Résumé sherpa needed
June 4, 2019 10:36 PM Subscribe
Software engineer here, going back on the job market for the first time in six years. I'd like to hire a pro who can take my jumbled litany of experiences, skills, and goals, and help me turn it into a magnificent résumé. Does anyone have personal recommendations for, or experiences with, a tech résumé-writing service?
Self-promotion has never been my strength, and the prospect of résumé-writing is especially vexing. So I'm just staring at this old LaTeX file and hating it.
LinkedIn and others offer third-party résumé writers, but I'm leery about their quality. The things that I absolutely do not want are: (1) someone who just reformats my existing résumé with a fancy template, (2) someone who pastes in a bunch of trendy tech buzzwords that don't apply to me, (3) someone unfamiliar with the world of tech recruiters/hiring managers.
Bonus bean-plating: Do we still use the acute accents for résumé? Am I shibbolething myself if I do or do not use them?
Self-promotion has never been my strength, and the prospect of résumé-writing is especially vexing. So I'm just staring at this old LaTeX file and hating it.
LinkedIn and others offer third-party résumé writers, but I'm leery about their quality. The things that I absolutely do not want are: (1) someone who just reformats my existing résumé with a fancy template, (2) someone who pastes in a bunch of trendy tech buzzwords that don't apply to me, (3) someone unfamiliar with the world of tech recruiters/hiring managers.
Bonus bean-plating: Do we still use the acute accents for résumé? Am I shibbolething myself if I do or do not use them?
For your bonus: I'm a software engineer who regularly reads software engineer resumes and sends emails saying there is a resume attached and I don't remember the last time I saw any accents on the word.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 11:25 PM on June 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by the agents of KAOS at 11:25 PM on June 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
I had a recruiter suggest that i use enhancecv to update my resume. It is not free, but I found it fairly easy to use and my resume definitely looked more modern and compact. I just started my new job Monday :).
posted by elmay at 5:50 AM on June 5, 2019
posted by elmay at 5:50 AM on June 5, 2019
FYI: The problem with calling your career coach a “sherpa”.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:56 AM on June 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:56 AM on June 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I've used Dave Fecak of Resume Raiders twice. Dave helped me focus my resume on higher-demand skills rather than lower-paying sysadmin work which resulted in my salary basically doubling in less than 3 years.
(1) someone who just reformats my existing résumé with a fancy template,
Dave has a format he uses, but it's simple more than anything and the reformat is only step 1.
(2) someone who pastes in a bunch of trendy tech buzzwords that don't apply to me,
When I've worked with Dave he's had me write up projects I've been on, and then he's edited for clarity and then asked me questions about more details. He's sensitive to knowing what keywords and buzzwords people will be looking for, but in the end I probably added more buzzwords than he ever did.
(3) someone unfamiliar with the world of tech recruiters/hiring managers.
Dave also runs a recruiting firm and has a history of working in the tech industry.
Feel free to message me if you want to hear more about how things worked for me.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 6:34 AM on June 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
(1) someone who just reformats my existing résumé with a fancy template,
Dave has a format he uses, but it's simple more than anything and the reformat is only step 1.
(2) someone who pastes in a bunch of trendy tech buzzwords that don't apply to me,
When I've worked with Dave he's had me write up projects I've been on, and then he's edited for clarity and then asked me questions about more details. He's sensitive to knowing what keywords and buzzwords people will be looking for, but in the end I probably added more buzzwords than he ever did.
(3) someone unfamiliar with the world of tech recruiters/hiring managers.
Dave also runs a recruiting firm and has a history of working in the tech industry.
Feel free to message me if you want to hear more about how things worked for me.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 6:34 AM on June 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Definitely no accents (HR admin here).
I recommend Alison Green's website Ask A Manager for good tips on resume writing and interviewing.
posted by Amy NM at 7:02 AM on June 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
I recommend Alison Green's website Ask A Manager for good tips on resume writing and interviewing.
posted by Amy NM at 7:02 AM on June 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
Nope, no one uses the accents on résumé anymore. I have applied to and won many a copyediting job, and the lack of accents has never been an issue in a field where any grammatical mishap can get your resume (heh) thrown in the trash.
At this point it is more likely to attract attention to itself, which is not what you want -- you want your experience to be the focus.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:23 AM on June 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
At this point it is more likely to attract attention to itself, which is not what you want -- you want your experience to be the focus.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:23 AM on June 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I can recommend Metafilter's own orsonet.
posted by mpark at 8:19 AM on June 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by mpark at 8:19 AM on June 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
Best answer: So, I have a little side joblet working for a company who does this- and I do indeed reformat to a template and drop in a bunch of buzzwords, along with other things. Part of why I do these things ( which may make a resume seem vaguely obnoxious) is that I’m crafting a resume that will rank high in an ATS- applicant tracking system. Unless you’re planning on applying only to tiny companies, your resume may get sorted by a system before it makes it to human eyes. (The buzzwords should ideally be relevant to the specific job description you’re applying to).
Dunno if that helps- maybe a little insight into why some of the results you get might not be exactly your style, but may get you good results.
posted by Secretariat at 10:43 AM on June 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
Dunno if that helps- maybe a little insight into why some of the results you get might not be exactly your style, but may get you good results.
posted by Secretariat at 10:43 AM on June 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tinydancer at 11:24 PM on June 4, 2019