Useless Conversation

[bhodi]

1 page please.  List where you worked, what you ACTUALLY did and maybe an ACTUAL list of skills.  Stop with the verbiage.

all these novels in resume form are very boring -- they all end the same way:  "I M UBER", but you are looking for werk, k?

I that guess it depends on your field, but in tech, that's pretty much impossible. Unless you're going to use 10 pt font.

[tazelbain]

Anyone know what happen to Signe?

[Cheddar]

How the hell does a super healthy 2.5 year old get MRSA? 

Usually by contact.  About 1% of the population carries the bacteria without being infected.  Community acquired strains are also popping up, particularly in high population areas.

Don't panic yet.  There are still several effective antibiotics (albeit with some harsh side-effect profiles).  Caught early, this should be pretty straightforward to treat.

If you have questions, please PM me.

Doctor had to repeat herself 3 times; I thought for sure I had misheard.  Its "Community (CA) MRSA."  Good news is antibiotics are already kicking in and it seems to be retreating; we may have caught it early enough to avoid admitting him to a hospital for a prolonged visit.

Evidently this is becoming much much more common.  My advice to everyone is go see the doctor immediately if you get an infection!!!

[Ingmar]

Anyone know what happen to Signe?

I got the impression they were moving back to the UK or some such.

[Soln]

Good luck Ched, hope it goes quickly for the little one.

[Merusk]

1 page please.  List where you worked, what you ACTUALLY did and maybe an ACTUAL list of skills.  Stop with the verbiage.

all these novels in resume form are very boring -- they all end the same way:  "I M UBER", but you are looking for werk, k?

I that guess it depends on your field, but in tech, that's pretty much impossible. Unless you're going to use 10 pt font.

It's the field and the position.  If you're applying for anything other than Project Architect you'd best have one page. Nobody cares that you did detail x on project abc.  Where did you work, what were the dates, what did they do. Period.  If you have awards, LEED cert or very notable world/ national projects, list them.   List which CAD/ Modeling software you know and which version. Nothing more than that.  Maybe some of the clubs/ groups you're involved with so they know if you've got potential as leads for future projects.  After that it's portfolio work for design positions and competency questions in the interview for technical ones. 

All easily placed on a single sheet at 12p font unless you've job-hopped for 15 years.

At least that's been my experience.

[Murgos]

If people with even 10 years supposed experience presented a one page CV, I'd wonder what the hell they'd been doing in that time.

I have ~10 years experience, not counting military which wasn't relevant.  I fit my resume onto about a page and a half.  I glossed over anything more than 4-5 years old with a short one sentence description.  For the recent experience I made sure it mentioned anything that was in the ad in bold underline.

I got call backs from pretty much everyone I applied to and eventually had multiple offers to choose from.  This method worked on everything from multi-billion dollar multi-nationals to small boutique places.

It probably helped that I had a current position and plenty of time to pick and choose and follow up on only the ones I really was interested in/a good fit for.

Also, good luck Ched.

[bhodi]

It's the field and the position.  If you're applying for anything other than Project Architect you'd best have one page. Nobody cares that you did detail x on project abc.  Where did you work, what were the dates, what did they do. Period.  If you have awards, LEED cert or very notable world/ national projects, list them.   List which CAD/ Modeling software you know and which version. Nothing more than that.  Maybe some of the clubs/ groups you're involved with so they know if you've got potential as leads for future projects.  After that it's portfolio work for design positions and competency questions in the interview for technical ones. 

All easily placed on a single sheet at 12p font unless you've job-hopped for 15 years.

At least that's been my experience.

I disagree, but obviously, it heavily depends on what you do. I have ~7 bullet points per job, listing various software/hardware projects and major projects/milestones completed per job. One paragraph summary, "Recent experience" with my last 2 positions on the first page, along with clearances/certifications. "Additional experience", next 2 jobs on the second. Third has the skills. I could probably cram it into 2 pages, but it ends up looking cluttered. Example:

Place Name (Division/Department)
Systems Engineer (February 2004 – November 2006)
   • Architected comprehensive backup and restore solution using Veritas NetBackup 5.1
   • Architected enterprise SAN storage solution using several HP StorageWorks EVA 5000s & Cisco MDS 9506s
   • Oracle 9i RAC Administration, configuration, and maintenance
   • Lead engineer on BEA WebLogic Portal design and implementation
   • Developed IRT and TTD solution using Red Hat ES 3.0 and Cisco 6513 CSM
   • CMMI level 3 Documentation

Now, this is only 8 lines of text - you only get about 50 on a page. You don't want a gigantic "wall of text", and the first page is designed to give the most recent and useful information, so there should be plenty of whitespace. Just your contact information and general junk eats up half of it. It's hard to sell the last 15 years of your life in 20-25 lines.

You can argue that I could cut several lines out of that, but each one is important for different reasons and highlights a specific avenue of expertise. Each one of those is a project-level accomplishment, and I'm not padding or putting words there for the sake of filling space. I'm not suggesting what you do doesn't work, but what I'm doing works just fine as well. No snide comments needed about how "Architected" isn't a real word - I'm aware.

[Merusk]

Your definition of 'Architect' is different from mine. Mine's about 2200 years older. 

[bhodi]

You can easily argue in circles about definitions. Especially with system admin / system engineer, some companies think it's NOC work and some companies think it's design / architecture. It's also hard to say "Designed and implemented" for a bunch of things in a row so you start trying to think of synonyms. I'm not a total fan of it myself and I'll be changing it up next go around on my resume, if I can only think of appropriate replacements.

At least I do legitimately have architect in my title, and I am part of the 'Systems Architecture" group where I work now, where we plan and implement overarching company policy and vet/advise on project / systems design.

It's a different definition from what most people use, though, yeah. I once got into a heated "discussion" with a neighbor, who spent 10 minutes ranting about how I didn't have the right to call myself an architect because not only did I not graduate from college (it's true!) but I am not a member of any sort of craft union, don't design anything, and don't have a creative bone in my body. He was horrified that I didn't show enough reverence for someone who was both a college graduate and a union member. I clearly didn't "know my place" and he wanted me to know it. I sort of laughed it off but this guy clearly had issues. I don't talk to him anymore.

[Strazos]

Hate hate HATE resumes, but only slightly less than bios. And when you're young, there's not necessarily a whole lot to put in there...

[Bunk]

I disagree, but obviously, it heavily depends on what you do. I have ~7 bullet points per job, listing various software/hardware projects and major projects/milestones completed per job. One paragraph summary, "Recent experience" with my last 2 positions on the first page, along with clearances/certifications. "Additional experience", next 2 jobs on the second. Third has the skills. I could probably cram it into 2 pages, but it ends up looking cluttered. Example:

Place Name (Division/Department)
Systems Engineer (February 2004 – November 2006)
   • Architected comprehensive backup and restore solution using Veritas NetBackup 5.1
   • Architected enterprise SAN storage solution using several HP StorageWorks EVA 5000s & Cisco MDS 9506s
   • Oracle 9i RAC Administration, configuration, and maintenance
   • Lead engineer on BEA WebLogic Portal design and implementation
   • Developed IRT and TTD solution using Red Hat ES 3.0 and Cisco 6513 CSM
   • CMMI level 3 Documentation

Now, this is only 8 lines of text - you only get about 50 on a page. You don't want a gigantic "wall of text", and the first page is designed to give the most recent and useful information, so there should be plenty of whitespace. Just your contact information and general junk eats up half of it. It's hard to sell the last 15 years of your life in 20-25 lines.

You can argue that I could cut several lines out of that, but each one is important for different reasons and highlights a specific avenue of expertise. Each one of those is a project-level accomplishment, and I'm not padding or putting words there for the sake of filling space. I'm not suggesting what you do doesn't work, but what I'm doing works just fine as well. No snide comments needed about how "Architected" isn't a real word - I'm aware.

I should clarify, that the positions I am involved in hiring for are entry level, so I don't typically get that level of tech experience. I have however seen similarly lengthed, 7 bullet point entries for McDonalds jobs.

I also got to see a lot of applications from foreign born call center workers. Trying to interpret what a particular degree from a Russian University actually is can be quite interesting (though our recent Ukrainian hire is actually one of our best employees).

[Murgos]

Even in tech jobs if it's not applicable to the position under question the hiring manager probably doesn't care that much either.

If I need someone who can make system verilog testbenches for a mixed signal asic in a unix environment with little to no 'getting up to speed time' I could care less that 10 years ago they had a deep abiding knowledge of Windows COM.

[bhodi]

Even in tech jobs if it's not applicable to the position under question the hiring manager probably doesn't care that much either.

We both agree on that. Unfortunately, I am far, far too lazy to customize my resume to the jobs I submit it to. Although, keeping some stuff on there displays a breadth of knowledge that is important as you move up the ladder.

[Yegolev]

Unfortunately, I am far, far too lazy to customize my resume to the jobs I submit it to.

Oh ho, I see it.

[bhodi]

Oh ho, I see it.

Obviously, desperation plays a part - I would start down that road if I had to, but I haven't yet!

[Yegolev]

I'm with you actually, since I currently have a job.  I also don't know how to trim mine down to one page, but the day may come.

[Paelos]

Don't know about tech obviously, but in regular business anything longer than a page is generally frowned upon unless you are applying for an executive level slot. No CPA I've met has a resume over a page, for example.

[JWIV]

Don't know about tech obviously, but in regular business anything longer than a page is generally frowned upon unless you are applying for an executive level slot. No CPA I've met has a resume over a page, for example.

Two pages are usually okay if you're going for a senior position. At least in the tech industry.

[Bunk]

I am currently very pissed off. Someone just hijacked my gmail account, changed my password, and started spamming pharmacy ads to my contacts...

 

[Bunk]

I'll give them credit, recovering the account was pretty pain free. Other than the fact I'm now not allowed to reply to any of my emails today, as I have "exceeded my sending limit"

grrr

[Paelos]

Just tell your contacts you've accepted a new position with Pfizer 

[Merusk]

You can easily argue in circles about definitions. Especially with system admin / system engineer, some companies think it's NOC work and some companies think it's design / architecture. It's also hard to say "Designed and implemented" for a bunch of things in a row so you start trying to think of synonyms. I'm not a total fan of it myself and I'll be changing it up next go around on my resume, if I can only think of appropriate replacements.

At least I do legitimately have architect in my title, and I am part of the 'Systems Architecture" group where I work now, where we plan and implement overarching company policy and vet/advise on project / systems design.

It's a different definition from what most people use, though, yeah. I once got into a heated "discussion" with a neighbor, who spent 10 minutes ranting about how I didn't have the right to call myself an architect because not only did I not graduate from college (it's true!) but I am not a member of any sort of craft union, don't design anything, and don't have a creative bone in my body. He was horrified that I didn't show enough reverence for someone who was both a college graduate and a union member. I clearly didn't "know my place" and he wanted me to know it. I sort of laughed it off but this guy clearly had issues. I don't talk to him anymore.

All of which has what to do with my point; that we were comparing apples and oranges.  You may as well have listed the finer points of a doctoral thesis on the merits of washing your brass instrument's interior regularly.  It doesn't invalidate that listing all that BS on more than one page is pointless in some business circles.  Failing to cull your resume to a page or write a CV that at least says "Yes I know what your company does and  here's why I want to work there," gets your resume binned in mine.

[Selby]

I also don't know how to trim mine down to one page, but the day may come.

Just get laid off, you'll have plenty of time to pare that resume down to a page or so, I know I did! ;-)

Two pages are usually okay if you're going for a senior position. At least in the tech industry.

The resume writing class I went to basically told me that if you have been in the workforce productively for 15+ years, 2 pages is expected.  Entry level or people with only a few years experience generally should stick to 1 page.  As I was the only person under 30 in the room, she had to cater that to me especially since I said I didn't think I could necessarily fill 2 pages without sounding pretentious and wordy.  I know my dad's is 2 pages but he's been in the business world for 35+ years now.

[Ingmar]

What I've seen from our hiring people and such is that even for tech jobs going over 2 pages is just seen as likely to be pointless padding or exaggeration.

[Lantyssa]

I don't think I could fill two pages, but then I'm probably fairly rare in the tech world in that I've held the same position for fifteen years doing more or less the same thing -- troubleshooting.  Now I'm getting worried. =/

[Chimpy]

I don't think I could fill two pages, but then I'm probably fairly rare in the tech world in that I've held the same position for fifteen years doing more or less the same thing -- troubleshooting.  Now I'm getting worried. =/

If you have spent 15 years at the same position, that will look better than 2 pages of 6 month jobs and a bunch of bullet point descriptions of what you did (usually the same in each job). You could go into pretty deep detail about that one job, stay on one page, and get pretty much all the information anyone could need.

[Ironwood]

I have spied my next job and I WANT IT.

Monday will launch the offensive.

[Chimpy]

Does it involve being the personal masseuse and love slave for some hot young model?

[stu]

So, I know a kid who got a letter from Uwe Boll alleging that he downloaded one of his movies, so he has to pay up like $2k.

And the kid is actually trying to take out a loan to pay...lol.

Judge allows subpoenas for Internet users
(AP) – 8 hours ago

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday allowed the holder of a movie copyright to subpoena the names of people accused of illegally downloading and distributing a film over the Internet.

Courts have held that Internet subscribers do not have an expectation of privacy once they convey subscriber information to their Internet service providers, U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer ruled.

Collyer denied motions by some computer users to quash subpoenas for subscriber information.

The decision came in the case of a German limited partnership which is suing some Internet users for copyright infringement of the movie "Far Cry," a video game adaptation.

Achte/Neunte Boll Kino Beteiligungs Gmbh & Co KG, a creator and distributor of motion pictures, holds an exclusive license to the copyright of "Far Cry" in which two reporters investigate the deaths of mercenaries on an island off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.

The partnership identified the Internet protocol addresses of computers associated with the alleged infringement. It then subpoenaed the Internet service providers seeking names of individuals associated with those addresses. Notified by their provider, some of the customers challenged the subpoenas.

I know it's been a while, but did the kid you know download Far Cry? 

[Paelos]

I have spied my next job and I WANT IT.

Monday will launch the offensive.

Megalomaniac General?

[Yegolev]

Lost power in the datacenter again.  Drove in to sit around and look pretty.

[Minvaren]

Happened to me about 2 weeks ago as well.   

Wished it would have happened in the late fall instead of mid-summer, though...

[Lantyssa]

Ugh.  Definitely not a fun time to be sitting around here without AC.

[Yegolev]

Still in the datacenter.