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Leon Derek
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 09:02 am |
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How important is my resume? Is this the most important part of the interview process?
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LN
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 06:07 pm |
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it's not the most important part, but it's pretty significant in letting prospective employers know your work history, skills, and education... it's what gets your foot in the door and gets you an interview so you can show off your protfolio
if you don't have much of an architecture work history, list your skill sets first (think of 3-4, like computer skills, hand drawing skills, organizational skills, communication, etc.) and under each heading briefly expand the skills (computer programs you're proficient in, etc)... list work history below that and education below that
and don't be afraid to throw some graphic design into your resume-- you want yours to pop and to stand out from all the other hundreds of resumes that come through offices... show you have some graphic design skills (after all, we're designers too) by making your resume dynamic
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Coach
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 06:51 pm |
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LN wrote: and don't be afraid to throw some graphic design into your resume-- you want yours to pop and to stand out from all the other hundreds of resumes that come through offices... show you have some graphic design skills (after all, we're designers too) by making your resume dynamic Big mistake.
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King
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 07:15 pm |
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Coach wrote: LN wrote: and don't be afraid to throw some graphic design into your resume-- you want yours to pop and to stand out from all the other hundreds of resumes that come through offices... show you have some graphic design skills (after all, we're designers too) by making your resume dynamic Big mistake.
I actually think a little bit of graphics are good. I have seen this very elegant resume using a small thumbnail picture as "bullet point" for each project. Very nice.
Of course the pictures are quality rendering/render floor plan.
Last edited on Tue Oct 7th, 2008 07:16 pm by King
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icarusburns
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 08:48 pm |
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Coming from someone who reads resumes quite often, I have to say that anything much beyond the written portion is ignored. Simple and to the point is always best. I've seen some pretty crappy resumes where the individual tries to hide the lack of experience with fancy graphics, etc. This does absolutely nothing for the individual, but express a smoke and mirrors attempt at trying to hide the lack of talent/ requirements. This is not to say that this is the case all of the time.
On the other hand, I've seen some pretty simple/ small graphics adjacent to an individual's address that have added a bit of unobtrusive flare to the resume.
That's just my 4 cents (2 cents plus inflation) worth.
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LN
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 08:49 pm |
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Coach wrote: LN wrote: and don't be afraid to throw some graphic design into your resume-- you want yours to pop and to stand out from all the other hundreds of resumes that come through offices... show you have some graphic design skills (after all, we're designers too) by making your resume dynamic Big mistake.
funny, i've gotten many a compliment on my resume and landed good jobs with it... i've even been on the hiring end at one firm and saw just how boring and uninteresting most resumes are-- nothing makes you want to read more or know more about the person who sent it in
but maybe i should clarify what i meant by add some graphic design elements to it-- i don't mean add floor plans and photos and crap like that... i mean do something other than set up your document in word and throw some text on it-- consider hierarchy, layout, symmetry, y'know all the standard ideals of design... more along the lines of what a company's letterhead looks like, rather than a one page portfolio sheet
curious to know why you think it's such a big mistake, coach? you're obviously pretty experienced and well revered around here-- care to expand?
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LN
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 08:53 pm |
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icarusburns wrote: I've seen some pretty crappy resumes where the individual tries to hide the lack of experience with fancy graphics, etc. This does absolutely nothing for the individual, but express a smoke and mirrors attempt at trying to hide the lack of talent/ requirements. This is not to say that this is the case all of the time.
On the other hand, I've seen some pretty simple/ small graphics adjacent to an individual's address that have added a bit of unobtrusive flare to the resume.
this is exactly what i meant-- put a little effort in without making it look like you're hiding something... but make it so you stand out from the crowd...
it's deifnitely a fine line
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King
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 08:59 pm |
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icarusburns wrote: That's just my 4 cents (2 cents plus inflation) worth.
Haha, shouldn't inflation de-value your 2 cents? 
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icarusburns
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 09:09 pm |
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King wrote: icarusburns wrote: That's just my 4 cents (2 cents plus inflation) worth.
Haha, shouldn't inflation de-value your 2 cents?
Correct. I guess it would be more like a penny, or less.
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Coach
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 10:49 pm |
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LN wrote: but maybe i should clarify what i meant by add some graphic design elements to it-- i don't mean add floor plans and photos and crap like that... i mean do something other than set up your document in word and throw some text on it-- consider hierarchy, layout, symmetry, y'know all the standard ideals of design... more along the lines of what a company's letterhead looks like, rather than a one page portfolio sheet
curious to know why you think it's such a big mistake, coach? you're obviously pretty experienced and well revered around here-- care to expand? Big difference. This topic comes up every so often and sometime last year I basically said exactly that. Composition, white space, font, bullets (maybe & modest), etc. No question. It should look good as a presentation, but without adornment. The last two times I hired I received some resumes with graphics and automatically threw them in the "thanks but no thanks pile" without reading them. I have my reasons. The top of that list is: Graphics are a sign of immaturity &/or ignorance about the field. Before dispatching them to the dead file, I take a closer look to test my prejudices. All I can tell you is that based on the actual content, I have never been wrong. Forget a lack of professional experience. If you want a prospective employer to know you're a kid in this field, put some color or graphics on your resume. Want to stand out? Produce a crisp, clean resume that shows some accomplishment without a bunch of BS. That will always stand out because most resumes suck. Honestly, the next time I look to make a move, I'm paying a pro because the level I seek has exceeded my resume writing skills. Also, the older I get the more I appreciate specialists.
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LN
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Posted: Tue Oct 7th, 2008 10:57 pm |
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very interesting coach, and i definitely see where you're coming from... i agree that overly decorated resumes scream "don't look at my content, just be wowed by my magic tricks"... but i guess it also depends on what you're looking for-- some firms are heavy on design, easy on con docs, and want more tricks than actual skills
and about the color, i see where you're coming from but don't know if it's a guaranteed ticket to the wastebasket for all employers... my resume has black text, a gray bar along the side, and red accent text/bullets (limited injection of color, purposeful, and makes the person holding it at least stop for a moment and glance at the content)-- and every single prospective employer has been impressed by it... but maybe that's because i have the brains behind the beauty too-- 8 years of experience plus my BArch helps
so again, guess it's just a very fine line... i guess my comments could've been seen as handing a loaded gun to a toddler... graphic design does not mean add graphics to your resume
Last edited on Tue Oct 7th, 2008 10:58 pm by LN
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seedling
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Posted: Thu Oct 9th, 2008 09:32 pm |
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Speaking of resumes, how about portfolios? Sorry if there is thread out there about it, I will look, but I feel torn about this for the same reason. I don't know any 3D stuff really, I sort of taught myself sketchup but that is it, although I am very fast at computers and catch on quickly. So my portfolio is mostly nice details I did on a house I saw from start to finish. I have much more experience in Const Admin and dealing with consultants, seeing a project all the way through to punch list, than I do in rendering, fancy drawings etc. I sometimes feel inadequate compared to flashy portfolios, but sometimes I think it is all fluff, and like coach says, seems immature and would not be taken too seriously. I am only 3 1/2 yrs out of college but I have spent that time running the project on my own along with other small residential projects simultaniously. So, other than my resume and my presentation of my portfolio, how do I make CD sets and detailing interesting? I made a nice portolfio with nice simple layouts to show my compositional skills, but just want to be sure I won't be seen as boring or a dinosaur (even though I am v. young) because I don't have flashy rendering in my portfolio. How do you guys feel about that?
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LN
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Posted: Thu Oct 9th, 2008 10:05 pm |
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the more i think about it, the more i think a resume is extremely important-- how else do you plan on getting your foot in the door? you can't just waltz in to most places and say i want a job without them asking the inevitable-- what's your experience? what're your skills? what's your education? make it easier on yourself and slap it on a piece of paper so, if nothing else, you don't have to be a broken record
plus, nothing makes you look less experienced and highly unqualified than not having any resume whatsoever
as far as portfolio goes, think of it as your resume expanded-- it's what you bring with you to your interviews (which you won't get without a resume)... a lot of us don't have the nifty black folder with presentations of renderings and drawings-- it really depends on what kind of job you're looking for... if you want to do con docs and con admin, then make sure your "portfolio" is heavy on it (for example you could bring in half sized prints of the projects you've worked on or of just the details if that's what you mostly worked on-- don't try to dress them up in any way)... if you want to do more designing and the firm you're looking at tends to smile upon renderings and models, then make sure you have lots of nice prints in your presentation
guess what i'm getting at is your resume and portfolio should show prospective employers how you will benefit them...
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examitecture
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Posted: Fri Oct 31st, 2008 08:23 am |
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You should definitely have enough respect for your professional history that you design what is appropriate and memorable. A true story: A young intern walked into a prominant design firm and asks to speak to the owner. He's on the phone so the intern asks to drop off a resume. This was no ordinary resume. (Won't go into it) The owner walked out after the phone conversation, saw the resume and asked, "Who's is this?" The receptionist replied that he had just gone down the elevator. The owner pursued him onto the sidewalk and offered him a job right there.
Have a good resume.
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Coach
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Posted: Fri Oct 31st, 2008 10:12 am |
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examitecture wrote: (Won't go into it) Well what's the point then?
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