Micro-resume: selling yourself in 140 characters

[shootingstar]

--in 1 tweet.

I hope this dumb fad just dies out. I don't know how in the heck to squeeze in an accurate representation of self in 1 tweet. (Was this 140 characters?) I could have done it age 23, when so green and innocent.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...rticle2035581/

[bmccasland]

Might work for a chimney sweep, but what would one tweet for a job as an accountant, project manager, engineer, where there's more to the job than a license and years of experience in that particular field?

But then what do I know, I've never tweeted anything, nor to a subscribe to any tweets. The tweets I like all come with feathers.

[ultraviolet]

As someone who gets almost all of my work through social networking of one kind or another, I don't necessarily think this is a "dumb fad." In my field, if you aren't participating in the community and putting your thoughts and ideas out into the world for others to see, comment on, and even argue with, you will quite simply be overlooked for the truly interesting work.

That said, other than posting if/when I have windows of time available for new projects, I've never tried to craft a "micro-resume." So for fun, I just wrote one. This is a modification of what is posted as the bio/user info on the Twitter account I use for professional purposes. (Which is not the same as the accounts I use for personal tweets or for totally anonymous whiny/angsty tweets.)

Here it is, in 125 characters:
Information Architect. Relentless Researcher. User Experience Nerd. Marketing Cynic. Making experiences suck less since 1998.

Edited to add: The point of this kind of thing wouldn't be as the primary communication method of your professional history and qualifications. It's to get the attention of a recruiter, hiring manager, or decision maker. It's just another communication channel, and for some fields, participating isn't optional if you want to keep working.

[shootingstar]

I liked everything except

Making experiences suck less since 1998.

. I know I should use this language just so Generation X-Y is supposed to view me more hip or current. But it's just not my style. I guess I might use my cycling habit/ lifestyle schtick, right? I'm quite certain already that is why some folks perceive me as "younger".

But would "suck" make me a more effective, communicative manager with the other generations?

Maybe it's easy to lob a $1 million budget proposal to senior managers up through the chain.

There's long-term currency and value how one presents oneself to the world. And some people never forget. Never.

[jessmarimba]

Eh. I don't really see the point of Twitter. And it's certainly not relevant at all to my field.

And as whatever generation I'm supposed to be, a manager using "suck" doesn't make them hip or cool, just less adult.

[lph]

I liked everything except . I know I should use this language just so Generation X-Y is supposed to view me more hip or current. But it's just not my style.

I think the point is to sell who you are, not imitate a style you're not. I thought it was funny, and to the point. But I speak like that, so it appeals to me.

I can't see myself applying for a job with a tweet any day yet. But I enjoy writing challenges, and if I wanted a job that required an attentiongetter like that I'd have fun with it. Reminds me of the thread we had here with six-word novels.

[ultraviolet]

You shouldn't use any language that doesn't represent who you are. I'm not sure why anyone thinks they need to dress themselves up to appeal to a group of people they wouldn't want to work with anyway.

In my circles, I'm known for my frank talk and cynical attitudes. It's almost a brand. I took a part of my personality that I actually have no ability to suppress, and put it to work for me. If a company is doing something that their customer base would describe as "sucky," I tell them that. I don't coat it over with more polite language, because that doesn't drive home the point that they need to get in order to make the sometimes painful decision to change. If the words need to be more colorful than that, I also have no problem with going there.

That style doesn't work for everyone, and here's the important bit: I'm perfectly fine with that! I only want to work with the kinds of companies that want to work with me. I have plenty of work, so I don't need to go after projects that are a better fit for other people.

[shootingstar]

My current job sucks, yet is so demanding, challenging, technical and exacting that it prepares me for anything you need me to do ... in Seattle

I like that Trek!

Ultraviolet: I was raised by a mother who swore alot..in Chinese. It's not pretty. That's all I have to say.

I also report to a manager who does use sh*t often. She has 12 people reporting to her. She hasn't used s*ck yet. Probably just not part of her vocab.

She and I are....librarians by training. But that's not our jobs for the organization that we were work for.....we have both moved into business analsysis and entreprise-wide content management systems.

So ....we do fit the norm? Yea, sure some llibrarians with a profile in the world, do use "suck" ....just for effect in their speeches/presentations, just to break the stereotype.

You mentioned you were a direct person in style. I have been assessed as a manager in other organizations...as shooting from the hip, abit too directly. Some of MY sarcasm, irony was totally misinterpreted and worked against me.

Maybe that's why I can tolerate certain management styles if I understand what happens on the job that causes present manager's frustration and anger. The manager does tend to be direct, ironic and saracastic...which really only shows continuous anger, etc. Not good, not healthy. (I suggested to her, carefully, maybe exercise to de-stress. She told me she lives right by a bike path.)

I have learned my lesson. So "suck" away.

But then other things have happened in my personal life, which probably have tempered my style a great deal ..things that have nothing to do with work but have made me realize it's just easier...to be myself, and for work, the very best of me on the job.