EDIT: Final version. Yes, it's one of these threads again. Hooray! Here it is: http://anachronology.com/other/Lee_Terence-public.pdf Here is an accompanying portfolio website: http://anachronology.com Here is some background: I am graduating at the end of this year, in December 2009, with a BS in Computer Science & Engineering and a minor in Art and Technology. I have some significant hobbyist experience, and 2 years of internship experience as a software developer. My goals probably aren't very clear, but I'm hoping to cover that in my cover letter. Basically, I'm looking for an entry level position in any programming position after I graduate. I guess an internship would be okay too (do they give people internships if they already graduate?) Questions: Layout - Is that graphic alright? - Is the subtitle under my name annoying or anything? - Should I have "Work experience" at the bottom? - That "Knowledge" section under "Skills" is kind of experimental. Is it too general, and should I focus on a few things in more detail? Content - Do those topics under "Knowledge" seem useful? - Should I go more in-depth about those courses, or is listing them enough? - Should I go more in depth about my projects? They are significant, but I didn't give them a ton of room. There is much more information about them on my website. Should I put a "more info on website" or "demo available" thing at the end of each Project entry? Thanks for your help. [Edited by - Swarmer on July 30, 2009 5:46:16 PM]

I am by no means an expert on this kind of stuff, but I have recently graduated university in the uk (may of this year) and have started to work for juice games after a few applications to game companies I had 2 job offers.

my website is Polymonster and has my protfolio and CV (resume) on there so feel free to take a look at mine and see what u think because it seemed to work well for me :)

with regards to your questions.

layout
-I think the graphic seems fine I think gone are the days where people sould have bland uniform resume style.

-subtitle, not to sure I dont think its annoying but personally I wouldnt put it there and let the rest of the resume do the talking, looks like you have more skills and are capable of more than just being an "artistic games programmer"

-I usually put work experience last

-Knowledge, I used my website for this kind of stuff

-Courses - I dont even list mine again, I use my website for more in depth info

-Finally projects I say just list them a brief summary and link to your site for more in depth info.

I was told my portfolio was the strongest part of my application and thats what i generally think employers especially in games development are lookign for with relevent qualificatiosn to back it up.

Obviously I am from the Uk and our CV style and expectancy may differ from US resume's but I hope my input helps.

All the best with your job hunting :)

Looks pretty good already, but the first third of it should be slashed and incorporated into the remains. Your emphasis is in the wrong places.


>> Artistic game programmer

At first I was strongly against the word "artistic" under your name and the graphic. After reviewing the thing a few times, I can see some small reasons why you might want to leave the word "artistic" on there. I think I would still cut the graphic and strongly consider removing the word, but since it gives the thing a bit of personality, there is a very small argument for keeping it.


>> SKILLS... Languages: ... Knowledge:...

Don't use a list of keywords. It hurts your presentation. It encourages me to just look at the list, and throw it out because you didn't list one tiny thing I am looking for.

Cut this whole section and incorporate the details elsewhere.

You need to SHOW your transferable skills, not simply state they exist. Some of those can be cut completely, such as knowledge of Visual Studio. You can remove ASP.NET unless you are applying for web developer, and remove SQL Server unless you are planning on working on databases.

>> C++ (6 yrs) and C# (4 yrs)

When employers speak of years of experience they are referring to verifiable professional work. I do not see 6 years of C++.




You claim a lot of good skills, but they need to be presented better.


Since you are still in school, you can safely expand the education section. Move many of your Skills details in here. Don't just say "Game Development Project", give additional details. Tell me what technologies you used and how many people you worked with. If the project is what you meant with "Notable Projects", make it more clear that those were associated with your education.

Similarly with your other coursework, "Artificial Intelligence" tells me very little. You could have just learned about some small state machines, or you could have studied ANNs and adaptive systems. Give me details that I can translate into job skills.






Your Storm project is excellent. This is by far your biggest selling point. You need to take advantage of it. On your Storm project details include a prominent note to please download it from your site and try the game. I can easily imagine the description getting 2-3 additional lines of details, and a larger font.

The game should be the first thing you describe, even above your education.

For your Notable Projects section, move some of the details from the Skills section down into the descriptions of these projects. Show where you used search algorithms and genetic algorithms, where you used OpenGL, where you used Flash and ActionScript, etc. Then move the entire section to the top.




I would expand your work experience slightly, with details of transferable skills. What you have is good, but moving the skills down from the top into the details is even better.

Thanks for the help!

Nice portfolio, BlackSeeds. I think I'll put up for information about my earlier games.

The reason why I put "artistic game programmer" down is because I really want to emphasize my interest and skill in the creative aspect of game development. "Creative" might be a more relevant word, but it doesn't seem to necessarily imply non-programming aspects. I think I will probably change that part. I still want to keep something there though; just a short phrase that sums me up uniquely.

Quote: Original post by frob
Don't use a list of keywords. It hurts your presentation. It encourages me to just look at the list, and throw it out because you didn't list one tiny thing I am looking for.

Good point. The problem I have is that I don't have projects for all of those keywords. I wanted to list some of the things that I know about through academic work, but without a tangible product. But I guess that dilutes the things that I do have extensive experience with. I guess I can drop some of the details, right? If I don't include something like "octrees", they're not going to assume I don't know about them, right?

The years of experience I put down were non-professional, so I guess I'll remove them.

I'll merge the "knowledge" section into the rest of the info, and post a new version in a bit.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Quote: Original post by Swarmer
The problem I have is that I don't have projects for all of those keywords. I wanted to list some of the things that I know about through academic work, but without a tangible product. But I guess that dilutes the things that I do have extensive experience with. I guess I can drop some of the details, right? If I don't include something like "octrees", they're not going to assume I don't know about them, right?

Basically, yes.

Any employer is basically interested in two things:
* Will you do the job well?
* Will you fit in?


A completed game project is strong evidence that you could do the job well.

A completed degree program is evidence that you could do the job well, or at least that you likely have the knowledge required and the tenacity to finish.

Showing that you have worked on team projects is evidence that you could fit in and probably play nicely with co-workers.



Stating that you know about one particular instance of a tree structure does not give much evidence toward either question.

Similarly, stating that you have "knowledge of Flash" and are "experienced with OpenGL" does not provide any useful evidence.

I made a new version. Same link as before: http://anachronology.com/other/Lee_Terence-public.pdf
I also heavily updated my site to show more relevant projects: http://anachronology.com

I didn't change the "Artistic game programmer" part yet. I'm still unsure of what to replace it with. I don't want nothing to be there though. Also, I'm still undecided on the graphic. It can't harm to have it there, can it? It makes the whole resume's composition look pretty nice.

I cleaned up the Skills section, and removed the "knowledge" part by scattering it's contents around.

I moved the projects section up, and expanded upon the Storm entry. I expanded the other projects more by adding in specific details. I also expanded on the "relevant coursework" section in the same way.

It looks a bit better, but the skills section completely ruins it.

The skills section really must go. It is harmful to the rest of it.


For your languages, you mentioned all of them in the details below. So you can cut the langauges line.

By virtue of the projects you completed and that demo, you demonstrate you have windows programming experience. That line can go.

Your applications are already covered elsewhere:
* Visual Studio is pointless --- if you have been developing all those windows apps with XNA, ASP, etc., then your use of Visual Studio is implied.
* Version control systems like SVN are not worth mentioning unless you did something notable with them and were applying for a sysadmin type job.
* SQL Server is not really worth mentioning for a game job unless the company specifically asks about it in their job description. Even if they did, it should be listed among the place where you actually used it.
* Photoshop doesn't need to be mentioned, unless you are applying for an art job.
* Flash and Actionscript aren't mentioned in any of your projects. If you are applying as a flash developer you wouldn't get the job because you don't show any flash experience. So either show some real notable experience, or better yet, cut it.
* Using the Valve Hammer Editor is not a significant transferrable skill for a programmer.
* You mention GLSL in your academic experience but not OpenGL. Move OpenGL down there, and cut both from your skills.
* XNA is mentioned again, don't keep bringing it up
* Modeling and animation experience are not the mainstay of an entry level programmer. Cut.



With that entire section cut, use the whitespace to make it readable. It is hard to digest a solid wall of text.

I thought "skills" sections were a standard part of programming resumes? Every example I've seen has a section that just lists the languages and applications that they use. So should I just jump straight into the Notable Projects section? I guess I could see it being redundant in some places, but it seems like it's good for just giving a quick overview. And I don't see how it's harmful to the rest, other than taking up some space that could be used to space out my existing text some more.

The reason why I have so many "unrelated" things listed, like Photoshop, Hammer, 3D modeling, and SQL Server, is because I wanted to show that I am familiar with a lot of the other aspects of game development. That's the thing with the "Artistic game programmer" title: I want to give the impression that I can be used as more than a tools or engine programmer, but maybe work with the media people a bit and try some more general positions. Maybe it's an unrealistic goal, but I thought it would be a good way to distinguish myself from others. I'm planning on clarifying this up a lot in my cover letters.

I can throw OpenGL down with the GLSL part; I just assumed that GLSL would imply OpenGL.

I added projects in my portfolio explaining my use of Flash and Actionscript, OpenGL, and Hammer. In my online resume it links directly to those projects where relevant. Is it alright to have this disparity between my online resume and my pdf resume? Maybe I should emphasize more in my pdf resume to check the website.

Quote: Original post by Swarmer
I thought "skills" sections were a standard part of programming resumes? Every example I've seen has a section that just lists the languages and applications that they use.

No, it is not.

Having been on the other side of the interview table, I can assure you it is most useful at excluding people who are missing keywords. It is unhelpful if you want to get an interview.

Quote: So should I just jump straight into the Notable Projects section?

Yes.

Your most valuable evidence to the two employment questions is provided in those notable projects. They belong right at the top.

Quote: I guess I could see it being redundant in some places, but it seems like it's good for just giving a quick overview. And I don't see how it's harmful to the rest, other than taking up some space that could be used to space out my existing text some more.

Think of it as a kind of zen -- it is not about what you can add, it is what you can remove to better reveal the essence.

Also, it is a bit like a date. You need to reveal enough to get them extremely interested, and also keep enough hidden that they will call you back.

The best resumes tend to immediately state instances where they have done the work before, and then include a few major details of what they did with a focus on how it is significant to a new employer. Next they list key history points from their life, tending to be scattered jobs and personal projects, followed by their education. Every word on the paper answers the two questions, showing convincing evidence that they will (not can) do the job well and clearly demonstrating that they fit in with the culture.

Quote: The reason why I have so many "unrelated" things listed, like Photoshop, Hammer, 3D modeling, and SQL Server, is because I wanted to show that I am familiar with a lot of the other aspects of game development. That's the thing with the "Artistic game programmer" title: I want to give the impression that I can be used as more than a tools or engine programmer, but maybe work with the media people a bit and try some more general positions. Maybe it's an unrealistic goal, but I thought it would be a good way to distinguish myself from others. I'm planning on clarifying this up a lot in my cover letters.

You are still applying for entry level jobs just out of college. You will be a gameplay programmer or tools programmer. Don't try for more than that in your first job, especially with the economy in its current state.

Quote: I can throw OpenGL down with the GLSL part; I just assumed that GLSL would imply OpenGL.

It does if you know what GLSL is. Many people in HR don't know that. The skills keywords need to be present, just not as a useless self-evaluated summary.

Quote: I added projects in my portfolio explaining my use of Flash and Actionscript, OpenGL, and Hammer. In my online resume it links directly to those projects where relevant. Is it alright to have this disparity between my online resume and my pdf resume? Maybe I should emphasize more in my pdf resume to check the website.

You should tailor it to the job you are applying for.

Cut anything not directly related or transferable to the job you are applying for.

If you are applying for web and flash development, then by all means focus on that. If you are applying for traditional PC or console development there is no need to include it because they don't care.

Similarly, if the job you are applying for asks for database skills then it is appropriate to include SQL Server. Otherwise it just detracts from the skills they want to see.

Alright, thanks for the explanation. It's all making sense now. I'll change them up a bit tonight.