Pew Pew Laser Blog

Success.

We finally found a new Web Developer at work. It took a lot of searching, but this guy'll work out very well. Apparently there are lots of companies looking for Web Developers. So if you've ever wanted to try to be a professional, or just break out of what you're doing now, it's a good time to be looking. Just in case, let me give you some tips on what to do, and what not to do, when applying for that job.

• Do submit your resume for positions where you up to 70% of the skills requested. Let your potential employer decide which skills they are looking for are only 'nice to haves'.
• Do customize your resume to match the job listing. Staples doesn't need to know about your experience with the deep fryer.
• Web folks - do put web sites you've worked on in the resume. The web is a unique environment where a potential employer can actually inspect the work you've done even before an interview.
• Do research the company when called for an interview. Find out more about what they're looking for, and what distinguishes the company from their competitors.

• Don't lie, and avoid exaggerations; don't add things to your resume that you have no experience with. If your resume says you've worked with FLEX, you'd damn well better be able to talk about what you did with it.
• Don't put non-related personal stuff on there. Sadly, no potential employer really cares how good a baker or kayaker you are, unless you're aiming for a food service or wilderness guide job.
• Don't put your 'plans' on the resume. We only care about what you have done.
• Don't screw up syntax. Check your spelling, grammar and even word choice. Don't tell me FTP is a skill - it's a technology.

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