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50 Shades Of Resume #8: The Random

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Resume 8

Many resumes are piles of stuff, especially if they’re not organized right. Sid Santos (who is in the Cool Name club with me apparently), desired to do this deliberately by making his resume look like . . . a pile of things.

Yes, his resume looks like a post-it note, a napkin drawing, and a cup of coffee. They just happen to have his contact information and career information on it.  It’s a clever design.

This is actually a resume that, the more you look at it, the more you see got done. There’s skills and a personal image, contact info and job history, little details and extras. It just looks like something else!

So what stands out?

  • First of all this is artistically brilliant. He has a resume that looks like other things that don’t look like a resume – that come together to be a resume. It’s clever.
  • It’s a great display of artistic skill as well. He makes it look really. it shows raw skill as well as cleverness.
  • It’s got a fun feel too it. Because it looks like an informal pile of things, it has a sense of whimsy. That’s also comforting – and makes me feel he doesn’t take himself overly seriously.
  • The self-illustration adds a personal touch, rounding off the experience.
  • It’s extremely professional and shows this guy knows what he’s doing.
  • In a way, it’s sort of a resume as a small portfolio of skill.

Now, a few things to consider in this resume:

  • It’s not a standard, scan-able resume. It would have to be paired with a regular resume or used appropriately.
  • I’m not sure I’d break the software out of the skills description, but it does work well by allowing him to use yet another medium of portrayal.
  • There’s some unused space that might be a bit too much.

Steve’s Summary: This’d get my attention if I saw this resume, it shows a lot of effort and imagination. I might want a “typical” resume to hand to HR, but it’s pretty clear this guy is the real deal. I’d want to phone interview someone that gave me this.

[“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

50 Shades Of Resume #7: The Book

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BookResume

Some of us have resumes that grow and grow and get a little large. Andy Reynonds didn’t let this stop him and made his resume into a book after becoming unemployed. Yes, a book. An online (and offline) coffee table book about his career.  Needless to say it’s been mentioned around.

Having handed out my book at interviews, I felt I had stepped into the presence of someone truly “taking it all the way.” So of course I had to include it in this series because I’d never forgive myself otherwise – and Andy is a very creative individual.

The high points?

  • It’s a resume as a book. Really this is a testimony to skill that’s hard to top. It shows serious graphical/publishing ability.
  • It also speaks of dedication. Again, he made a book – this resume tells people about your personality.
  • It also functions as a portfolio. This is very clever and may be an idea to use elsewhere – see how you can wrap your portfolio inside other resume ideas and metaphors. Some people put their resume in their portfolio, he did the revere . . .
  • It’s got some nice layout elements. It’s very professional.
  • The book design is something I think people could explore in various forms, and may be worth thinking about.

As for changes . . . well actually this is such a unique idea it’s hard to say. Mr. Reynolds pretty much out and did this his own way. A few things though:

  • I think the book may be a bit overlong. Though it’s also a portfolio, it may seem a bit much.
  • This definitely has to go with a regular resume or job search or interview to lead people into it. It’s not quite a supplemental resume, but is really a resume/portfolio fusion.
  • It may go well paired with smaller “book” resumes one could hand out.
  • Not everyone will “get” this resume. It has to be used carefully – though anyone who doesn’t “get” it may not be the kind of person you want to work for or with.

Additional thought: This could possibly be combined with other publications like ashcans. There’s a lot of possible experimentation.

Steve’s Summary: I admit if I saw this, I’d be impressed because . . . again, the guy did a book! I also would want to know more about him. Context may be important as it could seem a bit overdone, but I wouldn’t care.

[“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

 

Meet My Next Book: (Not Quite) The Same As The Old Book

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FTPV2WebAnd my next book is out.

Introducing Fan To Pro’s second edition: “Fan To Pro: Leveling Up Your Career Through Your Hobbies.”

This is a huge update of the original book (which, yes, is going out of print). Huge chunks were rewritten or expanded. A lot of new information gained over the four (!) years since I wrote it were included. Resources were updated. Chapters were newly organized and categories, and helpful checklists were added. Bigger, more focused, and going into more depth than it’s predecessor, it’s my way to help you in your geek careers.

Frankly, I think it’s one of the best things I’ve written. I really had to think it over, restructure my advice, apply knowledge, and question myself. I’m glad it’s done so people can use it to advance their careers – especially in this not-so-hot economy.

(Come to think of it, it was not-so-hot when I wrote the first book. Which is one reason some of my current writing focuses on Geek Citizenship since we got bigger problems).

The best part of it, in my opinion, is how the book is organized. Each chapter sums up what you’re going to learn, follows that rough pattern, then gives you a list of takeaways and resources/next steps. Each chapter is almost standalone, and I think it’ll let people take away the right lessons and apply them. I’m very curious how these lessons can be applied in other writing – and some of it has found its way into my current blogging.

So go on, take a look, spread the word, pester me for a review copy, and enjoy. I hope it helps you and yours in the years to come.

– Steven Savage

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