Re: Resume styles

Subject: Re: Resume styles
From: Kathleen MacDowell <kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Elisa R. Sawyer" <elisawyer -at- gmail -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:39:00 -0600

Elisa, could you explain what you mean by your comment?

"In a case like this, I would not rule out the possibility that the critique
of the resume is a red herring."

Kathleen

On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 12:23 PM, Elisa R. Sawyer <elisawyer -at- gmail -dot- com>
wrote:

> Chris,
>
> In a case like this, I would not rule out the possibility that the critique
> of the resume is a red herring.
>
> -Elisa
>
> On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 9:24 AM, Michael McCallister <
> workingwriter -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>
> > Chris,
> >
> > Julie's points are excellent, and I'd be skittish about someone who
> wanted
> > "flashy" docs too. It sounds like he thinks documentation is more about
> > marketing. If that's the case, focus on the philosophy of useful docs. "I
> > use visuals to help the user understand how a product helps him/her to
> > complete a task or otherwise get a job done. It's not about the dazzle
> (or
> > the baffle alternative), it's about putting the user first."
> >
> > You might also explain that the reason you have had so many clients over
> > the years is because your resume has impressed them all enough to talk
> with
> > you.
> >
> > Best of luck!
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> > Mike McCallister
> > Just released: *Build Your Author Platform: The New Rules*
> > <http://buildauthorplatform.com> (w/Carole Jelen)
> > Notes from the Metaverse: http://metaverse.wordpress.com
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 10:48 AM, Julie Stickler <jstickler -at- gmail -dot- com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > >I found its style to be very traditional and the
> > > formatting more difficult to follow than other resumes I have reviewed.
> > > Considering your expertise is in Technical Writing, I was wondering why
> > you
> > > wouldnât approach your resume in a much more flashy visual style such
> as
> > > your LinkedIn webpage.
> > >
> > > Because resumes are written for a different audience than web pages.
> > Often
> > > resumes are parsed by machine to extract keywords. Resumes have to be
> > easy
> > > to scan, because people often spend very little time on them before
> > making
> > > a decision about the candidate. And resumes are often printed out for
> > use
> > > during the interview process, so the extra graphics and colors that you
> > > would see on a web page are not appropriate to a print document.
> > >
> > > As far as it being "more difficult to follow" without seeing your
> resume,
> > > it's hard to know how to respond to that.
> > >
> > > On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 10:11 AM, Bridget Gordan <
> > bridget -dot- gordan -at- gmail -dot- com
> > > >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > I would run a mile. He sounds like he would be a PITA to work for.
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 9:55 AM, Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com
> >
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hi All,
> > > > >
> > > > > This just came in. I've been undergoing a series of interviews for
> a
> > > > > position with a NY manufacturer of high-tech instruments. It's a
> > > > relatively
> > > > > young company, has a strong market position and is owned by a
> Fortune
> > > 500
> > > > > entity. They've had but a single technical writer in their entire
> > > > history.
> > > > > She was with them five years before moving closer to family and
> > > vacating
> > > > > the position. I've read her LinkedIn profile and thought her
> > > > qualifications
> > > > > were rather average.
> > > > >
> > > > > Out of the six gentlemen I've spoken with by phone, one fellow
> seems
> > to
> > > > be
> > > > > the one I'm having the most trouble convincing that I'm the right
> > > > > candidate. He was quite surprised to learn that a good number of us
> > > > haven't
> > > > > worked full-time for the same company all of our adult lives, that
> we
> > > > tend
> > > > > to move around and accept a succession of short-duration contracts.
> > > I've
> > > > > explained that I'd still be full-time at HP had that company
> remained
> > > > what
> > > > > it once was (or had any idea where it's presently headed). One has
> to
> > > > eat.
> > > > >
> > > > > I've also attempted to explain that a varied career such as mine
> (and
> > > > > perhaps yours) makes me more well-rounded and capable of seeing
> > things
> > > > in a
> > > > > different light. I view this as a huge plus. Also, our Craig
> Cardimon
> > > has
> > > > > been reposting many an article that essentially states this same
> > thing;
> > > > the
> > > > > days of the pension and gold watch are long gone, that each of us
> > needs
> > > > to
> > > > > think of ourselves as entrepreneurs, etc. And although I'm
> delighted
> > to
> > > > be
> > > > > freelancing at this time and have two good clients, Obamacare is
> > > > > ridiculously expensiveâeven for the crummiest, least-expensive
> plan.
> > In
> > > > > addition to the exciting challenges of a new full-time gig, I'm
> keen
> > on
> > > > the
> > > > > benefits package a FT position such as this offers. The initial req
> > > read
> > > > as
> > > > > if it was written with me in mind.
> > > > >
> > > > > So.... I have my own ideas as to how to proceed, but was wondering
> > how
> > > > you
> > > > > would answer this question:
> > > > >
> > > > > I spent a fair amount of time reviewing your work posted on
> LinkedIn.
> > > I
> > > > > see a lot of resumes and resume styles and one thing was really
> > > bothering
> > > > > me regarding your resume. I found its style to be very traditional
> > and
> > > > the
> > > > > formatting more difficult to follow than other resumes I have
> > reviewed.
> > > > > Considering your expertise is in Technical Writing, I was wondering
> > why
> > > > you
> > > > > wouldnât approach your resume in a much more flashy visual style
> such
> > > as
> > > > > your LinkedIn webpage. Can you comment?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks
> > > > >
> > > > > > Chris
> > > > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > > > > Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved
> > teamwork,
> > > > > communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help |
> > > http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa
> > > > >
> > > > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > > > >
> > > > > You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as
> bridget -dot- gordan -at- gmail -dot- com
> > .
> > > > >
> > > > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> > > > > techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> > > > > http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more
> resources
> > > and
> > > > > info.
> > > > >
> > > > > Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our
> > > > online
> > > > > magazine at http://techwhirl.com
> > > > >
> > > > > Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our
> > public
> > > > > email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
> > > > >
> > > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > > > Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved
> teamwork,
> > > > communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help |
> > http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa
> > > >
> > > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > > >
> > > > You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as jstickler -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> > > > techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> > > > http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources
> > and
> > > > info.
> > > >
> > > > Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our
> > > online
> > > > magazine at http://techwhirl.com
> > > >
> > > > Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our
> public
> > > > email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Julie Stickler
> > > http://heratech.wordpress.com/
> > > Blogging about Agile and technical writing
> > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > > Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved teamwork,
> > > communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help |
> http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa
> > >
> > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > >
> > > You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as workingwriter -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> > > techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > >
> > >
> > > Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> > > http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources
> and
> > > info.
> > >
> > > Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our
> > online
> > > magazine at http://techwhirl.com
> > >
> > > Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public
> > > email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
> > >
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved teamwork,
> > communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help | http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa
> >
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
> > You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as elisawyer -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
> >
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> > techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> >
> >
> > Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> > http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
> > info.
> >
> > Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our
> online
> > magazine at http://techwhirl.com
> >
> > Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public
> > email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Elisa Rood Sawyer
> ~~~~~^~~~~~
> Technical and Creative Writer
> "Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today." Mark Twain
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved teamwork,
> communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help | http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
> info.
>
> Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online
> magazine at http://techwhirl.com
>
> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public
> email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>



--
Kathleen MacDowell
kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved teamwork, communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help | http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives


References:
Resume styles: From: Chris Morton
Re: Resume styles: From: Bridget Gordan
Re: Resume styles: From: Julie Stickler
Re: Resume styles: From: Michael McCallister
Re: Resume styles: From: Elisa R. Sawyer

Previous by Author: Re: This is the sound of me beating my head against my desk
Next by Author: Re: A guide to technical writing from 1908
Previous by Thread: Re: Resume styles
Next by Thread: Re: Resume styles


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads