Re: How do you differentiate yourself (UserFriendly)

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

I think this is pretty much a common problem for everyone
who tries to look for work by mailing resumes in to job
postings, not just for us.

I really can't answer this as far as how I do it for myself.
Just about every job I've had in the past 10 years has
been the result of someone who knew me recommending
me, or a prospective employer pulling my profile out of
some database (Dice, Monster, STC, Medzilla) without 
me putting in an application first.  I've put my resume in 
to job postings from time to time, but I self-screen and
don't even bother putting in for jobs that don't seem like
perfect matches to me, so maybe that's why I've gotten 
callbacks about 50% of the time.  But none of those has
ever resulted in an offer.

As far as what makes a candidate's resume stand out 
when I'm trying to hire, I'd say the first thing is, of course, 
keywords to get the resume past the HR screening machine 
and into my hands.  After that, it's experience, both in the 
writing/illustration/editing and in the technology.  I'd say
the thing that is most likely to catch my eye and make a
resume stand out from the pack is hands-on related
technology experience.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric J. Ray" <ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com>
> I saw today's User Friendly
> (http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20071127&mode=classic)
> and was struck by how much that resembles the perennial problem of
> a good tech writer. How do you differentiate yourself (either
> on the job or when looking for a job) when you have EXACTLY
> the skills that many organizations need, and everyone else
> thinks they have those skills too?
> Food for thought,

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