Tuning
Your Resume
What is tuning? Tuning
happens when different job opportunities are possible at the
same time, but the job posting needs different skill sets.
The job seeker then changes their resume to reflect a closer
match with the job description. One "tunes" the resume to
reflect the desired skill set or a closer match to the
desired skill set.
Tuning can also be
described as "reaching". This is where a person takes on the
persona of someone one level higher. Since the individual is
familiar with the responsibilities and lingo of people one
level higher in the organization, it is common practice for
the resume to reach and represent a skill set one notch
higher. The Jeffrey Papows case study below outlines one
such published story.
"Shading" is another
synonym for "Tuning". The truth for many people is the color
gray versus black or white. One example of Shading is when
"six months" of experience turns into "almost a year" of
experience.
Computer Industry Tuning
Situations:
-
One
scripting language experience is turned into another - Perl
turns into Java script/VB Script, since "scripting" is all
the same - NOT (also refer to the article called - The cost
of covert on-the-job training)
-
SAP skills
turning into Peoplesoft or Baan skills and vice
versa
-
Sybase
skills turning into Microsoft SQL
-
5 out of 6
skills are real, but one skill is
padding
-
The opening
is for a senior level - a person with six months actual
experience talks their way through the interview process as
a person with 2 years experience, but can't deliver the
results
-
New
technology buzzword trap - the interviewer needs competence
in the skill to find out the candidate's competency. If the
knowledge is something cutting edge, the chance that one
would get found out is limited. For example - XML
experience is still quite rare, so tests might not be out
yet that cover that space and it is guaranteed that
engineering management would not have the hands-on XML
experience!
-
C++ turns
into Java - a person is hired at $125/hr as a Java
programmer. Well it turns out that the person is actually a
good C++ programmer, but puffed up the resume to appear
like there were Java skills and got through the interview
process without being detected, since the candidate had
read a book on Java programming.
Now this person is
trying to get the job done, but isn't delivering at the
speed expected for the wage being paid. In this instance, if
the resume had been time stamped and stored in a central
repository, it would have been obvious that there was no
Java expertise, but strong C++ expertise. The hiring company
could then have decided to provide the overt training for
the individual, but not at the $125/hr fee, but at say a
more reasonable $80 per hour fee.
"Do Not Contact My Current
Employer"
When filling out a job application, always check
the little box that requests that the prospective
employer not request a reference from your current
employer. Even if you’re not, this will make you appear
more valuable as a currently employed prospect will
always be more desirable then one who is unemployed.
Hiring companies just love to think that they’re
"stealing" you away from another firm. Most of the hiring
managers we spoke to revealed that they seldom bother to
follow up with an employment reference with your last
employer after you’re on their payroll. (Though you have
to consider this possibility if it’s stated on the
application)
If your resume is
relatively sound and only includes some minor
modifications, you can probably land a position with most
any firm. However, should your resume contain more
fiction than fact, you may want to restrict your job
search to the smaller companies. Small family owned
outfits do the least checking of all. The pay and
benefits may not be the best, but they might be just the
ticket if you need employment fast and have a resume that
may not withstand the scrutiny a larger company with more
resources might apply.
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