#123 - I'm an Engineering Manger and I've Seen All Your Resumes: Here Are 4 Ways to Avoid Rejection
Mar 28, 2024
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An engineering manager shares insights on how to avoid rejection with resumes, categorizing them into NO, Maybe, Yes piles. Emphasizes on standing out, highlighting personal achievements, and structuring resumes strategically. Offers advice on avoiding common pitfalls, increasing hireability, and reducing bias in job applications.
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Quick takeaways
Focus on showcasing the impact of your work to stand out on resumes.
Confidently highlight achievements and use strong language to sell yourself effectively to employers.
Deep dives
Emphasizing Impact in Resumes
Focusing on the impact of your work rather than just listing tasks can make your resume stand out. Highlighting the metrics and outcomes of your projects, such as increasing user satisfaction or improving efficiency, can showcase your value to potential employers. By framing your experiences in terms of impact, you can differentiate yourself from other candidates and demonstrate your potential contributions.
Confident Self-Promotion
Confidently showcasing your achievements and contributions is crucial in selling yourself to employers. Using strong language to describe your role in projects, leadership responsibilities, and accomplishments can enhance your resume. Avoid downplaying your role or seeking pity; instead, focus on presenting yourself as a skilled professional capable of adding significant value to a team.
Optimizing Resume Layout
Creating a well-organized and visually appealing resume can enhance your chances of standing out. Prioritizing impactful information, using sensible formatting, and avoiding excessive details can help your resume capture the attention of recruiters. By structuring your resume to highlight key skills, projects, and achievements effectively, you can increase your chances of being shortlisted for interviews.
In the last 2 years alone, I’ve read through at least 100 resumes for open positions at my current company for junior developers. In addition, I’ve done around 500 calls with developers from around the world and seen hundreds more resumes and LinkedIn profiles.
As an engineering manager, when I get sent a stack of resumes to look through, I will divide them into 3 categories:
🔴 NO!
🟠 Maybe…
🟢 Yes!
Your goal as a junior developer is to avoid the NO pile. Let's explore how.
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