Careers

Documentation And Fear

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When I started my last job search, I was surprised at how many job interviewed involved me managing documentation.  Surprised not in that a Project Manager needed documentation skills or would oversee documentation projects, but in that someone actually cared.  IT is infamous for poor documentation, so it was nice to see a focus on good documentation.

I’ve wondered if the lack of documentation, record-keeping, and code commenting actually holds back development and innovation.  It’s hard to innovate when you aren’t quite sure what you’re doing at the moment or what people did in the past.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

Quest For Employment Is A Go!

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Yes, after many an interruption, my next book Quest For Employment is out!  I’m still waiting for it to process for the Nook (and iBook may take a bit) but you can get it in ePub, PDF, and Kindle!

This book is based on a series of columns I did at Fan To Pro concerning what I learned on an unexpected job search.  It was further tested and expanded when I got laid off a second time, and figured I might as well see if I knew what I was talking about.  As I’m employed, I’m pleased to say, yes, I probably know what I’m talking about.

It’s a great deal at $2.99, and is a fast, quick read that gives you a kind of “director’s cut scenes” on the job search, those extras, options, and observations you won’t find in standard job search guides.  Ever wonder about the role of empathy in your job search?  How resumes may get you judged on anything but the actual contents?  Why people seem to be talking about different things when they mention networking?  It’s all there in 40 breezy pages.

Best of all each chapter has actual “To Dos” to give you specific things to try out so you can use the knowledge right away.

If you’re not sure, there’s even a sample.

So drop on by, give it a look, and let me know what you think (and let me know what you think of the purchase options, I’m trying out some new services).

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

 

 

We’re Stuck With The Resume

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I rarely meet people who like doing resumes.  I’m one of them, which probably means there’s something desperately wrong with me.

I’ve been hearing for, about a decade, how some piece of technology will replace the resume.  Admittedly having seen some utterly terrible ones, I kind of wish there was a better substitute, if only to see things screwed up in new ways.

However, I don’t see it coming.  Sure we’ve got video resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and the rest, but the resume is with us for a long time.

Because it’s a standard.

Think of the resume as part of the language of the job search.  It’s something so common, so useful, that even if it seems archaic, it’s something we’re used to, and something we rely on.  It may be inconvenient, most of us may hate making them, but it does the job, and to change over even if there was a better idea would be a big cultural shift.

So, we’re stuck with it for now.  The best thing is to get good at making a resume – and to work on those “supplemental” elements like LinkedIn profiles and portfolios so they enhance the value of your resume.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.