Beefing up my Resume

[razor]

I suck at embellishing, BSing and saying things in an effective way.

Here's the situation. I'm computer programmer looking for a new job. Ideally web-based development using VB, C#, MS-SQL, Visual Studio.

Problem:
Although I have many years of programming experience, I have no actual paying work experience in these areas.

However, in the past year I have written software for running web-based sports pools (Survivor, College Bowl Games, Super Bowl, March Madness) along with a few other small web-based applications all using Visual Studio, VB and MS-SQL (w/stored procedures). These all run on a web application framework called DotNetNuke and I have made the sports pool software available to download for other DotNetNuke users on my website.

I have very limited experience with C# (although to me computer languages are pretty much the same and it wouldn't take me that long be able to use C# competently)


What do I write so that it this experience doesn't get ignored or trivialized?

Where/how do I put this on my resume so it doesn't get missed or seem like an afterthought?

[StevieG]

Those are excellent things to put on your resume.

Do not worry about the work being unpaid. When you break down your resume into sections, make these the sections, in order:

Technologies: (C#, VB, MSSQL, ASP, etc.)
Development Projects:
Employment History:
Education:

In that "Projects" section list your code work. Be brief, but take as much credit as you can. Be sure to put URLs for the software projects if they are available online,make sure they are active (no dead links). If they are accepting resumes in Word, make sure these URLs are hyperlinked.

The only reason I put the Technologies laundry list first is that chances are you will be going through an HR gatekeeper who is using the laundry list to qualify you.

If you know that your resume is going directly to the technical folks, put the projects on top.

Good luck, Razor!

[wh1t3bread]

I was just about to say the same thing. Break your resume up into more functional areas as opposed to the traditional i worked here, and here and here.

So...

-Technical Skill (programming languages, databases, certs).
-Development Projects
-Database Projects
-Systems/Network Projects
-Leadership/Management
-Work History
-Education

[4_2_it]

I am not as programmer or a techie so I apologize in advance if this is off base. I have close to 20 years work experience and have reviewed scores of resumes.

Is there a web page or site that you designed or that your work can be viewed? List it on your resume under accomplishments. If you were 'self-employed' or paid as a result of any of these services you should show this under Work Experience.

It sounds like your cover letter is going to be your most important marketing tool if your job experience is light. Spend some time thinking about how your skills can be directly applied to the position which you are applying. You should customize your cover letter every time you send it to a new perspective employer.

Consider submitting a sample of your work with your resume and cover letter. The more you tell a potential employer the better. Make them want to bring you in for an interview.

Have you talked to a headhunter? Even if you don't want them to place you, many times they will help you put your resume together.

I do not have an IT background, but if you want general feedback, PM me your resume.

[theben]

i'd reccomend putting down what you have done and things/projects you've accomplished and contributed too. its important to put whatever you can because you certainly cannot hand an empty resume! many people share your problem when they are just starting out getting a job, so this is nothing abnormal

[STLantny]

I had a headhunter/career specialist, that was a friend of the family beef up my resume, best thing ever.

[razor]

Thanks for the comments.

[Miggo]

[ QUOTE ]
I had a headhunter/career specialist, that was a friend of the family beef up my resume, best thing ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a great thing to do. I want to add that I agree that an important thing to do would be to tailor the resume to fit the specific job/company, and headhunters are great at this.

g/l man.

[RacersEdge]

It sounds like you don't really understand about resume writing (no offense). Having been paid for something hardly matters. For example, if you organized a group of people in a foreign country to help a poor village while in the Peace Corp, you would have phenomenal experience.

[The Goober]

[ QUOTE ]
However, in the past year I have written software for running web-based sports pools (Survivor, College Bowl Games, Super Bowl, March Madness) along with a few other small web-based applications all using Visual Studio, VB and MS-SQL (w/stored procedures). These all run on a web application framework called DotNetNuke and I have made the sports pool software available to download for other DotNetNuke users on my website.


[/ QUOTE ]

This sounds like work experience to me. Don't worry about whether or not you got paid for it. List the projects you've completed and list the websites you did it for as though it was a full-on company, even if it was just a project for a personal site. It helps if the sites are professional-looking and whoever is reading you resume and can go online and see it for themselves. By the time that the interviewer actually finds out that there were un-paid projects, you will already be at the interview, and you're resume has already done its job (remember that the whole point of a resume is to get an interview, once you are in the interview it's all up to you).

[ QUOTE ]
I have very limited experience with C#

[/ QUOTE ]

I would recommend getting your hands on a C# development environment and just spending a few days writing some reasonably complex C# apps. Then you can just say that you know C# and list it as one of your skills.

[ QUOTE ]
(although to me computer languages are pretty much the same and it wouldn't take me that long be able to use C# competently)

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't be quite so sure of this. C# is much richer language than any of the others that you've mentioned - its basically MS's version of java. Are you comfortable with object-oriented programming? While C# has a lot of shortcuts that make it easier to use than C++ (like memory management, GUI generation, and type coversions), a good C# programmer is still much closer to a C++ programmers than a VB programmer.