my networking contacts and pressed them hard for any job available. None of them were offering jobs in geology. So I started looking in other related industries.
I figured that if I could get inside of Exxon or Shell, then I could post for internal positions when they started arriving. My foray into the petrochemical industry started with a job in a small formaldehyde plant. I was the only operator with a degree. Heck, I was the only one in the plant with more than a high school education. That experience, however, gave me an in-road into another field - industrial hygiene. I went from plant to factory performing routine studies of industrial exposure to workplace hazards.
After a few short years, I had learned enough about the field that I considered certifying as an industrial hygienist.
But I found an ad in a local newspaper that was offering a job as a well-site geologist who had industrial safety training. Because I had taught industrial safety as a hygienist, I got the job. It was a lateral move with fewer benefits and was a contract position. But it was in geology, a field I had long given up hope of getting a job.
I was eventually hired on permanently and have been here for the last 10 years. I now have more work than I can perform myself. I will have to farm the excess out to people who have more education and work experience than myself.
The point? Don't stop working just because you've graduated and can't get entry-level work in your field. The IT field will eventually shake out the deadwood and under-qualified. If you continue to keep your skills up, the day will come when your skills are not only needed, they are hard to find. This translates into greater job security than if you were to have taken the first job you could find in your field only to be laid off 8 months later.
Don't give up.
"Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
No some parts of IT tend to be recession-sensitive. The thing is to pick wisely. I can't speak for the coding side of the house having never been there. But I know that in the last few years of slow down. I as a datacomm, network infrastructure, security kind of guy have seen *no* slow down and in the past year have seen a lot of new interest. (Mostly having to do with the security side of things.) The reason so many folks in "IT" are having problems right now is because a large number of them got some kind of a cert during the bubble years and thought they were good to go. Had no love for the profession had no depth had no real understanding. And where in the I can run a windows/*nix server crowd. Well the herd go thinned. Get a good solid deep background then learn as much as possible about *every* aspect of IT and you too will be recession proof.
Cypherpunks: Civil Liberty Through Complex Mathematics. Those who live by the sword die by the arrow.
While mjhans has quite a little ego on him, I just need to get it on record that he knows what he's talking about, and EnderWiggnz does not. I can't believe that EnderWiggnz's bad advice is modded up. I'm currently hiring, and I'm going through about 50 resumes each day. The resumes with generic objectives (like "get a job that uses my talents") and the resumes with education at the top (WTF?!?) get trashed pretty quick. I want to see an objective that clearly puts you in my market, or else no objective and a recent job right up front that clearly puts you in my market.
My Greasemonkey scripts for Digg &
This is wholly untrue and horrid advice.
We've advanced offers to *TWO* people for the same Cisco Engineer job and BOTH were rescinded, one for lying about having a degree ("Well, I went for three years, I thought I could list it as a degree") and another about time-frames on resumes versus what time frames his references gave.
The worst thing you want is for something to look the slightest bit suspicious - in a tight job market that's a straight trip to the trashcan.
Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
1: Try and sound interesting in your Hobbies / Interests section, you'll just come across as a twat. Be honest. And DON'T mention Stanley Kubrick. Everyone does that!
>>>>>
This only applies in Europe. American résumés are considerably different (something both Americans & Europeans need to keep in mind when reading web-based tips!) -- we do NOT put anything about our hobbies on our résumés (nor should we include pictures of ourselves, for that matter; there are anti-discrimination laws to think about). Also, some professions prefer to see porfolios of prior work (it's not a bad thing to have, even for coders...) -- basically, you have to know what the employer you're going after expects, then give it to them.
Actually, there are lots of factors to consider. If you're at a university right now, check with them--they should have a department called "Career Services" or something like that. USE IT! They've helped me a LOT; I wouldn't have half as many job leads right now if not for them...
> As for the automated HR systems, they'll reject my resume every time.
"Reject" is a funny word. They tend to rank them, then the top N get sent onto the manager for review.
The trouble is the chain of people this has to go through and is compounded by the fact that most people don't know how these systems work.
For example. I've seen "C/Unix" groups list C, C++, and Java on their reqs. Why? 'Cus C++ and Java suggest they are object oriented thinkers.
But. The resumatic will rank the world's best C programmer lower than one that lists Java too. Even if the C programmer wrote a freaking C++ compiler.
You end up with a case of the blind asking for the resumatic to search for the blind. Both sides tring to do the right thing, with the resumatic nonsense turning it all into slimy ooz.
The IT employment process is simply overautomated. But, the cycle is set. The process is employing at random, more or less, and that means average skill levels are declining (hence the significant growth in remarkably narrow specializations.)
> Cover Letter.
Not much value. Covers are torn off in HR. Remember, the resumatic only cares about resume documents. All I get to see, ever, is the of resumes.