Job search tips from the experts

[chukspace]

I'm starting to search for a job after a long stretch of enjoying being a gentleman of leisure. I'm going to a job fair next week at the SF GLBT Center, and last Wednesday they had a job fair workshop. The panel was composed of internal recruiters for local corporations, and here are some observations and tips they had.

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Comments

[vasilatos]

Hi. What's a "functional resume"?

Also, the point about leaning forward and being animated in interviews is important. When I used to interview people, I'd interject a moment where I would type something relevant on my keyboard and look at the monitor. Then, what the interviewee did was important: some would sit back quietly and politely not looking, some would lean forward to see what I was doing. I wanted the leaners.

And what to wear: for tech jobs, khakis or cords, nice shirt, jacket. NOT A SUIT. That makes it look like you don't know what the job is. Also, not jeans, and not bizarre stuff like wild cowboy boots.

Good luck!

[chukspace]

A functional resume has a big list of skills at the beginning, and a list of places of employment at the end with little explanation of what you did at each job. They are often used if you are changing careers and don't have a lot of job experience relevant to the position you're looking for.

Wow, I'd fail your interview. I'd think it really rude to intrude upon what you are writing about me, plus, how could I see your screen without getting behind you in some way, which would be rude as well?

Thanks for the tip!

[vasilatos]

Ah, I always had my desk against the wall with open space in the office, and I'd enthuse about the place somehow, and start typing to illustrate a thought about something ("We have this graph thing that shows dynamic usage, but it itself is destroying the net"). Never occurred to me that people might think I was typing about them. And FYI, I haven't run into anyone else who uses that interview technique specifically.

As an interviewee, I would not actually get up and walk around behind someone's desk if that's their setup, but I would wonder why they're veering offpoint in the middle of a meeting. Oh well. Just don't wear a suit. :-)