Resume Advice? 7

[LiquidPlumber]

Hey All,

Well, my fiancee got into med school (yeah!).... on the opposite side of the country (boo!), so looks like it's time to do my rolling stone impression.

I haven't updated my resume since graduating college, so I got with a graphic designer friend of mine and tried to slap something together.

I'm looking for feedback on:
-Layout
-Subjects (is it good to have a summary? Good to have personal interests?)
-General content

Any suggestions would be extremely appreciated!

Also, for privacy, I've changed all my contact info to "fake".

Thanks!

 

[MacGyverS2000]

It's not the worst that I've seen, but unless you are applying for a graphic designer position, I always warn people away from using graphic designers as their layout gurus. This is relatively clean, but some may consider it too crowded... newspaper column format isn't a "normal" format for resumes and may turn a lot of potential employers off.

I like summaries, but it should be just that, a summary. Statements like "I'm looking for a challenging position" do nothing for you. If you must, turn it into a positive personality trait, not an obvious statement of fact... "who enjoys challenging projects" or "capable of balancing multiple challenging projects", etc.

Personal interests have no business being on a resume, IMO... that's for the interview when things get chummy.

Work experience should come right after your summary... here's what I'm all about in a nutshell, now here's everything in more detail. You're not a student or an intern, so there should be no need to put education right at the top. At some point you need to get rid of the GPA, too, and the 5-year mark is about the point I would do it. Shift everything else down, with education next, then publications/seminars. Depending upon your final format, and argument could be made for putting your skills between the summary and experience.

Just my $0.02 and subject to the vagaries of your particular profession, which is not the same as mine...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[MortenA]

I would also say, dont be afraid to go "two pages".

I prefer to have a CV with my skills and work experience and then a cover letter where i try to borrow a little text from the claasified (if its a posted position) this is where the "who enjoys challenging projects" or "capable of balancing multiple challenging projects", etc. goes.

Best regards, and good luck, Morten

 

[MortenA]

Forgot one thing, although i wouldnt have done it 5 years ago i think that you should consider a photograh. It helps the reader of the CV somewhat _after_ an interview (if they dont take photographs themselfs)

 

[MacGyverS2000]

NO photos on resumes... it's an HR nightmare and will get your resume put in the trashcan. HR can't afford an EEO lawsuit, so it's easier to roundfile it than remove the pic.

Of course, this also assumes USA.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[JNieman]

I ended up ditching the 'summary' or 'goals' paragraph in lieu of adding more experience/skills. The summary is really just fluff and BS anyways.

But I'm also someone who was scared to go to two pages. If it's common to go to two pages, maybe I should write up a version like that. Maybe I've hit the point in my career where it's worth it. I did feel like I had to cut out important items so it would fit on one page.

I would agree with MacGyver on 'education' - mine is almost a footnote that comes after the more important stuff. It's more of a "Yes I went to college, here's where and when" After a certain amount of years (5 sounds good) the work experience vastly overshadows the college classes.

_________________________________________
NX8.0, Solidworks 2014, AutoCAD, Enovia V5

 

[MortenA]

Alright, im not in the states (and not in HR), but when look at candidates CV it certainly does not subtract that they have a photograph - and after the interview it helps.

 

[steellion]

It's a little unorthodox, but I really like the two column format! Clean and easy to read. I disagree with MacGyver, a couple words about personal interests doesn't hurt, shows you're well-rounded and if you put that you really like skiing, and the boss's hobby is skiing, you already have one check in the good column.

 

[zelgar]

Here's a few things that stuck out for me:
1. Chemical Process Engineer vs. Chemical Engineer for title
2. Your MS in CE indicates a Date of Dec 2015. As you still working on your MS degree?
4. Invited Seminars and Lectures, you indicated for the dates of Fall 2012 to Spring 2015 for the University of California, Berkeley, Dept. of Chemical & Bimolecular Engineering. It's unclear when you were an Invited Lecturer and when the ChE 170A & ChE 154 items were presented.
5. I'd get rid of the Personal Interest.
6. Work Experience - Were all of the jobs at "A Major Winery" at the same company? If so, I'd change your format so that the present job started with the "A Major Winery | FAKE TOWN, CA" followed by position and dates.
7. I'd change your formatting. It appears that you're trying to fit everything in 1 page and minimize white space, but it seems a little "busy". Additionally, if you went to they "typical" 1 column design, you could get rid of some abbreviations (e.g., Dec to December), and may be able to expand some items (e.g., work experience, education).
8. Revise your Summary. The first sentence is actually a fragment. Revise it to something like the following: "Chemical engineer with 3 years of experience in co-process design and plant operations seeking fresh challenges in Process Engineering or Industrial Research and Development."

 

[MacGyverS2000]

It's a little unorthodox, but I really like the two column format! Clean and easy to read. I disagree with MacGyver, a couple words about personal interests doesn't hurt, shows you're well-rounded and if you put that you really like skiing, and the boss's hobby is skiing, you already have one check in the good column.

What if you enjoy golfing and the boss thinks it's a waste of time only elitists play? You just shot yourself in the foot.

This is an interview for a professional job, not a wine/book club... your outside hobbies should only be mentioned during the "let's get familiar with each other" portion of the interview, like during lunch. And you should only mention more personal stuff when you get the impression it will be viewed favorably.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[TheTick]

Publication & Education LAST--they'll find it if they're interested.

Key Skills FIRST--managers are busy and want to find something interesting quickly.

As much as I like the 2 column format aesthetic, it's risky. Busy managers reading resumes are reading top-down, as is custom.

Your experience shows real accomplishments. This is good.

 

[IRstuff]

After all is said and done in the interview, a new hire is still a crap shoot. Nevertheless, the objective is to show that YOU are a good fit for that company's culture, so anything that might present an contrary perspective is bad. This is no different that the suggestion to remove all personal items when showing a house for sale; the objective is to make the buyer picture being in THEIR home, not yours.

This is self censorship, but it cuts both ways. They may later find out about your full body tats, or you may may find out later that they're all Gundam fanatics.

TTFN
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[MacGyverS2000]

you may may find out later that they're all Gundam fanatics.

and...?

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[LiquidPlumber]

First off, dang! Thanks so much for all the feedback.

A few thoughts:

1) Yes, I am about to graduate with my MS. I am doing it via a distance program while I work
2) I also am very unsure about the "summary" and "personal interests"-- I've had friends strongly recommend them, some don't care, some don't like them. I'm debating axing them and spreading out the left column to make it seem less cluttered

 

[kacarrol]

There was an interesting radio show on recently that gave a couple of tips about resumes (and more advice on your whole image to an employer):

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/selling-yourself-the-art-of-personal-branding-1.3106068

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I also am very unsure about the "summary" and "personal interests"-- I've had friends strongly recommend them, some don't care, some don't like them.

Have these "friends" been in industry long? Have they acted in a hiring (or at least interviewing) role? Are they in technical industries or more language arts fields?

I wouldn't trust the opinion of someone who has only recently graduated or has only worked at one or two companies. Leery of someone who has never been involved in the hiring process somewhere along the way and seen firsthand how resumes are viewed/reviewed. And if they're a philosophy major, they have zero idea about how engineering managers will view things.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[JMirisola]

I'm currently looking over resumes for a temporary position we need to fill here, so I figure I'll give my $.02...

If your resume came across my desk, the two column format would throw me off. I'm just not liking it. As someone mentioned, it looks like you're trying to cram everything onto one page. Don't be afraid to go to two pages.
Your summary should be tailored for the position you're applying for, assuming you're not just cold-calling.
Work experience after the summary, then skills, then education (sans GPA), then interests.
I'd put publication and the seminar stuff under an 'Honors & Achievements' heading.
Make sure you use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. I just received a resume where a skill was listed as 'sheet mettle design' and the first sentence of the summary was incomplete. Less than stellar beginning.

No pictures!

Jeff Mirisola, CSWE
My Blog

 

[1gibson]

Everyone approaches a job search with the perspective that they want an offer from every interview. Sure, choices are good, but doing the job is usually less than half the real work. Developing relationships and working with people is important, and takes a lot of time. You could enjoy that time, with people who share similar interests, or it could be like pulling teeth. It's a major component of job satisfaction.

I could never work with a group of people who call a plumber every time their sink drains slow, or an appliance repair guy to change out their home air filter. If you never get your hands dirty, it really limits your approach to problem solving, even in seemingly unrelated situations. Throwing your hands up and saying "it's broken, someone fix it for me" is an absolute last resort. If that was a coworker's initial approach to problem solving, then I'd know I was in the wrong place.

 

[Panther140]

Whether you stay with the 2 column format or not, keep it uniform. Everything in the right column is bullet points, but everything in the left column is listed like an incomplete sentance.

Instead of a summary (written as an incomplete sentance), I would just let a cover letter do that kind of talking. Have a 1-2 paragraph cover letter that quickly gets their attention. Immediately point out your most relevent experience/qualifications/problem solving skills for that exact position, show an interest in their exact company, and express enthusiasm for that exact job. It should be promising from the first sentence and then be very dense with reasons that you are perfect for the job, then it should end before it gets annoying or time consuming.

Next, tailor your resume for the position. Lets say they want a rockstar in CAD. You dedicate a heading in there to CAD with bulleted highlights from your CAD-centric lifestyle. Show them that this type of work is what compels you to get out of bed in the morning. Hobbies? = CAD Interests? = CAD Are you bilingual? Yes, G-Code. Most recent vacation? = CAD museum Gaps in employment? = Too busy doing CAD to have a job Favorite computer game? = CAD Why are you moving to this state? = You already made a topographic map of the other states (I got carried away with that example, but you get it)

If that were my resume, I would avoid the 2 column format. "KISS" as they say. The guy reading your resume is not being optimistic, and you don't want to do anything that is subject to interpretation in that situation. I would recommend that you only stand out in objective ways that are shown through the resume content.

Engineer your resume for each job that you apply for. I started to strategically reconstruct my resume every time I sent one out, and I started getting a LOT more interviews. I had 6 legitimate on-site interviews this spring and then more offers for interviews after I had accepted a job

"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin

 

[IRstuff]

"Throwing your hands up and saying "it's broken, someone fix it for me" is an absolute last resort. If that was a coworker's initial approach to problem solving, then I'd know I was in the wrong place."

I don't think that's it's such a black and white choice. We bill our engineers out at $300/hr, while calling a plumber typically costs less than $100/hr. If someone insisted on burning his expensive labor rate on something that could be done more efficiently and more effectively by lower priced labor, I'd have to question their judgement. Certainly, there are gray areas, but I don't think there is, or should be, a blanket policy to do things one way or the other. On every contract, we do a "make/buy" decision for subassemblies, and more often than not, we choose to buy, because in addition to the incremental cost advantages, supporting an in-house capability tends to even more expensive because that capability needs to be fed continuously to be efficient and effective. Otherwise, that capability erodes, and the cost of doing any given job requires more hours than might otherwise be needed, just to bring someone out of the mental mothballs and get sufficiently proficient to do the job at all.

TTFN
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