We have a slot open for a programmer, and I've been getting resumes lately. The vast majority are crap. And I've found myself adverse to considering resumes of people with nothing but Federal government contracting experience. All of these types of resumes seem to have the same structure where each contracting post is littered with programming buzzwords and domain specific acronyms that nobody outside that .gov agency even recognizes. I read these things thinking, "Wow! If listing acronyms were the job you'd be great. To bad I want a programmer instead."
So, would you hire a guy with nothing but .gov experience for a staff hot-shot programmer position?
Depends on the rest of the resume -- and interview, background check, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn the style of case you list, full of very specific acronyms, yeah, dump his butt, as he's clearly got horrible communication skills. (Unless of course your company is one that he can expect to grok all those acronyms.)
But if they have a "net rep" (web site, blogs, blog comments, LinkedIn profile, tweets, Github repo, etc.) that shows they probably do indeed grok all those buzzwords, explain all unusual acronyms, etc., fine....
I'm very willing to change my perception of a person if I interview them. And trust me, my interviews are good shake-downs and can be involved. But I'm not getting to that point with these candidates. I mostly don't get past their resume.
ReplyDeleteNow consider that I got a resume from a college graduate yesterday. He's got very few of the qualifications I am looking for other than he wants to be a programmer and has a CS degree. He'd obviously be starting at the bottom. But I read his entire resume, and even clicked through to his blog and his website where he is putting up HTML5/Javascript games he does as a hobby. That resume went into my "interested" pile.
I'd be more worried that their time working in the federal government had turned them into bureaucrat slugs.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is that about people who have been Fed contractors. And in fact, that's what really worries me. They know nothing other than to obfuscate with acronyms, which is what bureaucrats are really good at.
ReplyDeleteAND DUDE! How are your new digs? Seriously, you are leading one hell of an interesting life right now. You should blog about it... if such things are allowed.
I'm doing well. Still getting the new apartment set up, but work is interesting and keeping me busy. You'll be pleased to know that I brought my CHP along for show-and-tell when the subject of gun rights comes up in conversation.
ReplyDeleteI'll be writing an occasional newsletter rather than a blog; I'll include you on the mailing list.