Critique my resume (Software Developer)

[DT4K]

I'm not sure what to do to make it sound better, but I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks.


Summary
Highly motivated software developer with proven success designing, developing, and implementing robust, efficient, and user-friendly software systems in an FDA regulated environment.

Experience
Software Application Developer
April 2001 - Present
Eastman-Kodak Health Imaging
White City, OR
Eastman-Kodak is a global leader in research, development, and manufacturing of medical imaging systems. I have played a key role in the design and development of information systems for manufacturing and quality control of Kodak?s DryView Medical films.

· Designed and developed SQL Server 2000 production and quality control database serving the White City manufacturing facility.
· Designed and developed production-critical Visual Basic 6 application for chemical mixing department
· Designed and developed Visual Basic ActiveX COM object used by T-SQL stored procedures to automate SAP transactions.
· Designed and developed Visual Basic modules to automate SAP transactions. These modules provide the link between SAP and SQL Server, have eliminated redundant data entry, and have allowed for automation and synchronization between the local system and the corporate SAP ERP system.
· Developed numerous T-SQL stored procedures used by multiple client applications
· Developed MS Access application to provide an administrative front-end to the SQL Server database.
· Developed numerous reports in MS Access and Crystal Reports for .Net that integrate data from multiple back-end systems.
· Wrote user instruction manuals and software validation test plans.
· Provided training and support to end-users and application support staff.

Education
Southern Oregon University
B.S. computer science
Computer programming and software option
June 2001
Cumulative GPA: 3.7
Computer Science GPA: 3.8

University of Oregon
B.S. in general science with emphasis in chemistry and psychology
March 1999

Skills
Programming VB.Net, ASP.Net, VB6, VBA, VBScript, Java, C, SQL, PL/SQL, T-SQL, Assembly
Database design, development, and administration with SQL Server 2000, Oracle 8i and MS Access
Web development in ASP.Net, Classic ASP, HTML, VBScript, and Javascript
Familiarity with Windows NT/2000 and UNIX/Linux environments
Excellent problem-solving and teamwork skills

Academic Software Projects
· Designed and implemented an object-relational database in Oracle 8i with a VB6 client
· Designed and implemented a VB6/Oracle 8i document management system that allowed users to submit, search for, and open documents.
· Built an Internet shopping cart application using ASP, VBScript and SQL Server.
· Developed video de-interlacing software for senior capstone project. Application was written in C in a Linux environment.

 

[Lager]

Damn, that looks impressive. :beer:

 

[Pex]

yea looks good...but i hate how ppl have to make their resumes look too professional. "highly motivated" yea right no one is motivated to work.

 

[Ogg]

Nice......yeah hes right though, Id kill the summary/objective you dont need it.

:beer:

 

[DT4K]

You don't think I need a summary?
I know it sounds kinda cheesy with the "highly-motivated" crap, but I wanted it to sound energetic and enthusiastic rather than boring.

Do you think the bullets in the experience section give too much detail? I'm wondering if I should make them a little more general so it doesn't sound like it's an exhaustive list of every task I've ever done.

 

[shuan24]

I think instead of a summary, you should put an objective. Like, "I am looking for a .... with experience in..."

 

[shuan24]

Also, I think you should come up with more adjectives other than "designed and developed"

(i know i know, theres very few synonyms for it, but at least try or put it in another way)

 

[Pepsi90919]

idea: download PDF995 for free then generate a PDF of your resume so we can see what it really looks like.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

put emphasis on experience....

but damn your resume stats owns mine...i am nothing... lol

showoff

 

[PELarson]

I keep coming back to that "Highly motivated" piece. I would drop it. But that is JMO.

But this is from a lazy and lethargic mainframe operator/network administrator/PC technician


Luck,
Paul

 

[BassDominator]

Impressive!

A few suggestions, though:

1) Get rid of the summary. Too cheesy.

2) Name and address go at top.

3) Bring education up to top.

4) Get rid of sentence: "Eastman-Kodak is a global leader in research, development, and manufacturing of medical imaging systems. I have played a key role in the design and development of information systems for manufacturing and quality control of Kodak?s DryView Medical films.

5) Were you a member of any honor societies, service organizations, win any awards, do any interesting travel, speak any languages, hold any jobs outside of computers, have interesting hobbies? If you have room, this stuff helps to personalize your resume and make you stand out from the rest.

6) Most importantly, try to sound unique and interesting.

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll land a great job.

 

[desy]

Yeah save your I'm the best employee ever speech for the cover letter
JMO

 

[Ogg]

No I dont think theres too much detail. Its for the most part a clean solid description........

You want to move to Louisiana and program for us using your sql server skills, vba, vb .net etc......in GIS software such as ESRI products and other little stand alone apps??? eh

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Ogg
No I dont think theres too much detail. Its for the most part a clean solid description........

You want to move to Louisiana and program for us using your sql server skills, vba, vb .net etc......in GIS software such as ESRI products and other little stand alone apps??? eh

LOL, I was in New Orleans last May for the Visual Studio Connections conference. It was like being in hell. Every time I stepped outside, I would instantly start sweating and feel like I couldn't breathe. This was in May for god's sake. I can't imagine being there in the middle of summer.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I looked at quite a few resumes on the web and I was using the format that I had thought looked the best. With the objective statement, etc. But I really am not happy with the way it reads. I wasn't trying to brag. I really don't think it's very impressive at all for a professional developer with 3 years of work experience. When it comes down to it, basically all I'm really experienced with is writing VB6 apps and SQL stored procedures.

I am still employed, but I'm thinking of leaving and looking for something else.

So keep the suggestions coming, I'll be listening.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Pex
yea looks good...but i hate how ppl have to make their resumes look too professional. "highly motivated" yea right no one is motivated to work.

You don't understand the psychology of the developer; a lot of us are motivated to work. There are people that have the privilege of enjoying their work.

 

[Descartes]

I thought I'd throw in something actually constructive:

I think your resume looks good. You have high-quality experience, and it shows.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Descartes
I thought I'd throw in something actually constructive:

I think your resume looks good. You have high-quality experience, and it shows.

Thanks.
You are right, I am motivated to work. For the most part, I have really enjoyed my job. We are a small team (4 developers now) where we really don't have a "lead" developer. This environment has given me the opportunity to be more involved in the entire development process. Everything from initial requirements gathering and design work, the actual coding, testing, documentation, training, and application suport. This broad experience is something I wouldn't have gotten if I had been working for a big software shop where I would have most likely been put in a very specific role. So this has been a good experience, but there are a number of reasons I'm considering leaving my current job. One of them is that we we will be done with our plant-wide system in the next 6 months or so and after that, my job will be primarily maintenance and minor upgrade type work. Basically, I'm just ready for a change and I would like to be working on new software / technology, rather than just maintaining VB 6 apps.

Descartes,
Since you are in the field, do you have any specific thoughts on improvements I could make to my resume?

Thanks.

 

[DT4K]

Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[CanOWorms]

I think the words 'developed' and 'designed' are used like 500 times Is that ok?

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I think the words 'developed' and 'designed' are used like 500 times Is that ok?

Actually, it's only like 11 times.
But how else should I describe it?
Design and develop is basically my job description.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Fabricate/Implement? Use a thesaurus

 

[atom]

I say leave the summary, lots of people I know have one. I have one in my resume, and it's equally cheesy sounding.......

And talking to quite a few HR people I know, phrases like "highly motivated", "hard working", and "team player" are largely ignored because EVERYONE puts stuff like that in their resume, whether they mean it or not. So whatever, keep it in if you like it, I don't think it matters much either way.

I really don't think it's very impressive at all for a professional developer with 3 years of work experience. When it comes down to it, basically all I'm really experienced with is writing VB6 apps and SQL stored procedures.

If you are worried, you could include some more detail about the problem solving aspects of your job, rather than focusing most of your resume on the technical aspects.

Anyways, I think it's pretty good, a damn sight better than mines is anyways. I really should rewrite my resume when I get the chance.........

 

[DaveSimmons]

My background: lead Windows application developer, C++/MFC, and have done first-cut reading of resumes and choosing the candidates for interviews at my previous employer for several developer positions. I'll be doing it again at my current employer when things slow down enough that we have enough free time to break in a new developer.

My take: keep all of the sections except the experience detail listing as-is. I found it helpful to know Eastman/Kodak's medical imaging background so don't remove that sentence.

In your place I'd re-word the 11 d&d sentences into something like:
Designed and developed a number of systems including:
- SQL Server 2000 production and quality control database serving the White City manufacturing facility
- production-critical Visual Basic 6 application for chemical mixing department
...
- numerous reports in MS Access and Crystal Reports for .Net that integrate data from multiple back-end systems

If you go over 1 page I'd trim one or two of the Academic experience items, starting with the shopping cart and object-relational database. Be sure to keep the video de-interlacing item since it shows you know something besides VB and database systems.

 

[DT4K]

Thanks DaveSimmons.
I appreciate the feedback.

I had debated whether to keep the academic stuff on there. When I first put together a resume, it was on there because there was no other experience to list. Now I've been out of school for 2.5 years, so I'm not sure how relevant it is. But I did want to get the point across that I am capable of more than just writing GUI based VB apps. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if having academic stuff listed takes focus away from the actual real-world experience I have.

EDIT: I know everybody knows the Kodak name, but I think very few people know about the Health Imaging division and it's work. It really is a different environment because of the heavy regulation by the FDA. Because they are used for the diagnosis of illness and injury, our laser films are considered to be a medical device. And the software my group writes has the potential to cause a product quality issue that could go undetected. Theoretically, this could cause a misdiagnosis if poor quality product is released to hospitals and doctors. So we have a heavy emphasis on complying with FDA regulations regarding software validation.

 

[DT4K]

bump for any other suggestions or advice from the evening crowd