Slashdot Mirror
Working Around Bad Luck on the Resume?
Dodger asks: "A year ago I was laid off from my job after 2 1/2 years, shortly after the product I was working on shipped. Later that year, a company moved me 1500 miles from Texas to California, to start working on a promising project, just to have the plug pulled by the corporation that funded it five weeks later, which resulted in another layoff. Now, there's a period of job seeking followed by a five week period of employment, followed by the current job seeking period on my resume. When the companies I interview with ask about that situation I simply explain, while trying not to whine or complain. What do other Slashdot readers do to make 'bad luck' (or bad employer choices) look less bad on their resume, and sound less bad in interviews?"
Just falsify it! Every other bastard does...
You shouldn't just be sit around while you are unemployed. You should always be keeping your skills polished and up-to-date. Then you will have something to tell them. It is best if you can account for all of your time while unemployed.
What do other Slashdot readers do to make 'bad luck' (or bad employer choices) look less bad on their resume, and sound less bad in interviews?
Why should they want to hire you if you have a history of bad employer choices? Maybe you're bad luck!
Look, I'm kinda busy right now and I haven't had time to check all the replies. I'd like to apologise if I'm repeating anything.
So here's the gist. Commit suicide. All these employment problems will fade away. Everyone wins- you don't have any job worries, and there's one more job for the rest of us.
When one steps back from a problem to gain some perspective, things fall in to place. Perhaps you have other skills that are in demand. Perhaps you have interests beyond displays of clever coding and the ability to say "I'm a Computer Programmer!" to the unwashed masses. If not consider the option above.
Yes, I confess, I haven't tried this option yet. I think that one must balance one's need for ego satisfaction with one's willingness to offer a useful service in return for a living wage. We hear so much about the heroes of the digital age here at Slashdot that we must inevitably feel inferior if we aren't making billion$.
Surely it would be a worthy sacrifice if 17% of unemployed Slashdotters would generously offer their souls for the benefit of the remaining hackers. I can assure that media (including \.) will immortalize your thoughtful sacrifice and that generations will ponder your courage. Do the right thing! Let it end now, with dignity, before you become homeless and an embarrassment to others.
...omphaloskepsis often...
What the hell is this?
Is it really worth it?
Anyway we all are gonna die someday. So don't worry much about that!
Just tell the truth but show them you're keeping up with current tech issues and you are confident despite the gap in your career!
But also, if you are pretty confident, just lie! And at the work, show your ability. Then, they don't care whether you lied or not!
In worse case, if you don't get a job, go to a strip bar, hire a few girls, and open a porn site.
Paradoxically, in my opinion, the worst case is the best case!
Your ego is Matrix!