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I consider LaTeX resumes to be a secret handshake of sorts, something that makes me significantly more likely to be inclined-to-hire a candidate. If you're pre

I consider LaTeX resumes to be a secret handshake of sorts, something that makes me significantly more likely to be inclined-to-hire a candidate. If you're preparing formatted text, LaTeX is the best tool for the job. It also has a steep learning curve. Preparing a resume with it says "I have the technical judgement to use the best tool for this job, even if I had to learn an arcane new programming language[0] to do it." 0: The best description I've ever read of TeX in general is that it's a Turing-complete programming language with a compiler that outputs printer assembly code (Postscript) rather than computer assembly.

sdegutis 11y ago
I can't agree. Having used LaTeX for about a year now, it's got all the fragmentation and design-by-committee flaws of Linux, but much worse. There are so many packages, and many are completely incompatible with each other. And while TeX itself is pretty simple, LaTeX is much bigger, and using any libraries on top of it pretty much requires hours of searching tex.so for obscure fixes and workarounds, which are often counter-intuitive. I'd rather hire someone who would have the sense to pay $20 for a month's worth of InDesign, learn how to use it (which also has a steep learning curve), and make what they need. This shows me they have prudence and can prioritize and manage their time properly, and aren't swayed by public opinion on what the best tool for the job is, but make unbiased comparisons for themselves.
- sotojuan 11y ago
  Personally I've had more success after switching to a résumé based on this article: http://practicaltypography.com/resumes.html http://practicaltypography.com/resumes.html
sotojuan 11y ago
> Preparing a resume with it says "I have the technical judgement to use the best tool for this job, even if I had to learn an arcane new programming language[0] to do it." In my experience with my classmates, it means "I know how to download a template and edit it".
fsloth 11y ago
"Preparing a resume with it says "I have the technical judgement to use the best tool for this job, even if I had to learn an arcane new programming language[0] to do it."" As a dude who wasted uncounted hours tweaking his LaTeX config at university a decade ago and who considers it the best tool for technical reports of any length... I have to strongly disagree. I would not hold it against the person but wasting time on an arcane layout language is like smashing bricks with ones body. Impressive, but not very practical. Best tool... for a single page CV? I would call that massive overengineering. LaTeX is great for long technical documents but preparing careful layouts - especially single page - is an effort in frustration (unless one is actually proficient in it in which case salutations to you!). I would advice people to try anything else for CV before LaTeX.
- mrzool 11y ago
  For example? What are the alternatives? The only other option I can think of to get a good result that stands out is inDesign, which also require a fair amount of fiddling, it's expensive (unless you download it illegally, which means more fiddling plus, you know, breaking the law), and removes all possibility for automation and version control. If, on the other side, you're suggesting to use MS Word or LibreOffice or similar, then I'm afraid we have dramatically different standards...
  - fsloth 11y ago
    "If, on the other side, you're suggesting to use MS Word or LibreOffice or similar, then I'm afraid we have dramatically different standards..." Well, honestly, it's way worse than that. Personally? I've used them all, Word, LaTeX, InDesign... I believe I did one even in Illustrator once. Now? I have grown tired. I use Google Docs. I use Verdana, with judiciously placed bolded words to highlight pertinent items, red color to highlight positions, and headers for a few places for structure. I export a PDF which I offer publicly. And I love it. It's easy to tweak, easy to update, and most of all, I have a recipe that does exactly what I want my CV to perform most of all - convey the information for which kind of tasks I kick ass and can prove it. Yes, it's more functional than pretty - I have changed the graphical razzle dazzle of my youth (which was a vain attempt to hide inexperience) for bullet points about professional experience. I think we might have different standards, sure. I see nothing wrong if one writes his CV in Word. I know several academically pretty kick-ass professors who do. Like I said, it's not efficient use of time to learn LaTeX just for ones CV unless one really wants to and it would be unfair to judge a person just because he chooses to use a tool that is faster to use for him just as long as he takes care that the document comes out as brief and informative.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
mrzool 11y ago
I liked your first sentence so much that I've put it as opening quote in the readme.
slayed0 11y ago
Are you making hiring decisions at the company you're at now? Can you share the name of that company either here, or via e-mail? I, and I'm sure others, would like to avoid applying there.

sdegutis 11y ago

I can't agree. Having used LaTeX for about a year now, it's got all the fragmentation and design-by-committee flaws of Linux, but much worse. There are so many packages, and many are completely incompatible with each other. And while TeX itself is pretty simple, LaTeX is much bigger, and using any libraries on top of it pretty much requires hours of searching tex.so for obscure fixes and workarounds, which are often counter-intuitive. I'd rather hire someone who would have the sense to pay $20 for a month's worth of InDesign, learn how to use it (which also has a steep learning curve), and make what they need. This shows me they have prudence and can prioritize and manage their time properly, and aren't swayed by public opinion on what the best tool for the job is, but make unbiased comparisons for themselves.

sotojuan 11y ago
Personally I've had more success after switching to a résumé based on this article: http://practicaltypography.com/resumes.html http://practicaltypography.com/resumes.html

sotojuan 11y ago

> Preparing a resume with it says "I have the technical judgement to use the best tool for this job, even if I had to learn an arcane new programming language[0] to do it." In my experience with my classmates, it means "I know how to download a template and edit it".

fsloth 11y ago

"Preparing a resume with it says "I have the technical judgement to use the best tool for this job, even if I had to learn an arcane new programming language[0] to do it."" As a dude who wasted uncounted hours tweaking his LaTeX config at university a decade ago and who considers it the best tool for technical reports of any length... I have to strongly disagree. I would not hold it against the person but wasting time on an arcane layout language is like smashing bricks with ones body. Impressive, but not very practical. Best tool... for a single page CV? I would call that massive overengineering. LaTeX is great for long technical documents but preparing careful layouts - especially single page - is an effort in frustration (unless one is actually proficient in it in which case salutations to you!). I would advice people to try anything else for CV before LaTeX.

mrzool 11y ago
For example? What are the alternatives? The only other option I can think of to get a good result that stands out is inDesign, which also require a fair amount of fiddling, it's expensive (unless you download it illegally, which means more fiddling plus, you know, breaking the law), and removes all possibility for automation and version control. If, on the other side, you're suggesting to use MS Word or LibreOffice or similar, then I'm afraid we have dramatically different standards...
- fsloth 11y ago
  "If, on the other side, you're suggesting to use MS Word or LibreOffice or similar, then I'm afraid we have dramatically different standards..." Well, honestly, it's way worse than that. Personally? I've used them all, Word, LaTeX, InDesign... I believe I did one even in Illustrator once. Now? I have grown tired. I use Google Docs. I use Verdana, with judiciously placed bolded words to highlight pertinent items, red color to highlight positions, and headers for a few places for structure. I export a PDF which I offer publicly. And I love it. It's easy to tweak, easy to update, and most of all, I have a recipe that does exactly what I want my CV to perform most of all - convey the information for which kind of tasks I kick ass and can prove it. Yes, it's more functional than pretty - I have changed the graphical razzle dazzle of my youth (which was a vain attempt to hide inexperience) for bullet points about professional experience. I think we might have different standards, sure. I see nothing wrong if one writes his CV in Word. I know several academically pretty kick-ass professors who do. Like I said, it's not efficient use of time to learn LaTeX just for ones CV unless one really wants to and it would be unfair to judge a person just because he chooses to use a tool that is faster to use for him just as long as he takes care that the document comes out as brief and informative.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

mrzool 11y ago

I liked your first sentence so much that I've put it as opening quote in the readme.

slayed0 11y ago

Are you making hiring decisions at the company you're at now? Can you share the name of that company either here, or via e-mail? I, and I'm sure others, would like to avoid applying there.