Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?

Subject: Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?
From: Keith Hood <bus -dot- write -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- westnet -dot- com -dot- au>
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2014 17:13:22 -0600

Geology is not a good comparison. They don't change the way rock hammers
work every 2 years. When working with computers, software tool knowledge is
very important, and is also very mutable. So are procedures. Seems like
someone comes out with a new magic silver bullet process that cures all
development cycle ills (except for the ones it creates) every 9 months or
so. Rocks are stable. High tech isn't.

On Wed, Dec 3, 2014 at 4:16 AM, Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- westnet -dot- com -dot- au> wrote:

> I just don't agree that 20-year-old experience is automatically
> irrelevant. If someone worked for a few years as a geologist or
> industrial chemist or in the military that could be highly useful and
> applicable to certain TW roles.
>
> If anything some employers are swayed too much by past job titles. Bob
> used to work as an X, and everyone can write, so Bob can write our X
> manual.
>
> --- Stuart
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gene Kim-Eng"
> To:"Stuart Burnfield" , "Techwr-l" ,
> Sent:Sun, 30 Nov 2014 18:20:14 -0800
> Subject:Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?
>
> Look at that long past "relevant" experience and tear it down to its
> component functions, then look for the more recent jobs you've had in
>
> which you used those. The only person who's likely to be pulled in by
>
> the fact that you "used to be" a programmer, lab tech or telecom
> developer 20 years ago is the recruiter or HR drone who's skimming
> your
> resume for key words (not that you don't have to attract that person,
>
> but don't make the pandering too obvious). The real hiring manager is
>
> going to be looking for something that shows you have skills that are
>
> relevant to what's going to be in the contract now.
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
> On 11/30/2014 5:32 PM, Stuart Burnfield wrote:
> >
> > Instead, I'd mention the relevant-but-old experience in the cover
> > letter or intro paragraph ("... experienced technical writer and
> > former XXX") and list only the recent and relevant gigs in the body
> of
> > the rÃsumÃ. If they're curious about when you got the XXX
> experience
> > they can ask at the interview.
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved teamwork,
> communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help | http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as bus -dot- write -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
> info.
>
> Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online
> magazine at http://techwhirl.com
>
> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public
> email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Read about how Georgia System Operation Corporation improved teamwork, communication, and efficiency using Doc-To-Help | http://bit.ly/1pJ4zPa

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives


Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?: From: Stuart Burnfield

Previous by Author: Re: A guide to technical writing from 1908
Next by Author: Re: Test assignment for a tech.writer candidate?
Previous by Thread: Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?
Next by Thread: Re: How to mention distant-past experience on a resume?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads