MetaChat - Tell me if this is a terrible idea

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23 June 2006

Tell me if this is a terrible idea →[More:]
I'm going to a job fair thingy on Saturday, not one of those horrible airport-hotel-ballroom- experience-the-opportunities-of-Amway type job fairs, it's a thing for a single company at their site.

Since it's a job fair, and they're a fairly young, cool seeming company, I was thinking instead of a boring cover letter, I would have a FACT sheet, basically all the information they want to know, and all the things I want them to know in point form. (In addition to my formal resume, of course)

post by: Capn at: 10:24 | 18 comments

I think I would work the fact sheet into the resume. Spend maybe 1/4 of the resume on the bulleted list and call it "Highlights" or some such.

I'm kind of a traditionalist, though, so maybe I'm nto the right person to ask about young, cool seeming companies.

posted by Doohickie 23 June | 10:26

This is what I've got so far

Professional developer, 7 year's experience.
Availble to start beginning of August (negotiable).
Left previous job because they would not work him hard enough(*)
Started programming at age 10 (***)
BSc Hons in compter science(**)
Amazing debugger
Most professional experience is with C/C++, but really excited about working with languages and technologies less than 20 years old.
Some experience with Perl and Java, played around with Ruby and Python.
Lots of Windows/UNIX cross-platform development experience
Juggler and raconteur

(***) Radio Shack CoCo BASIC skills a little rusty
(**) York University, Toronto. 1994 to 1999
(*) Among other reasons

posted by Capn 23 June | 10:29

I think you should call your list "Highlights for Children."

That's really not supposed to mean anything beyond "Hugh is ridiculous."

posted by Hugh Janus 23 June | 10:32

(note, I'm not looking for a critique of the list, but that's welcome, more the whole idea).

posted by Capn 23 June | 10:32

I think it's a good idea.

posted by cmonkey 23 June | 10:34

Maybe you could do both? Do the fact sheet thing but have the traditional resume on hand in case?

I like the fact sheet idea though, I love brevity.

posted by LunaticFringe 23 June | 10:41

Yes, the FACT sheet would take the place of the cover letter, not the resume.

posted by Capn 23 June | 10:44

It rocks, man.

posted by matildaben 23 June | 11:06

I like it. Almost every cover letter I've ever read, including my own, are unbearably awkward. It's just not that great of a medium to get across the points you want. Your list is essentially the written version of a 60-second "elevator" speech--which I think is much more important than a formal cover letter.

I have seen a couple of fake-out cover letters that use the letter framework but breakout a bullet-point list like you have.

posted by mullacc 23 June | 11:14

One side of one sheet of paper. If it worked for Winston Churchill on the British Navy's plan for winning WWII, it will work for you.

posted by warbaby 23 June | 12:21

I think this is a great idea. I wish everyone who sent me a resume did this. It certainly can't hurt, especially in a convention-floor-expo sort of environment where you have the chance to make a personal impression as well.

posted by Miko 23 June | 13:06

Hey warbaby, you know, Churchill's one-page Naval plan can be found at the National Library website. Here it is:

≡ Click to see image ≡

And yeah, Capn, I think the fact sheet's a good idea.

posted by Hugh Janus 23 June | 13:19

I'd ditch the Left Previous Job part, don't put that out there unless they ask you and have a good strong answer ready. You're outlining your strengths, not why you left a previous job.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 23 June | 14:11

And that plan worked, Hugh!

posted by warbaby 23 June | 14:46

I was about to give you my opinion, but as the jobless wonder, I'm just going to stand over *there* and listen.

posted by SassHat 23 June | 15:09

Spill it Sass

posted by Capn 23 June | 15:13

I think you should drug your potential employer(s), tie them up, take them to the abandoned warehouse down by the river, prop their eyes open a la "Clockwork Orange" and then perform for them a carefully choreographed and perfectly executed tap routine explaining why you are the perfect candidate. If that doesn't wow them, I don't know what could.

posted by SassHat 23 June | 19:01

GENIUS!

posted by Capn 23 June | 19:06

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