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D Griff
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We have many ambitious folks here, some up and comers and some :waxer: already well advanced in high level careers. Many of us also look at new jobs regularly and think, probably too much, about what's next. I thought it would be cool to have a thread to discuss this.

I'll start by asking for a bit of advice. I've been in my role for four years and in the post college work force for seven. While this gig has been so amazing for my personal growth, and I've gotten to see so much, it's starting to wear me down a bit. As some of you know, I recently explored a new position in my current company, but decided it's not for me given the pay/relocation requirements. I'm starting to look around and was wondering (especially from the guys who actually hire people) what you look for in a resume. I've always avoided bullet point formats and had more of paragraphs about my past jobs. I've always tried to include recognition and achievements of past jobs, while also including buzz words from the job description of what I'm applying for. My posts here may not show it, but when I bother I'm actually a really good writer, both of my parents have written professionally and it runs in the family, so that's not a problem. Should I go to bullet points? I could see where that would be preferred by someone reading them all. Is it a reasonable idea to try to make it stand out a bit from a visual perspective, or better to just keep it simple, basic?

I have many versions of my resume available on my PC, but I think it may be time to rethink it and start from scratch.
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Simplify, simplify, simplify. Start it off with something that grabs attention and distinguishes you, but the meat of it you want as straightforward and simple as possible.


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Calvinball wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:31 am Simplify, simplify, simplify. Start it off with something that grabs attention and distinguishes you, but the meat of it you want as straightforward and simple as possible.


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This is along the lines of what I was thinking about.
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I like this thread. I shall put some musings in here as I debate with myself about what my next step is.

My boss told me of a position that will be opening up in the near future, and showed me the job description for it. It's what I do now, minus a few things actually. I don't know if that is the direction I want to go in though. Internally there is no one who would get the job over me if I posted for it.
My most recent discussions with my boss included telling me that I still have plenty of room for growth in both skill set and pay in my current role.
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Apex wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:58 am I like this thread. I shall put some musings in here as I debate with myself about what my next step is.

My boss told me of a position that will be opening up in the near future, and showed me the job description for it. It's what I do now, minus a few things actually. I don't know if that is the direction I want to go in though. Internally there is no one who would get the job over me if I posted for it.
My most recent discussions with my boss included telling me that I still have plenty of room for growth in both skill set and pay in my current role.
Would this involve more pay for less work but more stress, like moving into management? Seems like an interesting direction for her to suggest, similar job with less responsibility.
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D Griff wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 10:37 am
Apex wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:58 am I like this thread. I shall put some musings in here as I debate with myself about what my next step is.

My boss told me of a position that will be opening up in the near future, and showed me the job description for it. It's what I do now, minus a few things actually. I don't know if that is the direction I want to go in though. Internally there is no one who would get the job over me if I posted for it.
My most recent discussions with my boss included telling me that I still have plenty of room for growth in both skill set and pay in my current role.
Would this involve more pay for less work but more stress, like moving into management? Seems like an interesting direction for her to suggest, similar job with less responsibility.
It would be a slight bump in pay (probably 5-10% and closer to the 5 most likely). But it would be more focused on half of the responsibilities I have now. I would be in charge of all implementations we do and not just the big ones that I do now. It would be more of a step towards a sales position, up-selling and stuff like that. I would be doing less product/project management type things that I do now.

I am sort of at a crossroads, and I am not really sure what to do. I really like getting out and doing the implementations/client meetings, but I don't want to give up the product/project management gigs either.
I can always keep doing what I am doing and see what happens in another year or so. The department plan is to add another person in my current role next year, so I could move up to a Sr. role and have someone working under me?
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Apex wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 10:51 am
D Griff wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 10:37 am

Would this involve more pay for less work but more stress, like moving into management? Seems like an interesting direction for her to suggest, similar job with less responsibility.
It would be a slight bump in pay (probably 5-10% and closer to the 5 most likely). But it would be more focused on half of the responsibilities I have now. I would be in charge of all implementations we do and not just the big ones that I do now. It would be more of a step towards a sales position, up-selling and stuff like that. I would be doing less product/project management type things that I do now.

I am sort of at a crossroads, and I am not really sure what to do. I really like getting out and doing the implementations/client meetings, but I don't want to give up the product/project management gigs either.
I can always keep doing what I am doing and see what happens in another year or so. The department plan is to add another person in my current role next year, so I could move up to a Sr. role and have someone working under me?
Well given she said you have more room to move up in pay/responsibility, sticking around in it for the time being doesn't sound like a bad idea. It seems like you've gotten nice pay bumps annually, so if you're really happy at work, I wouldn't change it. The opportunity to lead a team of two would be a new, fun challenge to try as well.

I just wrote an email to my CEO saying the same thing in fact, I'm still enjoying my current role and am not going to pursue the new position we discussed last week. It would have been a 10% increase to move somewhere that costs 50% more, so :nope: . Also, while my job has been hellish recently due to some things, it should be pretty cool again starting in April, and I still enjoy seeing the country and stuff. I think I'll explore other options but if I wind up with this for another year or two, OK.
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Apex wrote:
D Griff wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 10:37 am Would this involve more pay for less work but more stress, like moving into management? Seems like an interesting direction for her to suggest, similar job with less responsibility.
It would be a slight bump in pay (probably 5-10% and closer to the 5 most likely). But it would be more focused on half of the responsibilities I have now. I would be in charge of all implementations we do and not just the big ones that I do now. It would be more of a step towards a sales position, up-selling and stuff like that. I would be doing less product/project management type things that I do now.

I am sort of at a crossroads, and I am not really sure what to do. I really like getting out and doing the implementations/client meetings, but I don't want to give up the product/project management gigs either.
I can always keep doing what I am doing and see what happens in another year or so. The department plan is to add another person in my current role next year, so I could move up to a Sr. role and have someone working under me?
I'd say you should take the opportunity. I believe you'd be pigeon held if you didn't after it were suggested to you. This way you go on to sales minded role and ultimately be known as the versatile young dude who handles change well. "Oh yeah.. Hes got upper management written all over him".
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I haven't written a resume in 13 yrs. :yikes:

:popcorn: on the format.
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Tarspin wrote:I haven't written a resume in 13 yrs. :yikes:

:popcorn: on the format.
When I did mine I didn’t do a cover letter, just like an intro paragraph. Then just the facts, ma’am.


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Calvinball wrote:
Tarspin wrote:I haven't written a resume in 13 yrs. :yikes:

:popcorn: on the format.
When I did mine I didn’t do a cover letter, just like an intro paragraph. Then just the facts, ma’am.


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Same rules, stick to two pages, title/place/time as a header and then point form tasks? I hear people are doing some elaborate things to illustrate their successes etc. That could be helpful in some cases maybe?
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[user not found] wrote:
Calvinball wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:22 am When I did mine I didn’t do a cover letter, just like an intro paragraph. Then just the facts, ma’am.


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I've only recently started doing cover letters... and I don't think it helps.

Stick to the facts, be short and sweet, and I think the bigger thing is be consistent on your formatting. If you use periods, make sure you use periods at the end of each line. Use the same style font throughout. Keep your spacing consistent.

Formatting is important, folks.
:dat: you wouldn’t believe how many I saw with spelling errors and inconsistent formatting, and I almost always put those in the nope pile.


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Tarspin wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:19 am I haven't written a resume in 13 yrs. :yikes:

:popcorn: on the format.
:hai: Over 25 years for me. :yikes:
:wap: Where are these mangos?
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wap wrote:
Tarspin wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:19 am I haven't written a resume in 13 yrs. :yikes:

:popcorn: on the format.
:hai: Over 25 years for me. :yikes:
I feel like there will be one more major shift in my career and hopefully I settle into it and stay till I can retire. It's nice to stick to something and get good/great at it.


Also, :hai:
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Tarspin wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:28 pm
wap wrote:
:hai: Over 25 years for me. :yikes:
I feel like there will be one more major shift in my career and hopefully I settle into it and stay till I can retire. It's nice to stick to something and get good/great at it.


Also, :hai:
I hope you manage to do so. Putting down roots at a company can be a great thing, but it has to be the right company for you.
:wap: Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm I don't understand anything anymore.
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Calvinball wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:37 am
[user not found] wrote:
I've only recently started doing cover letters... and I don't think it helps.

Stick to the facts, be short and sweet, and I think the bigger thing is be consistent on your formatting. If you use periods, make sure you use periods at the end of each line. Use the same style font throughout. Keep your spacing consistent.

Formatting is important, folks.
:dat: you wouldn’t believe how many I saw with spelling errors and inconsistent formatting, and I almost always put those in the nope pile.


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Grammatical/spelling errors is a one-way ticket to the :nope: pile.

I do university recruiting, so my opinion might be a bit different, but when I see a resume with paragraphs on it, it goes straight to the :nope:

I have hundreds of resumes to go through, I want to quickly and clearly see the key points of what makes someone special. What did you ACHIEVE in your positions? What about you makes me want to hire you?

I want to see a story...but in bullet points.

SO, it's important to tailor your resume to a job like you said, but I don't want to see a bunch of random bullets. I want to see a trend. A series of accomplishments that leads you to the position your applying for.

Last year, we hired an intern that had experience as a "Dog washer". Seriously. But her resume and the way she presented herself was :mindblown: it was clear she just needed the opportunity to expand. She did so well in her internship that she got a fulltime offer upon graduation.
Desertbreh wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:40 pm My guess would be that Chris took some time off because he has read the dialogue on this page 1,345 times and decided to spend some of his free time doing something besides beating a horse to death.
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Also, I really don't think it's a bad thing to get diversity in job experience early in your career, especially if you're trying to figure out exactly what it is that you want to do. There's little reward for loyalty these days, so jump around. See what jobs you like. What company cultures you like. What you value in a workplace. All this can change from company to company and even job to job to some extent. My most recent job move feels like a different company even though it's not.

One of the perks of working for a giant corporation.

But I also enjoyed working at a 100 person company. VERY different.
Desertbreh wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:40 pm My guess would be that Chris took some time off because he has read the dialogue on this page 1,345 times and decided to spend some of his free time doing something besides beating a horse to death.
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Detroit wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:07 pm
Calvinball wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:37 am

:dat: you wouldn’t believe how many I saw with spelling errors and inconsistent formatting, and I almost always put those in the nope pile.


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Grammatical/spelling errors is a one-way ticket to the :nope: pile.

I do university recruiting, so my opinion might be a bit different, but when I see a resume with paragraphs on it, it goes straight to the :nope:

I have hundreds of resumes to go through, I want to quickly and clearly see the key points of what makes someone special. What did you ACHIEVE in your positions? What about you makes me want to hire you?

I want to see a story...but in bullet points.

SO, it's important to tailor your resume to a job like you said, but I don't want to see a bunch of random bullets. I want to see a trend. A series of accomplishments that leads you to the position your applying for.

Last year, we hired an intern that had experience as a "Dog washer". Seriously. But her resume and the way she presented herself was :mindblown: it was clear she just needed the opportunity to expand. She did so well in her internship that she got a fulltime offer upon graduation.
I want to effect the world in a positive way.
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Johnny_P wrote: Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:21 pm Earn it and burn it, Val.
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Desertbreh wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:30 pm
Detroit wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:07 pm Grammatical/spelling errors is a one-way ticket to the :nope: pile.

I do university recruiting, so my opinion might be a bit different, but when I see a resume with paragraphs on it, it goes straight to the :nope:

I have hundreds of resumes to go through, I want to quickly and clearly see the key points of what makes someone special. What did you ACHIEVE in your positions? What about you makes me want to hire you?

I want to see a story...but in bullet points.

SO, it's important to tailor your resume to a job like you said, but I don't want to see a bunch of random bullets. I want to see a trend. A series of accomplishments that leads you to the position your applying for.

Last year, we hired an intern that had experience as a "Dog washer". Seriously. But her resume and the way she presented herself was :mindblown: it was clear she just needed the opportunity to expand. She did so well in her internship that she got a fulltime offer upon graduation.
I want to effect the world in a positive way.
:lolgasm: :triggered: :nope:

Funny you mentioned that. The last interview session I was in, I interviewed three candidates. Each one individually asked how the company enables employees to have a positive impact on the community and world.

:rolleyes: :millennial:
Desertbreh wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:40 pm My guess would be that Chris took some time off because he has read the dialogue on this page 1,345 times and decided to spend some of his free time doing something besides beating a horse to death.
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Detroit wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:33 pm
Desertbreh wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:30 pm

I want to effect the world in a positive way.
:lolgasm: :triggered: :nope:

Funny you mentioned that. The last interview session I was in, I interviewed three candidates. Each one individually asked how the company enables employees to have a positive impact on the community and world.

:rolleyes: :millennial:
:fax:
Detroit wrote:Buy 911s instead of diamonds.
Johnny_P wrote: Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:21 pm Earn it and burn it, Val.
max225 wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 5:35 pm Yes it's a cool car. But prepare the lube/sawdust.
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Detroit wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:07 pm
Calvinball wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:37 am

:dat: you wouldn’t believe how many I saw with spelling errors and inconsistent formatting, and I almost always put those in the nope pile.


Sent from the Beer Depository
Grammatical/spelling errors is a one-way ticket to the :nope: pile.

I do university recruiting, so my opinion might be a bit different, but when I see a resume with paragraphs on it, it goes straight to the :nope:

I have hundreds of resumes to go through, I want to quickly and clearly see the key points of what makes someone special. What did you ACHIEVE in your positions? What about you makes me want to hire you?

I want to see a story...but in bullet points.

SO, it's important to tailor your resume to a job like you said, but I don't want to see a bunch of random bullets. I want to see a trend. A series of accomplishments that leads you to the position your applying for.

Last year, we hired an intern that had experience as a "Dog washer". Seriously. But her resume and the way she presented herself was :mindblown: it was clear she just needed the opportunity to expand. She did so well in her internship that she got a fulltime offer upon graduation.


That's awesome. 5/7
:wap: Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm I don't understand anything anymore.
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Desertbreh wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:30 pm
Detroit wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:07 pm Grammatical/spelling errors is a one-way ticket to the :nope: pile.

I do university recruiting, so my opinion might be a bit different, but when I see a resume with paragraphs on it, it goes straight to the :nope:

I have hundreds of resumes to go through, I want to quickly and clearly see the key points of what makes someone special. What did you ACHIEVE in your positions? What about you makes me want to hire you?

I want to see a story...but in bullet points.

SO, it's important to tailor your resume to a job like you said, but I don't want to see a bunch of random bullets. I want to see a trend. A series of accomplishments that leads you to the position your applying for.

Last year, we hired an intern that had experience as a "Dog washer". Seriously. But her resume and the way she presented herself was :mindblown: it was clear she just needed the opportunity to expand. She did so well in her internship that she got a fulltime offer upon graduation.
I want to effect the world in a positive way.
:doe:
:wap: Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm I don't understand anything anymore.
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wap wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:59 pm
Desertbreh wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:30 pm

I want to effect the world in a positive way.
:doe:
:lolgasm:

I apply more scrutiny to resumes than I do shitposting on DFD.
Desertbreh wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:40 pm My guess would be that Chris took some time off because he has read the dialogue on this page 1,345 times and decided to spend some of his free time doing something besides beating a horse to death.
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[user not found] wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 5:17 pm
Desertbreh wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:30 pm

I want to effect the world in a positive way.
Fuck that. Give me my money and let me go home on Fridays and never speak to you again until Monday.
:mahtroy: untie the Z man.
Detroit wrote:Buy 911s instead of diamonds.
Johnny_P wrote: Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:21 pm Earn it and burn it, Val.
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[user not found] wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 5:17 pm
Desertbreh wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:30 pm

I want to effect the world in a positive way.
Fuck that. Give me my money and let me go home on Fridays and never speak to you again until Monday.
Also you were missing my point. Can you just go in and fix fucking Brad's signature?
Detroit wrote:Buy 911s instead of diamonds.
Johnny_P wrote: Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:21 pm Earn it and burn it, Val.
max225 wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 5:35 pm Yes it's a cool car. But prepare the lube/sawdust.
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