Will you review my resume How to Review someones resume

Will you review my resume How to Review someones resume Raise your hand if you love it when someone asks you to review their resume.  Me neither. Its not my thing. I dont have the brain to go into the detail on something like that maybe its just that I dont want to be your eleventh grade English teacher maybe its because resumes are boring maybe its just because Im not nice. Or, perhaps I assume that what you are really saying is take my resume and youll be so impressed, youll feel obligated to send it to a bunch of people at your work, or in your network! Okay, all of those excuses are my problem. The truth is, if you are a close friend Ill definitely check out your resume. However, I also send you to some other resources who are much, much, much more qualified than I am to review your resume. Having said that, if you ever feel like you should, could, or want to review someones resume, heres my primer on what to look for.  Im no expert, so take it for what its worth. Proofread: You are looking for typos and grammar. I look for consistency in periods at the end of the bullets. I hate it when you have a bulleted list and some lines have a period while others dont. Aside from that you are looking for any typo (too easy to do, hard for the job seeker to find), or grammar that just doesnt make sense. Also, look for a strong action verbs at the beginning of each bullet, and consistency on each bullet with these verbs. Messaging: What is the primary, main message the resume conveys?  Is that aligned with the role they are applying to? This is critical. If someone wants to list their entire history, but only 30% of it is relevant to what they are looking for, their resume will not be effective. A resume is not a brag sheet its a marketing document. Make sure the marketing message is the right message for the audience and purpose. Substance: The resume should be meaty. The reader should walk away thinking wow, this person is qualified! They have done some great things in their career! The easiest way to do that is by quantifying achievements that is, are there percentages (increase production by 400%) or hard numbers (decreased expenses by $200,000)? Im not saying that has to be on every line, but every time a resume shows a quantification  it strengthens the message that  you really get results.  The hiring managers wants someone who will get results (as opposed to someone who might just bring drama, be a warm body, etc.). Story holes: After you read through the resume do you feel like something is missing? Specifically, if your friend is trying to paint a picture of their  expertise, or show what they have done in the past (something that is valuable to the job they are applying to), is there a complete, compelling story? Ive seen resumes that  start to build up to a narrative and then end it at a point where I think did you do anything? Or did you fail? I dont get it  (see note below on cover letter) Distractions: On the other end of the spectrum from story holes is having stuff that should not be there. Is there information about roles that is better suited for a different job? In other words, perhaps your friend worked as a gear head at one company, but they are applying as an analyst at another company. They need to bring out skills that an analyst has or needs dont talk about the screwdrivers they were so good at. Instead, talk about how they analyzed screwdriver brands, quality, etc. to pick the best screwdriver for the job.  Think: transferable skills. Again, this isnt about listing all the stuff they have done (brag sheet), rather it is about showing they have the skills and experience to do the job they are applying to. If something does not support their main message, or show they are qualified for the job they are applying to, take it off. Those are the main things that I look for on a resume. It doesnt take terribly long to do this its pretty clear where a resume is missing the mark. As long as you think of a resume as a marketing piece that is trying to compel the reader to think about you differently, and not just a list of cool stuff youve done, you should get closer to a great resume. Finally, let me talk about the cover letter. I recently had a call with a recruiter who said send me your resume, and an email with either a few paragraphs or bullet points to specifically talk about the main things my client wants.  This is also known as a cover letter. I believe a cover letter is a must! A cover letter is a great complement to the resume, and can fill in some gaps that a resume just isnt formatted to address. Like, Im perfect for this job because, I want this job because, Here is a little more information about your particular needs, and how I fill those needs. Maybe the person getting your resume should already understand that you are the best person, the right fit but remember, they have a bunch of resumes that all kind of look the same. Writing a few paragraphs to show you are the right fit, add more information that just dont belong on a resume, and even express enthusiasm is well worth your time. Now you have the cheat sheet to review someones resume I hope this can help you help them.  If you are a resume writer who does this for a living, feel free to add your two cents in the comments! Will you review my resume How to Review someones resume Raise your hand if you love it when someone asks you to review their resume.  Me neither. Its not my thing. I dont have the brain to go into the detail on something like that maybe its just that I dont want to be your eleventh grade English teacher maybe its because resumes are boring maybe its just because Im not nice. Or, perhaps I assume that what you are really saying is take my resume and youll be so impressed, youll feel obligated to send it to a bunch of people at your work, or in your network! Okay, all of those excuses are my problem. The truth is, if you are a close friend Ill definitely check out your resume. However, I also send you to some other resources who are much, much, much more qualified than I am to review your resume. Having said that, if you ever feel like you should, could, or want to review someones resume, heres my primer on what to look for.  Im no expert, so take it for what its worth. Proofread: You are looking for typos and grammar. I look for consistency in periods at the end of the bullets. I hate it when you have a bulleted list and some lines have a period while others dont. Aside from that you are looking for any typo (too easy to do, hard for the job seeker to find), or grammar that just doesnt make sense. Also, look for a strong action verbs at the beginning of each bullet, and consistency on each bullet with these verbs. Messaging: What is the primary, main message the resume conveys?  Is that aligned with the role they are applying to? This is critical. If someone wants to list their entire history, but only 30% of it is relevant to what they are looking for, their resume will not be effective. A resume is not a brag sheet its a marketing document. Make sure the marketing message is the right message for the audience and purpose. Substance: The resume should be meaty. The reader should walk away thinking wow, this person is qualified! They have done some great things in their career! The easiest way to do that is by quantifying achievements that is, are there percentages (increase production by 400%) or hard numbers (decreased expenses by $200,000)? Im not saying that has to be on every line, but every time a resume shows a quantification  it strengthens the message that  you really get results.  The hiring managers wants someone who will get results (as opposed to someone who might just bring drama, be a warm body, etc.). Story holes: After you read through the resume do you feel like something is missing? Specifically, if your friend is trying to paint a picture of their  expertise, or show what they have done in the past (something that is valuable to the job they are applying to), is there a complete, compelling story? Ive seen resumes that  start to build up to a narrative and then end it at a point where I think did you do anything? Or did you fail? I dont get it  (see note below on cover letter) Distractions: On the other end of the spectrum from story holes is having stuff that should not be there. Is there information about roles that is better suited for a different job? In other words, perhaps your friend worked as a gear head at one company, but they are applying as an analyst at another company. They need to bring out skills that an analyst has or needs dont talk about the screwdrivers they were so good at. Instead, talk about how they analyzed screwdriver brands, quality, etc. to pick the best screwdriver for the job.  Think: transferable skills. Again, this isnt about listing all the stuff they have done (brag sheet), rather it is about showing they have the skills and experience to do the job they are applying to. If something does not support their main message, or show they are qualified for the job they are applying to, take it off. Those are the main things that I look for on a resume. It doesnt take terribly long to do this its pretty clear where a resume is missing the mark. As long as you think of a resume as a marketing piece that is trying to compel the reader to think about you differently, and not just a list of cool stuff youve done, you should get closer to a great resume. Finally, let me talk about the cover letter. I recently had a call with a recruiter who said send me your resume, and an email with either a few paragraphs or bullet points to specifically talk about the main things my client wants.  This is also known as a cover letter. I believe a cover letter is a must! A cover letter is a great complement to the resume, and can fill in some gaps that a resume just isnt formatted to address. Like, Im perfect for this job because, I want this job because, Here is a little more information about your particular needs, and how I fill those needs. Maybe the person getting your resume should already understand that you are the best person, the right fit but remember, they have a bunch of resumes that all kind of look the same. Writing a few paragraphs to show you are the right fit, add more information that just dont belong on a resume, and even express enthusiasm is well worth your time. Now you have the cheat sheet to review someones resume I hope this can help you help them.  If you are a resume writer who does this for a living, feel free to add your two cents in the comments!

What Resume Summary Examples Can Do For You

What Resume Summary Examples Can Do For YouIf you are searching for resume summary examples, then you will be amazed to find that there are thousands of these. These summaries offer a very specific type of resume that is used by employers and most of the time, they are free. It will be important to note, however, that all these examples have the same basic purpose: to summarize a certain aspect of your job experience.For example, if you were a student, you would have a resume example that is made for high school students. This may include details about your GPA, class participation, or even if you are currently working towards a diploma. You will also be able to find some details about your current school, like class schedules and location. Employers that work with high school graduates might be particularly interested in this information since it can help them set up the right educational environment for your classmates.On the other hand, if you were already working as a professiona l, you would most likely have a resume example that is created for someone who was already working in the field they are trying to land a job in. The summary will most likely contain details about how long you have been employed, what kind of position you held, and of course, the title and the salary you earned during your job. The resume examples you see online may look similar, but the information you put on your resume actually differs from person to person. This is why it is important to spend some time researching for different types of resume samples.As you read through a resume, you will want to think about this important factor. Do you know where your information should go? It is very important to know how your resume is going to end up because this can influence how you write your actual resume.In addition to that, summary examples are designed to answer the question 'how much do I have to list?' If you just want to make sure that you have enough information for your reader to understand what you are saying, then you can leave out parts of your background information. Having too much information, however, may make you sound too detailed, which could actually cause readers to reject your resume.After you have figured out what needs to be included on your resume, then you can move on to checking out the resume examples that are available. This means that you will need to make sure that you are using the search engines properly so that you can find the right one. It is also important to consider which search engines are the best ones to use because you will find plenty of recommendations out there.Resume summary examples are a great resource for both job seekers and employers. You can find all sorts of tips and advice online that can help you prepare for your next job interview. If you are looking for information on how to improve your chances of getting hired, then you will find many useful tips on the Internet that will provide you with some vital deta ils on what you need to do to improve your chances of landing a new job.Remember, the most important thing to remember when writing a resume is to put your best foot forward. The summary examples you find online will give you the information you need so that you can create the best resume possible.

Hiring Tips for Start-ups and Small Businesses

Hiring Tips for Start-ups and Small Businesses Hiring the right person can make a huge difference and determine the success or failure of a small company. It is therefore one of the most important decisions every entrepreneur will have to make at some point. Small businesses are often pressured for time when looking for a new employee, but rush is one of these factors you should avoid, if you want to secure a quality hire. Take a look at the guide on how to hire and recruit the right people for your small business. Define the position clearly: As a small business owner, you may not have a lot of experience in hunting down new employees. Therefore, the first and the most important step you should take is to carefully think through your job offer. The internet is overflowing with unclear and incomplete job adds. To make your offer stands out from the pack, ensure it doesnt contain any ambiguities and clearly specifies employee’s duties. However enthusiastic you may be about your company, try not to oversell â€"present the work environment truthfully and be realistic. Also, dont expect your prospective employee to do everything from sorting mail to designing your logo. Apart from that, you should let your website do some of the work for you. Make it clear and reliable. It should contain essential information about your professional ethics, products, and clients. Single out the values and principles your company stands by to make it easier for prospective employee to identify with your business. Learn from your competitors: Follow your competition on social media to be up-to-date with their recruiting methods. Take a look at how your professional rivals recruit new employees. Skim through their job offers and note down the skills and features they are looking for. Although you know who are you looking for, studying the actions of your competition may give you a general idea of what is missing from your job ad. Apart from that, try using Google Trends, which is a handy tool that will help you to compare the popularity of job offer titles and hiring-related phrases. Use it to the fullest to customize your offers so that they get more views and shares. The importance of pre-selection: Once your job offer is out there you may receive thousands of applications. Large businesses have HR departments to separate the wheat from the chaff and to pick only the best candidates, but you will have to do it with your limited resources. To make this process as smooth as possible, we recommend making a must-have list of features and skills any prospective employee needs to possess. It’s the perfect time to be brutal â€" if a resume doesn’t list all required qualities, the candidate probably won’t meet your expectations. Engage your staff to go through some of the applications together. Dare to be different: International corporations have their ways to attract employees, but that doesnt mean that your small business has no chances to compete with the industry giants. Being a small business owner, you may not have unlimited financial resources, but you can always find different ways to attract new talent to your company. The key is to be unique and build a complete employment strategy that will guarantee room to fulfil employee’s goals and ambitions. Additionally, offer some one-of-a-kind perks. You may allow your staff to devote several hours a week for an extra project of their choice, or simply work from home and have more flexible work schedule. Reach out: If you are looking for experts in a narrow field, you may want to consider recruitment agencies, despite the fact that the cost of such outsourcing is significant, as it constitutes from 10 to 20 percent of candidate’s annual salary. If you do decide to go for that option, make sure to select a trusted agency. But hiring a recruitment agency is not the only choice to find devoted employees. You can also hunt the talent on professional meetups, conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment is always a two-way street. The candidate needs to impress you, but in return, you need to attract your candidate to make him want to work with you. We believe that with help of our tips, you will make the right hiring decisions. Author: Monique Craig is an Australian blogger and marketing specialist who works for Oneflare, an online marketplace which connects customers with local service providers.

How to Nurture Your Network [4 Useful Tools]

How to Nurture Your Network [4 Useful Tools] Nurturing your network takes time and effort. You know you should be keeping in touch with people you have met along the way, however, you find the thought of it overwhelming and time-consuming. Instead of ignoring your network, perhaps the question is, how can you make it easier. There are tools to help simplify the process of keeping in touch. However, tools are only the mechanism. Your message still needs to be sincere and reciprocal. 1. Rapportive Email is still the most important communication tool. So how can you get more bang for your buck here? Rapportive is a Gmail plug-in that shows you the email senders picture, location and social networks from inside your inbox. Before you send an individual an email, wouldnt it be nice to see what they are doing or saying? You can. You see their most recent updates on Twitter and Facebook (if connected) and can leverage this information to tailor your message. For example, maybe they are celebrating an important event or shared a particularly interesting article. In your email, you can reference that information and in doing so, build a stronger connection. If, for some reason, you are not connected on a social network, you can easily connect from within Gmail. If you use Outlook, never fear. There is a similar tool called Xobni (inbox backwards). 2. LinkedIn You most likely have a LinkedIn account. But how often do you log in? Add LinkedIn to your daily routine by checking your networks status updates. Or, if you don’t want to log in, check your settings for “frequency of email” to ensure you are getting individual emails for network updates and status changes. Send a congratulatory message to someone who has recently been promoted or changed jobs. Did you enjoy someones recent status update? Leave a comment or if you are in a hurry, just like it. LinkedIns newest endorsement feature enables you to support someone for their skills and expertise. Or you can set and skim the news feeds on LinkedIn Today to keep up with industry trends. When you find a particularly good article, share it with someone in your network you think will enjoy it. There are so many ways to use LinkedIn to forge stronger relationships  use it. 3. Google Alerts If you are trying to develop new relationships or there are some people who arent within your network yet, Google Alerts are terrific. Creating “alerts” by company name, industry keywords, city, or person will trigger Google to send you an alert whenever those words hit the web. This is great for target company monitoring. 4. Telephone Dont forget about the telephone. Reach out and touch someone! There are people you know a lot and a little and one way to keep in touch with them is a good old fashion phone call. Do you have all your contacts in your mobile? The next time you have time to kill (think about your drive home, waiting to pick up your kids, time between events or meetings) pick a friend to call. It doesnt have to be a long call, just a quick, “Hi, I am checking in.” (Please be sure to use hands free or avoid making calls in public places, that’s dangerous and annoying, right?) Perhaps texting a simple, “Hi, just checking in” message is more your style that will work too. These are just some of the many tools and tricks out there for monitoring and nurturing your network. When you maintain and strengthen your network to increase your knowledge, understand industry trends, get answers to questions impacting your work and productivity, you build a strong career safety net! Stay connected! How are you keeping track of and in touch with what’s going on in your network?  Leave us a comment below to let us know your tips are always welcome! Image: Pablo

Job Hunting: Writing Resumes For Your Job Search

Job Hunting: Writing Resume's For Your Job SearchWhen your resume's are ready, you're most likely looking for a job. You probably have thought about going to a trade show and showing your resume to potential employers there. This is the first step in getting your resume read and, if it is well-written, will make you stand out from all the other resumes on display.There are several factors that can be used to improve your job hunt. First of all, though, you have to decide which category your resume falls into. If you are over thirty and are looking for a job as a computer technician, your resume probably falls into the young person's category. In this case, the resume will need to be more specific than if you are over thirty but still looking for a job.Once you've chosen a category for your resume, your next step is to use it to its fullest potential when you're job hunt. At every opportunity, your resume should be written in plain English. Do not try to be fancy or extra special. If you do it, it will take away from the selling power of your resume. Be straightforward, but don't be boring.The writing on your resume is not only about the job search but also about what you can bring to the employer. Show them you are good at what you do. But if you're looking for something more, tell them about yourself. Tell them you're a fun person to be around and that you're one of those people who just loves what they do.Don't try to sell yourself to an employer. There are plenty of companies out there that will hire someone without any work experience. Your resume is written to get them to see you as a great fit for a job, not as a savior who needs saving. A little hard selling here and there will help you along.In your job hunt, you will be doing everything possible to get your resume read. Send it in. Keep all the old copies in a safe place so that you can write new copies if needed.Always be honest with your resume. If you don't have the money to hire a professional to w rite it for you, write it yourself. This is a very important part of your job search. If you're doing everything right, but it says you're over thirty, be honest that you want to make sure you get your resume read before you submit it.Remember, the main objective of your job search is to get your resume read. Put that at the top of your mind and make it a habit.

When People Think of You What Do They See - CareerMetis.com

When People Think of You What Do They See Source â€" Pexels.comYour personal brand is an expression of the values you possess and want to be known for in your organization.Your personal brand answers the question “Who are you?”.It paints a picture of what you hold close to your heart and cherish and it invites people to see you intimately.evalAn effective brand makes it easy for others to describe you in a single word or phrase. It allows others to see you from their own perspective.For example, words that were used to describe me over my 30+ year career are: marketing guy, customer service fanatic, implementer, utility leader â€" my skills could be put to use in many different functions â€" and “fixer” â€" I was often brought in to an organization to solve their problems and improve their performance.I learned that building a brand is not done through serendipity or a casual approach; it is a carefully thought out disciplined process.Here are the steps to follow to create your own brand that is compelling and releva nt to the organization and will stand the test of time.1. Be an expert on your strategyYour brand must be an expression of what the organization needs to be successful.So develop an intimate understanding of your organization’s strategy and decide which skills and competencies you possess that would contribute to it in a major way.If an effective sales operations is needed to be competitive and drive superlative performance, decide on how you can contribute to this goal; which of your related strengths could be leveraged to contribute to enhanced sales results.2. Decide who you want to serveevalDecide on the individuals in the organization â€" the “foxes” you want to target . Typically these are individuals who are in the power positions who make selection decisions and who could have a major impact on your career.Building an effective brand isn’t necessarily all about what you think are important attributes but rather what others in the organization who are looking for peop le with specific skills and competencies.Pick the top 3 leaders who own the people decisions in the areas you are interested in and build a profile of the individuals they are looking for.3. Dissect your competitionIt is critical to understand the “brand field” you are competing with;other people who covet the same opportunities that you do.evalBuild a profile of your closest 3 competitors and define the elements of their brand they excel in. Look particularly at their brand position and how you can counter it.4. Create your ONLY statementA highly effective brand is not a comparative or superlative statement; words like “better” and “best” are never used because everyone has a different opinion on who might be better and who might be the best at something â€" it’s a matter of judgement.The objective is to make your brand claim indisputable relative to others by removing the judgement factor.“You don’t want merely to be the best of the best, you want to be the ONLY one that does what you do” â€" Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead provided the mantra that I believe should guide brand development efforts.The ONLY statement declares your uniqueness relative to others and spells out in detail how you are different from the crowd. It’s an excellent tool to declare your unmatched qualities that can be proven but fact rather than opinion.“I am the only one that has the proven and demonstrated marketing skills to take our company from a monopoly to an intensely competitive environment.” is at place to start.5. Define your brand’s key elementsWhat about your ONLY statement makes it true and not simply wishful thinking?For example, what specific marketing skills do you have that others don’t?For me, it was about creating integrated data and internet packages for high value consumer customers rather than flogging individual products and services at mass markets which was the traditional approach that the organization was used to seeing.evalThis detail provides the proof points behind your brand claim and answers the question “What do you mean by… ?”6. Communicate far and wideDon’t keep your brand to yourself; communicate it to as many internal and external audiences as possible.Some ideas that were effective for me:Offer to do presentations on your chosen brand topic.Get quoted as a subject matter expert in any internal communications media your organization uses.Start a blog and offer content on your brand topics. Use social media to promote it internally and externally. Position yourself as the thought leader on your content. Offer to write (free) articles for media channels that focus on your content.Offer to talk to customers on your brand topic. Help them in any issues they have, and get known on the outside. In my case many of our customers were interested in what we were doing in marketing as we were transforming from a monopoly to a competitive business. I had many speaking engagements to air my brand.Offer yourself to the media on your brand topics. Make it interesting for them. Get them calling you. Your organization’s reputation will over time be influenced by you.You have to commit; you can’t “flirt”.Amazing brands are created by individuals who understand what organizations require in order to be successful and who dedicate themselves to delivering the personal capabilities to help.

Unexperienced Developer Heres How to Boost Your Career - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Unexperienced Developer Heres How to Boost Your Career Sometimes a crisis in a career can force you to change the place of work or even completely change your specialty and start a new career. You would have to master new skills for a new profession though. Usually, people switch to a modern, promising profession like a career in programming. It is interesting, comfortable and profitable. In this article, we will try to answer the question of how to build a career as a programmer from scratch. You should start your path as a developer by answering the main question: “Do you need programming at all?”. This question is actually not that easy to answer. If you prefer math to the humanities, if you like to spend a lot of time at your computer, if you want to learn something new and solve complicated tasks, then programming is probably right for you. Where to Start There are several ways to become a developer. Aside from that, there are also exceptions. For example, some people start learning coding in childhood just because their parents are developers. Sometimes programming is a hobby that gets so serious that a person becomes good enough to land an actual job. Anyway, let’s list the most popular ways people use to get into programming. If you already have programming skills, just skip this part. Self-education. This option can be used both individually and in combination with other methods. Anything can be found on the web. That includes books and other materials that can help you learn different programming languages ??and technologies. But this way is rather hard for beginners. A lot of young people choose programming as a future career when they are about to finish school. Getting a degree in the IT field can be a bonus when applying for a job. It would also help to gain the right knowledge. But it won’t be enough without self-studying. Choosing your university widely and responsibly. Carefully study the syllabus and choose the best technical universities. It’s much easier to learn something when someone with more experience can help you. Try to find someone who’s already in programming, someone who will guide you in the right direction. This person will help you find the right books and resources, check your code, give useful tips. Specialized courses. Try to find courses in your city where you will be taught some programming language or technology. It’s not that hard. There are many online courses on the web, including free ones. What Language, Technology, Direction to Choose When you become a programmer, in a year or two you will be free to choose any language you like. But when choosing the first programming language, a beginner must consider the following criteria: Demand on the job market. The ultimate goal of this journey is to find a job as a programmer. And this will be difficult if no one in the job market is looking for developers skilled in not demanded programming language. Check out job sites, see whos looking for what, write down a dozen languages. And move on to the next criterion. Low learning curve. If you have to spend a long time learning a language, it may discourage your desire to learn programming at all. Read about the demanded languages ??you chose before and choose the ones that don’t have a steep learning curve. PHP, Ruby, Python can be such languages. The thrill of the process. If you do not like writing code in your chosen language, you will not enjoy your future career. So what’s the point? Make the right choice! You will also have to choose the direction of programming. Mobile, desktop, games, web, low-level programming and so on. The most popular and relatively easy industries are web, mobile, and desktop app development. One language may fit in each direction and not fit in another. That is, when choosing a programming language, you should also consider this factor. Also, check out a few CVs of already employed developers to get a better idea of what is in demand these days example of good mobile app developer CVs. How to Get an Initial Experience You will not get a job without experience. You will not gain experience without work. The closed circle of real life. But nothing bad, we will get out of it. First, do not wait until you have read all the books in your chosen programming language. Start writing your first lines of code as soon as possible. Perform all assignments from books, reprint examples. Complicate examples and assignments from books with your own ideas. Create your own tasks for the material you have completed. Solve these problems. Second, you need to find your first projects. This is probably the most difficult task but it works well. You will have to look for orders yourself, fulfill them, and bother with payment. For the beginner, it is extremely difficult but it’s worth it. Completed projects directly reflect your experience and that’s more than good in the eyes of your future employer. Real projects are a big plus in your resume. Another good option for getting real experience is open-source projects. Such projects always need new people, even beginners. Finding such projects is easy on GitHub or other code hosting services. Feel free to ask questions there. The last way is to own projects, various hackathons or work in co-working. It is difficult to start your own projects, so you better find some friends. What You Need to Know Besides the Programming Language The web programmer is required to know HTML, CSS, JavaScript. The desktop programmer learns the operating system API and various frameworks. A mobile application developer learns Android, iOS or Windows Phone frameworks. Everyone needs to learn algorithms. Try a Coursera course or find a suitable algorithm book for yourself. In addition, you need to know one of the databases, programming patterns, data structures. Its also worth getting acquainted with code repositories. At least with one. Required knowledge of version control systems. Choose Git, its the most popular. You need to know the tools you work with, the operating system and the development environment. And the programmers main skill is to be able to Google. You will not live without it. The Last Steps You need to prepare a resume. Not just a resume, but a good resume, preferably a portfolio as well. There is no need to write extra information there, but dont be shy about your skills too. After you have been invited for an interview, you must prepare for it. Go through the material in your resume. You need to be confident in your knowledge. Look at the projects you worked on, remember the technologies you used. And good luck with a new profession of a programmer.

Finding The Sweet Spot - When I Grow Up

Finding The Sweet Spot - When I Grow Up Holy crapballs you guys, do I love this post from my former client Brian Perry. Not only is there a gem here on how he, um, found his sweet spot in his career (hence the name of the post were obvious like that), its also a rally cry (and no, thats not too dramatic). Happy As a Kid in a Candy Shop by The Lemon Peel Don’t tell anyone, but I think I’ve found a sweet spot between my creative and professional lives. I’ve always been one of those people who struggled with the seemingly simple question ‘so what do you do?’ Depending on the context you caught me in I was either a comedian who also does web design, or a web designer who also does comedy. Now with the launch of Paperweight Magazine I can say something like ‘I design a humor magazine for the iPad.’ I might do something fancy with my hands while I say it I’m still testing some options. Last month we started a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter and the response has been pretty overwhelming. Real people have been willing to put real money (or at least theoretical money that may someday become real money) behind our idea. When I’m not obsessively checking our funding total I’ve found myself wondering in David Byrne-esque fashion ‘how did I get here?’ My conclusion: People and Time. First, let’s check in with our good friend Father Time. On April 1, 2011 (no joke) I left a full time job to try my hand at a life of self employment. If my goal was to wake up on day one and find a project that allowed my comedy and tech lives to live in harmony, I’d probably get fed up pretty fast. In fact, I think I’d be back in a cubicle somewhere by now. Instead, I focused on finding web development work that could keep me afloat and grow my skills, while also staying active in comedy. And I didn’t just up and randomly quit my job either. I worked with Michelle for a good number of months leading up to my aforementioned April Fools Day leap. For many of those months I didn’t have a date when I would be able to leave my job, just the overall idea that I wanted to work for myself. Sometimes it felt like I was doing work and not getting any closer to my goal. But the day eventually came along where I was pretty clearly ready to make the change I’d been aiming for. And when I did, I had work waiting for me on day one as if my new job had just been waiting for me all this time. Michelle would probably tell you that I’m not much of a goal setter. I wouldn’t even say that I’m particularly focused. My psychologist wife says that I have poor executive functioning skills. So I’m not going to say ‘set clear goals for yourself.’ I’ve always just truly believed that my interests in comedy and the web could be more closely integrated. As much as I could, I focused on work that stayed true to that general thesis statement. Then over time I found myself in a place where I could take a legitimate shot at a project like Paperweight. Time isn’t always the enemy. People! They’re everywhere! I’ll start with the more extreme example. When I left my job on April 1, 2011, my wife was 8 months pregnant. So obviously she has given me a tremendous amount of support and had faith in what I wanted to do. She also gives me the gift of health insurance. Now I’m not saying to go find an endlessly supportive wife or husband that’s difficult and also requires a lot of time. But what I am saying is that we all have people in our lives who believe in what we do and are willing to support us. Paperweight has provided countless small examples of this. My co-founder on the project was a friend I performed with at ImprovBoston. Paperweight has over 150 backers. Crazy amounts of people have contacted us interested in writing, developing, and designing. Friends have helped us get in touch with people who were interested in covering our project. Every like and retweet is someone who believes in you and wants to help. Unless you’ve lived a impressively distasteful life, you have people in your circles who want to support you. Give them the opportunity to do so. And when you can, return the favor. So who knows what Paperweight Magazine means for my overall career trajectory. But I’m willing to take the time to find out, and I know that I’ve got supportive people behind me regardless of what happens. Speaking of that, anyway that you’d be willing to spread the word about Paperweight’s fundraising campaign would be greatly appreciated. Turns out my theories about time don’t really apply to active Kickstarter campaigns Brian Perry is the co-founder of Paperweight Magazine. As a freelance web designer, Brian has built web and mobile presences for everything from comedy festivals to colleges. As a writer and performer hes spent the majority of his career exploring the intersection between comedy and technology. He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, U.K. and the Internet and is currently touring his one man musical experience Briami Sound Machine at comedy festivals.