Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?

[Keith Hood <bus -dot- write -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Geology is not a good comparison. They don't change the way rock hammers
work every 2 years. When working with computers, software tool knowledge is
very important, and is also very mutable. So are procedures. Seems like
someone comes out with a new magic silver bullet process that cures all
development cycle ills (except for the ones it creates) every 9 months or
so. Rocks are stable. High tech isn't.

On Wed, Dec 3, 2014 at 4:16 AM, Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- westnet -dot- com -dot- au> wrote:

> I just don't agree that  20-year-old experience is automatically
> irrelevant. If someone worked for a few years as a geologist or
> industrial chemist or in the military that could be highly useful and
> applicable to certain TW roles.
>
> If anything some employers are swayed too much by past job titles. Bob
> used to work as an X, and everyone can write, so Bob can write our X
> manual.
>
> --- Stuart
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gene Kim-Eng"
> To:"Stuart Burnfield" , "Techwr-l" ,
> Sent:Sun, 30 Nov 2014 18:20:14 -0800
> Subject:Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?
>
>  Look at that long past "relevant" experience and tear it down to its
>  component functions, then look for the more recent jobs you've had in
>
>  which you used those. The only person who's likely to be pulled in by
>
>  the fact that you "used to be" a programmer, lab tech or telecom
>  developer 20 years ago is the recruiter or HR drone who's skimming
> your
>  resume for key words (not that you don't have to attract that person,
>
>  but don't make the pandering too obvious). The real hiring manager is
>
>  going to be looking for something that shows you have skills that are
>
>  relevant to what's going to be in the contract now.
>
>  Gene Kim-Eng
>
>  On 11/30/2014 5:32 PM, Stuart Burnfield wrote:
>  >
>  > Instead, I'd mention the relevant-but-old experience in the cover
>  > letter or intro paragraph ("... experienced technical writer and
>  > former XXX") and list only the recent and relevant gigs in the body
> of
>  > the rÃsumÃ. If they're curious about when you got the XXX
> experience
>  > they can ask at the interview.
>
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