Gene's hiring practice sounds exactly like the hiring practices at my company. We are small and tend to like non-conformists, however when it comes to the early stages of a hiring situation, we usually have to conform to the process that Gene described...time and necessity demand it. Resumes have to quickly grab someone's attention and then they can shine, or conform or not conform, during the interview.
I have always kept my resume short, to the point, and around two pages. It is not always easy and I have a lot less experience than many on here, however I look at that as a challenge; not unlike many of the writing challenges we face everyday on the job. Melissa >From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [TCP] How long should a resume be? >Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 07:52:40 -0700 > >That would include most any company with more than 20 or 30 >people, including most of the ones I've worked for. No large >company's HR dept can be very well "tuned to the needs of the >hiring manager," and with the sheer volume of resumes that come >in for every listing, most medium companies' HR can't be either. >They have to run with the job description the manager provides, >and even some of the best pubs managers I know get all tongue- >tied when it comes to describing their ideal writer. > >I usually tell recruiters and other screeners to send me any >candidate whose resume *or* cover letter seems promising, >and after all the "promising" candidates have been selected >to bundle all the rest up and send them as well. At times this >has resulted in my finding someone the screeners missed, but >most of the time the result is just a full mailbox and no hidden >gems. And even if my "last chance" screen does turn someone >up, that person's resume probably isn't going to get seen until >*after* I've interviewed all of the initially "promising" candidates >and not hired *any* of them. > >I'd like to think I have the imagination to see a "nonconformist" >resume's good qualities, but first I have to see the resume. And >anytime I'm in a position to have an opening, it usually means >that I'm really short of spare time to read many resumes. Sucks, >doesn't it? > >Gene Kim-Eng > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Beth Agnew" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Your advice is good, but not for me. :-) I don't want to work for a >company > > that has its computers make the first selection, or that has contracted >with > > short-sighted recruiters, or that employs HR people who are not tuned in >to > > the needs of the hiring manager. I don't conform well. I make it obvious > > with my resume. Some employers see that as an asset, and that's who I >want > > to work for. > > >______________________________________________ > >Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. >New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help >technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. > > >Interactive 3D Documentation >Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com >_______________________________________________ > >Technical Communication Professionals > >Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: >http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com >Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com ______________________________________________ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
