4 ms·

Stop Relying on Your Resume

24 points by ssclafani 16y ago

devmonk 16y ago
Self-publishing a mini e-book that shares your perspective with the world This would be a definite "minus" in my book in a potential employee, unless I was hiring an editorialist. Instead, I would want to see results and understanding of the business. I agree that a resume doesn't do that justice, but it helps when done correctly.
- tomjh 16y ago
  Care to elaborate?
  - devmonk 16y ago
    Sure. If someone took the time to write a book about what s/he thinks, and I don't mean teaching some subject (including their experiences in the subject), or writing some other fiction other non-fiction, but rather some semi-informed garbage providing only their opinion ("What I Think About ...", "Everything I Believe", or "My Autobiography"), then s/he is a substantial amount of time on a throwaway work. This is different than responding with opinion on HN, etc. because it isn't a discussion where they might actually engage someone else; it is a one-way conversation. Now if they wrote a wise work of art and is marketed correctly or widely popular, I might reconsider, but that probably isn't the case. I don't want someone who wrote a book like that and flaunting it in conversation working for me, because unless they are applying to a position as an editorialist, I don't want to read their diatribe emails or listen to soliloquies about their feelings on various subjects while at work, I want them to get their work done. Why is a resume that shows understanding of the business important? Because it shows that they are focused on what is important to the work and relaying that information, rather than their opinion.
- j_baker 16y ago
  What if the ebook is about the results they've gotten and the understanding of the business they have?
count 16y ago
This is a bit ranty/preachy, but I feel like many young people don't quite 'get it' as they get out of school and into the work world. I don't know a single person who got a job through a resume or filling out an application (that usually happens AFTER the person is picked to be hired, to satisfy the HR drones). Get out of the house/current office and meet people. Hang out at local user meetups, attend any conferences or talks you can afford to (and actually interact with people there). GIVE talks and hold teaching sessions on something you know a bit about - there always seems to be an incredible amount of desire for 'Subject X 101' type stuff. The key is to meet new people in a meaningful way. Networking. In addition to not knowing anybody who got a job based on resumes, I've also never hired anyone based on a resume. Much like the VC business for startup funding - if you can't figure out how to get an introduction via your personal network, you probably aren't ready for the interview. Like it or not, PEOPLE drive business, both in and out of tech. There's no getting around it. There's also no excuse for a fresh young college graduate to not have a tremendous network built up - it's one of the main things you should be getting from your huge amount of student debt. Leverage your professors, TAs, post-docs and even your friends and fellow students - they all know people who are hiring, or can introduce you to other groups of people that will know people. As a last ditch effort - even a recruiter is better than just a cold email.
- InclinedPlane 16y ago
  I've gotten quite decent jobs off of my resume being posted someplace completely mundane (like monster). I'd say it's about 50/50 between connections and job sites in terms of recent jobs. That being said, without that other 50% my career would definitely be far worse off. Networking is pretty important.
  - count 16y ago
    I'm sure SOME people get jobs via Monster and the like, as they wouldn't be huge/exist like that without a bit of success. With that said, when I've hired, it's always been via personal referral first, and then a look at submitted resumes.
- tomjen3 16y ago
known 16y ago
viz highly skilled wage slave.

24 points by ssclafani 16y ago

Self-publishing a mini e-book that shares your perspective with the world This would be a definite "minus" in my book in a potential employee, unless I was hiring an editorialist. Instead, I would want to see results and understanding of the business. I agree that a resume doesn't do that justice, but it helps when done correctly.

tomjh 16y ago
Care to elaborate?
- devmonk 16y ago
  Sure. If someone took the time to write a book about what s/he thinks, and I don't mean teaching some subject (including their experiences in the subject), or writing some other fiction other non-fiction, but rather some semi-informed garbage providing only their opinion ("What I Think About ...", "Everything I Believe", or "My Autobiography"), then s/he is a substantial amount of time on a throwaway work. This is different than responding with opinion on HN, etc. because it isn't a discussion where they might actually engage someone else; it is a one-way conversation. Now if they wrote a wise work of art and is marketed correctly or widely popular, I might reconsider, but that probably isn't the case. I don't want someone who wrote a book like that and flaunting it in conversation working for me, because unless they are applying to a position as an editorialist, I don't want to read their diatribe emails or listen to soliloquies about their feelings on various subjects while at work, I want them to get their work done. Why is a resume that shows understanding of the business important? Because it shows that they are focused on what is important to the work and relaying that information, rather than their opinion.
j_baker 16y ago
What if the ebook is about the results they've gotten and the understanding of the business they have?

count 16y ago

This is a bit ranty/preachy, but I feel like many young people don't quite 'get it' as they get out of school and into the work world. I don't know a single person who got a job through a resume or filling out an application (that usually happens AFTER the person is picked to be hired, to satisfy the HR drones). Get out of the house/current office and meet people. Hang out at local user meetups, attend any conferences or talks you can afford to (and actually interact with people there). GIVE talks and hold teaching sessions on something you know a bit about - there always seems to be an incredible amount of desire for 'Subject X 101' type stuff. The key is to meet new people in a meaningful way. Networking. In addition to not knowing anybody who got a job based on resumes, I've also never hired anyone based on a resume. Much like the VC business for startup funding - if you can't figure out how to get an introduction via your personal network, you probably aren't ready for the interview. Like it or not, PEOPLE drive business, both in and out of tech. There's no getting around it. There's also no excuse for a fresh young college graduate to not have a tremendous network built up - it's one of the main things you should be getting from your huge amount of student debt. Leverage your professors, TAs, post-docs and even your friends and fellow students - they all know people who are hiring, or can introduce you to other groups of people that will know people. As a last ditch effort - even a recruiter is better than just a cold email.

InclinedPlane 16y ago
I've gotten quite decent jobs off of my resume being posted someplace completely mundane (like monster). I'd say it's about 50/50 between connections and job sites in terms of recent jobs. That being said, without that other 50% my career would definitely be far worse off. Networking is pretty important.
- count 16y ago
  I'm sure SOME people get jobs via Monster and the like, as they wouldn't be huge/exist like that without a bit of success. With that said, when I've hired, it's always been via personal referral first, and then a look at submitted resumes.
tomjen3 16y ago

known 16y ago

viz highly skilled wage slave.