RTsumT 3

[frv]

So after raving about my company on these very forums on more than one occasion, I was laid off last week.

My question, now, relates to my résumé.

I am older than most engineers who only have two years of experience, so I have accumulated a rather extensive non-engineering résumé that includes several managerial and supervisory positions. Positions where I was required to work as part of a team, yet was still responsible for the performance of others. Again, this is all in non-engineering positions.

I believe, however, that my experience with my former employer speaks for itself. I was fortunate to be able to do full structural designs, as well as other engineering related tasks, including failure investigations, blah, blah blah.

My question is: should I include my non-engineering experience in my résumé, given that my true engineering experience only dates back three years (including things I did before going into engineering full time)? Or will my relatively brief experience in real engineering suffice?

I would particularly like to hear from those of you in positions to hire. Would you give a horses behind about my non-engineering experience if it shows an ability to be a team player and to supervise the work of others?
I'm thinking not. I wouldn't. But then again, I wouldn't have laid myself off

 

[frv]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I've actually incorporated some of the recurring themes brought up here. Or will that just show poor judgment!?

 

[MikeHalloran]

You need to implement a simple version control system, keep changing the resume, and track what makes a difference for you.

I am _not_ kidding. These days, you may need to send out a statistically significant number of resumes to get a measurable response.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[jpankask]

If you do actually get a call back from someone that has said thanks...but no thanks, don't be afraid to ask them why and whether there was anything on your resume that could be improved. Have multiple people look at your resume and give you their thoughts, especially people from the career office at a local university or your alma mater.

One last thing on the one page vs. multiple page resume. There are obviously people out there that don't care about two or more page resumes, maybe even just as many as those who will not even look at a resume with multiple pages. Are you willing to bet a possible future job on it? You are always safe with one page, you are not always safe with two or more pages.

 

[KENAT]

"You are always safe with one page" is this true though, if you have to leave something out to fit one page isn't there a risk you'll miss opportunities?

I used to stick to 1 page until I spent a bunch of time looking into it about 4-5 years ago.

A lot of places I looked said that rather than just listing job duties/responsibilities give examples.

So my line item of “Bid Preparation” grew to something like “Bid preparation of engineering tasks including complex aircraft store integration packages resulting in the award of multi million $ integration project”.

Do this for all the different tasks/functions I fulfilled at a previous employer and it adds up to almost a page by itself.


KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[cry22]

I've heard of the following rule:
Call-Write-Call. Call first before you send in your resume, so the person receiving it can at least hear you speak English (especially if you have a foreign name and a foreign degree).

I concluded from your brief statements that you did not commit to engineering in your employment history, you committed more to project management. If I were looking for an engineer, I would not consider you because your mind is elsewhere (in management, in moving up). On the other hand, the puzzling fact that you are pursuing a master's in engineering and NOT in Business management would make me think about you wanting to come back to engineering.

If I am looking for an Engineer slash manager, then sure.
I suggest you find a title that balances your managerial and engineering experience. "Engineer/Project Manager?"

One more thing: Do not worry too mcuh - You wouldn't believe the number of resumes from mediocre and unqualified candidates employers receive?

I like RON's approach, I dislike Zdas's. How the heck can you tell a life experience in one page?

Good luck.

 

[frv]

cry22-

Not that it matters, but no. I was employed in a completely separate industry before and while I was attending engineering school. I moved up to supervisory and somewhat managerial (it was a mistake on my part to include that as a significant aspect of my experience in my OP- the "managerial" part was less significant) positions very quickly, as that industry is lacking educated people. Anyone who is fairly smart and well spoken can pretty quickly be in charge of other people, manage projects and clients, and so forth.

Since about one year before I graduated until last Thursday I was exclusively employed in engineering. I have no interest in the other industry. I have not returned to it. I only brought it up because on my résumé it shows some ability to work as a team member as well as supervise others and be in charge of projects. That was my question. Whether or not experience in that realm was irrelevant, given that it was in a non-engineering area.

 

[cry22]

You're on your way frv. I have full confidence in you.