Xref: utzoo misc.jobs.misc:11242 comp.misc:12225
Newsgroups: misc.jobs.misc,comp.misc
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!barmar
From: barmar@think.com (Barry Margolin)
Subject: Re: experience vs. other things on resume
Message-ID: <1991Apr24.170132.17267@Think.COM>
Sender: news@Think.COM
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA
References: <24378@well.sf.ca.us>
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 91 17:01:32 GMT

In article <24378@well.sf.ca.us> rchao@well.sf.ca.us (Robert Chao) writes:
>I have been working as aa programmer for a small software place for 4 years.
>I not only program but help design the software, do phone support, and help
>with documentation. I would like to move to a larger and/or more interesting
>company, doing perhaps the same things.
>However my resume has almost nothing. I got a BA in Linguistics with rather
>poor grades, and there are no other applicable jobs.
>Would you say that with 4 years of this experience (and several pay
>increases), that doesn't matter?

It's pretty common for software people to have bachelors degrees in other
fields, so I don't think this would be held against you.  There aren't many
well-paying jobs in linguistics, so your choosing a different career can be
understood.  Many students become familiar with computers as a result of
having used them as tools in their studies (or, these days, because they
learned to program them before college), and it's an easy field to break
into without much formal education.

However, if you took computer courses during your undergraduate education,
it would be good to mention them.

>In what way should I present my resume so that the
>experience comes out the most? 

Real-world experience is usually considered more significant than
educational background.  Some of the best programmers I've ever known
didn't complete their undergraduate education (some went back later to
complete it).

However, to emphasize it, put your professional background ahead of the
educational background section of the resume.  Briefly describe the
projects you've worked on.  Include the size of the project (size of the
program, number of developers, length of time spent) and the size and
nature of your share of the work.

>				When you send resumes to hiring companies,
>does one always also include reference letters? 

It's conventional to put "References furnished on request" on the resume.
If a company is interested, they'll ask you for the names of your
references, and contact them personally.  I don't think including
reference letters can hurt, although I seem to recall recommendations that
resumes be kept brief (at most two pages).

>Should I emphasize the fact that I got several raises?

It's pretty standard to get one raise of 5-10% a year, so unless you got
more than this, or your employer was not normally giving raises (perhaps
due to financial problems) and was still giving you them, I don't think it
would be considered significant.

>I was also wondering if I should bother with taking a night course in
>Systems Analysis. SA is pretty much what I've been doing all these years, 
>so some have told me it would be a waste. It would look good on my resume,
>but do I need it?

Four years of direct experience almost certainly beats anything you'd get
from a night course, and employers know that.
--
Barry Margolin, Thinking Machines Corp.

barmar@think.com
{uunet,harvard}!think!barmar