Re: Resume styles

[Dave C <davec2468 -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

I’m not Elisa nor do I play her on TV. (c; 

I think she is saying that it is possible that the critique of Chris’ resume was done strictly to trigger a reaction and watch how he responds, how he “defends his work” as someone said. Judging his character and professionalism, as it were. 

Then again the guy might just be a jerk and Chris should run away. Fast. 

It has struck me that this is a fine group of people who have come to the aid of one of their own and offered many perspectives and creative suggestions. A fine collection of talent. I’m learning much here. 

Dave
Chief Lurker

-=-=-=-

> 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
>>>> wouldn’t 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 expensive—even 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
>>>>>> wouldn’t 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 davec2468 -at- yahoo -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 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