Can I include technologies in my resume I'm not an expert at?

[surferdude949]

What would be a proper and HONEST way to display on my resume technologies I have basic knowledge and understanding of.

For example, the project I was involved with, we upgraded Genesys Framework, Tserver and Aspect eworkforce. I was not the person responsible for these upgrades but was involved in meetings and serveral basic functions such as testing and such.

My goal here is not to lie about what I know but to show that I have some exposure to these technologies, thank you.

 

[RiverGuy]

Sounds like something I'd leave off my general resume. If you want to go for a position which involves a lot of Genesys/Tserver/Aspect, then I would tailor my cover letter to the specific company, noting your experience with those technologies while adding something honest to your modified resume for that one position. For example, don't write "Genesys Framework Expert," but put something to denote your testing experience with those technologies.

 

[surferdude949]

Thank you for the reply. I'm not going for a position that requires these technologies. I just want to demonstrate I have the ability to expand my technical bounderies and that I am a well rounded individual.

 

[MDXer]

On My resume I List Technologies I have worked with, along with How long and type of exposure, in bullet points. If I haven't used something in a year or so I also add the last year I used it. I have had nothing but positive comments about this format from people I interview with.

I was recently giving the resume an individual used at my interview for my current position. All the technologies I use and experience keywords were circled.

 

[mrdenny]

I'd list stuff you are an expert in, and stuff that you aren't. It shows a well rounded knowledge of technology.

As for Aspect's eWorkforce, I'm sorry. So very sorry. I worked with that back when Aspect bought it.

Denny
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[SQLSister]

When I was more of a generalist person, I used to divide my resume up into sections, one included the technologies I considered myself to be expert in and the next one was technologies I was familiar with. That way I didn't get bumped out on the keyword search but I was honest that I did not have significant expertise. I also didn't try to get any jobs where those technologies I was just familiar with were the main part of the job, but it did help if they were a small portion of the job for them to be listed.

"NOTHING is more important in a database than integrity." ESquared

 

[kmcferrin]

Agreed. As long as you represent yourself honestly then you shouldn't have an issue. I like SQLSister's approach, and I use something similar myself.

What you want to avoid at all costs is giving the impression that you have great expertise in something that you do not know very well. If you do then it will come out in the interview, and no matter how well you do in the rest of the interview when they discover that you don't actually know Product X you've pretty much burned your bridge with that company/hiring manager. Even if another position came up that you were qualified for they may very well remember how you "embellished" in the past and rule you out immediately.

When it comes to resumes honesty is by far the best policy.

________________________________________
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MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
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[lionelhill]

kmcferrin has put his finger on the golden test:

could you keep up a decent conversation on the subject with a reasonable expert at the interview?

 

[mrdenny]

And more importantly can you sound intelligent while having that conversation?

Denny
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[hinesward]

If you think you can do the work, then put it down.

 

[gbaughma]

If you think you can do the work, then put it down.

I totally disagree.

On my resume, I have a short paragraph of "Experience with..."

I've had experience with CorelDraw. I'm not a graphic designer, but I know how to use the program. I've had experience with AutoCad. That doesn't make me a draftsman.

I can say, honestly, that I am FLUENT with all versions of windows, Microsoft office, and so forth.

Then, I'm CERTIFIED in several things as well.

While I think that it's good to discuss those things in an interview, putting it down on your resume because you THINK you can do the work is wrong.

I'm sure that I could draw blood if I needed to. That doesn't make me a phlebotomist. I could probably, in an emergency, do a tracheostomy. I certainly wouldn't put that on my resume that I'm a surgeon.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[mattKnight]

>I'm sure that I could draw blood if I needed to. That doesn't make me a phlebotomist. I could probably, in an emergency, do a tracheostomy. I certainly wouldn't put that on my resume that I'm a surgeon.

While I agree with what you say - there is no harm in saying (to use your analogy) "I feel confident in drawing blood if required, but would need extra training to become a phlebotomist"

What you need to is show a depth of knowledge (even for specialisms) but not over state your knowledge.

Take Care

Matt
I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone.
My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone.

 

[ChrisHunt]

I tink, surferdude that you're already using the kind of phrases that you should be using in your CV:

"I have basic knowledge and understanding of" technology X.

"I have some exposure to" technology Y.

Provided your honest about your actual level of expertise (or lack of same), I'd ceratinly include this on your CV.

Just make sure that this doesn't happen to you:

http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/The-ShoeIn.aspx

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[kmcferrin]

Nice article. I can't say that I've run into anyone like that personally, but I've heard from others who have so I have no doubt that they're out there. The recruiters for the consulting company where I work do reformat the resume so that our company always presents a consistent image to the customer, but I've never had anyone actually add content before. Maybe it's different in a larger city like London, but I've always felt that submitting someone who was utterly unqualified would burn bridges with potential clients.

My only question from the article...if Lotus Notes/Domino was a requirement for the job, why wasn't it listed in the job description, and why didn't he see it before he scheduled the interview?

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator

 

[tcsbiz]

Chris Hunt's link reminds me of what a recruiter asked me to do in 1992. He wanted me to add three years of experience in a technology that I had only read about. He wasn't going to do it but wanted me to. I told him I wouldn't do that as I wouldn't be able to fulfill that requirement. He said that I would at least get an interview. For him, that's all that mattered. I asked him why he wouldn't add it and he said that that would be unethical.

It was three weeks before year-end and he was evaluated on the number of interviews he got for people and the number of hires. He was trying to boost his interview number a bit. I found out about it after talking to a friend who had worked for the recruiting company. My friend said it was common practice.

Perhaps that was the case here.

 

[VE]

Ugh, I had a recruiter send me his version of my resume recently; it was so embarrassing that I was actually relieved to not get an interview.

He exaggerated and outright lied, then added a section of bullet points starting with the word "done": "Done management reports in Crystal Reports". “Done financial reporting”. The first line was "18 years experience", aside from not being something I want to advertise, the numbers didn’t even add up.

Don’t these guys get paid by placing us?

 

[mrdenny]

They do. Sometimes it's a wonder they get to eat with some of the crap they put out.

Denny
MVP
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
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