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Subject:Re: Excluding resumes based on fonts? From:John Posada <posada -at- FAXSAV -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 27 Jan 1998 14:10:02 -0500
I was thinking about this thread and I have an observation.
When I'm producing a resume, I have to make certain assumptions based on the intended audience.
If I'm sending it to a location domestically, I have to assume that it will be printed on 8-1/2 X 11 stock and if I send it oversees, I may make an assumption that it will be printed on A4 size paper. If you happen to have a personal preference that goes counter to the norm (you happen to like and stock your printer with 8-1/2 X 5-1/2), then it's not my fault and should not be penalized for it.
Likewise, if you tell me to send it in Word format and don't specify font style, I'll pick a font that has the greatest chance of being compatible with the standard windows configuration, and right now, it is Times New Roman and Arial. (all Microsoft products come with it). If I'm sending it as a Word Perfect format because you requested WP, I'll pick the equivalent common WP fonts.
You, as part of this community, have an obligation to either accept the assumed and most common standards, make your preferences known ahead of time, or suffer the consequences...but you cannot penalize me for it.
My preference internally may be Bradley Hand ITC and Elephant, but I'm not going to use them because they are my preference and if you didn't use them with no input from me, I cannot ding you for it.
John Posada, Technical Writer (and proud of the title)
The world's premier Internet fax service company: The FaxSav Global Network
-work http://www.faxsav.com -personal http://www.tdandw.com
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My opinions are mine, and neither you nor my company can take credit for them.
HEY! Are you coming to the NJ TechWriter lunch? So far, about 10
of us are. Ask me about it.
If I've got the start of this thread pegged right, jim grey
commented that resumes done in Times and Helvetica bugged
him enough that he'd have second thoughts about hiring
someone who formatted their resume that way. (Apologies if
it wasn't you, Jim.)
I don't think I'd want to work for anyone who discriminated
on this basis. Not to slam the original poster, but isn't
font choice in a resume completely irrelevant to hiring a
techwhirler? Assuming that the body font is legible and the
job advertisement doesn't ask for proof of my taste in
fonts, I'd hope the quality of my resume's content (and how
well it matched the person's needs) would be the sole
criterion for hiring or dismissing me.
--Geoff Hart @8^{)} geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.
