50 Shades Of Resume #41: The Scrolling Show

Resume41

An-Ni Wang is a web designer and interactive developer. So you may guess that her resume is going to be a bit different. In fact, it’s a scrolling, semi-interactive web resume showing skills, abilities, history, and more.

The resume, as you scroll through it (and, yes, it’s mobile compatible), uses different graphs, charts, and maps to describe her abilities. Each section uses a different way to present her vital information, often with animations. There’s even a portfolio.

Finally, she caps it off with a regular resume that’s nicely minimalist (though I still argue skills should go first, but by now you’re probably sick of hearing me say that).

This is another one of those “completely itself” resumes in a way – but she uses good, smart design principles that provide a lot of lessons:

  • It’s not pretentious. It’d be easy to show off, but instead its humorous, with bouncy animations Ms. Wang’s personal stats, clever diagrams, and a sense of fun.
  • It’s innovative. There’s clearly a lot of though and imagination here.
  • It shows skill. By mixing up the resume and using many ways to show data, it actually shows her ability to turn data into understandable displays. This is real money-where-your-mouth-is stuff.
  • It’s got a set, effective, minimal color scheme. This keeps it precise and shows good design sense.
  • It displays a lot of information in many different ways. If you’re perusing this resume you can pick up quite a bit about her, from her job history to the SEO abilities on top of her technical skills.
  • It doesn’t get boring – and it’s a long resume. In this case she uses different forms of data presentation to make you wonder “what comes next.”
  • Having it multi platform is very smart – and shows more skill.
  • Capping it off with a regular resume is a good move – makes it easier on recruiters and is considerate.
  • Having a menu bar at the top is an important and thoughtful addition.

There’s really only one quibble I have:

  • I think some of the charts/graphs aren’t well explained (is “Hot” better than “Ninja”?). It might confuse some people.

A solid, enjoyable resume. Definitely one that was fun to analyze. But if I got this on the job . . .

Steve’s Summary: Show me this resume on the job and I’m a happy guy, this is someone who really cares about what they do, wants to communicate it, and has imagination. Plus I got a regular resume to hand people less inclined to appreciate the creativity!

[“50 Shades of Resume” is an analysis of various interesting resumes to celebrate the launch of the second edition of my book “Fan To Pro” and to give our readers inspiration for their own unique creations.]

– Steven Savage

Breaking Gotham

I like the idea of Gotham: really a young Jim Gordon who’s life intersects with future superheroes (Batman in the form of a bereaved Bruce Wayne) and super villains (everyone else).  The basic idea is intriguing, though the implementation would be challenging, and the initial script sounds pretty dismal.  Also I wonder how long it could be done legitimately without running out of ideas or going in circles.

Besides, we’ve done a lot with the heroes.  So let me suggest we take a tip from the success of Breaking Bad and do a show about the villains, how they came to be, and how they end up.

Yes villains.  Plural.

Imagine a series of interlinked tales as we explore the lives of several villains as they come to be, interact, plot, and scheme.  As they come into their own, they’re haunted by The Batman, who is almost never seen on screen, but is a shadowy presence haunting them.  In a way, Batman would almost be like the stalking killer in a horror movie, a shadowy presence tormenting them and pushing them – and only later do you remember these are thieves, madmen, and murderers.

Over time they start to team up, a sort of loose alliance, filled with with friendships and rivalries, romance and unrequited love, and of course disturbing psychological problems and backstabbing.  Schemes and criminal plans start, goals are pursued . . .

Then The Batman starts winning.  Slowly, and surely one of the villains after the other are taken to Arkham or otherwise lost.  Slowly their numbers dwindle, their nerves fray, betrayal, accusation, and brutal violence set in.

Finally there’s only one left.  The Joker, alone, sitting in a room, abandoned by his henchmen, Harley Quinn in prison, petting one of his hyenas.  Then there’s the sound of a man walking into the room, and his shadow is like that of a bat.  The Joker, tired, beaten, exhausted, looks up, smiles, and simply asks “What took you so long?”

Series ends.

– Steven Savage