Radical Resume

[deanwebb]

I was updating my resume last night - an activity we should all do once a quarter, like it or not - when I tried something dramatic.

My current role I kept with full description, bullet points and all.

I removed my certifications chunk from the top and took out vendor-specific "skills".

I added my current publications list under my current role.

Then, after that, all my prior experience. Last 3 roles each have a single line providing a brief description. All others are just employer, role, dates worked.

My current stuff is now a longer section than my legacy stuff. It all fits on one page, with plenty of whitespace at the bottom.

And I like it. If I saw something like this in an interview, I'd be happy that there wasn't a bunch of stuff about technology that's 10+ years old or fluff about what you did way back in the day. What's happening now, that's what I'm interested in.

As for dropping the certifications block - those were either niche certs that may or may not be relevant to a future role or they are now expired or they are for technologies I'd rather never touch again. I feel good about that. If I get a CISSP, I'll put that after my name at the top. Yes, it will make me look like a tool, but it will also make me look like a highly knowledgeable tool. 

I may just move my publications section to the top. I've contributed 4 chapters to 3 books in the last year, and those speak to my real interests more so than my current / expired certs.

[deanwebb]

My LinkedIn profile, on the other hand, I've expanded on my job experience, providing lots more details in my current role than what I have on my resume. Past stuff I left where it was.

[Otanx]

I like the idea with the older jobs. I have been making them smaller, but I think the paragraph summary is better than how I have been doing it. My certifications falls under education/certifications on my resume. It has my degree, and my CCNP so HR can check the boxes, but like you I leave off any certifications for stuff I don't want to work with (Microsoft). The niche certs get put on if needed based on the job I am applying for. If they mention Ixia I will put my Ixia cert on the resume for them. The one thing that is not on my resume yet will be my blog/github. I just need to build them out first.

-Otanx

[deanwebb]

Here's a funny thing... I spruced up my LinkedIn profile last week, emphasizing a few skills over others. I set LinkedIn to not alert anyone about the change.

I have no resume with any recruiting/contractor shop that mentions skills I have with my current employer. Anything they have is from 2013.

I got a call just now for a role that involves one of the skills I featured on LinkedIn. The call came from a contracting firm.

Looks like some guys get aaaalllllllll the LinkedIn updates, whether I want them to have them or not.

[icecream-guy]

is your profile set to searchable?

[deanwebb]

I think so... but I also know that LinkedIn is basically Monster.Com in a nice suit. Premium membership or whatever may have its privileges.