8 answers
Shanah
Student
1
Question
Asked
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what & how to write your resume when applying for CS related jobs, when you're a self learner without any prior experience.?
I'm currently self learning web development . I don't have a Computer Science related degree. What should I put in my resume when I start applying for jobs without any prior work experience and a degree.
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8 answers
Xing Su
Software Engineer
11
Answers
Sunnyvale, California
Updated
Xing’s Answer
Great question!
Instead of directly answering, I'll share some thought processes to help you figure it out.
First, consider your resume's purpose and audience. This varies depending on the company you're applying to, but generally, there are two types of readers: HR personnel and technical staff.
HR may lack technical background and rely on keywords to filter resumes. Many resumes include a "keyword" section for this reason. HR often receives a list of relevant keywords from technical staff and uses it to match resumes. Your resume should include keywords for the job you're seeking. How do you identify these keywords? Refer to the company's job description.
For a newbie, technical staff typically don't expect extensive skills but focus on coachability. Briefly mention projects you've done, challenges faced, and how you overcame them. It's not crucial to possess all the skills listed in the job description, but demonstrating problem-solving abilities is key.
I hope this helps!
Instead of directly answering, I'll share some thought processes to help you figure it out.
First, consider your resume's purpose and audience. This varies depending on the company you're applying to, but generally, there are two types of readers: HR personnel and technical staff.
HR may lack technical background and rely on keywords to filter resumes. Many resumes include a "keyword" section for this reason. HR often receives a list of relevant keywords from technical staff and uses it to match resumes. Your resume should include keywords for the job you're seeking. How do you identify these keywords? Refer to the company's job description.
For a newbie, technical staff typically don't expect extensive skills but focus on coachability. Briefly mention projects you've done, challenges faced, and how you overcame them. It's not crucial to possess all the skills listed in the job description, but demonstrating problem-solving abilities is key.
I hope this helps!
Great advice, this approach helps tailor my resume for impact! Thanks!
Shanah
Yasmin Martinez
1
Answer
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Remember to be clear about your abilities, like HTML, CCS, and JavaScript. Highlight the projects you've been a part of. If you've participated in online courses, bootcamps, or earned any relevant certifications, don't forget to include them in your resume. Even if you don't hold a formal degree, it's essential to demonstrate your dedication to learning. Emphasize key soft skills necessary for a computer science job, such as problem-solving, attention to detail, teamwork, communication, and a strong work ethic. Start your resume with a concise Objective Statement outlining your career aspirations and how you intend to apply your self-taught skills in a professional setting. Incorporate referrals and recommendations. I hope this advice proves beneficial!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Shanah
Anika S
Software Engineer Intern
100
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Anika’s Answer
Hi Shanah,
Creating a strong resume for CS-related jobs without formal experience or a degree involves emphasizing your self-taught skills, projects, and any other relevant experiences. Here's a structured approach:
Resume Structure
Header
Full Name
Contact Information (Phone number, Email, LinkedIn, GitHub/Portfolio)
Professional Summary (Objective)
A brief summary highlighting your skills, enthusiasm for web development, and any notable achievements or projects.
Skills
List of programming languages, frameworks, tools, and technologies you're proficient in.
Projects
Highlight your web development projects. Include project names, descriptions, technologies used, and links to live demos or GitHub repositories.
Education
Include any relevant courses, certifications, or self-learning platforms you've used
Relevant Experience
Any non-professional experience that demonstrates your skills (e.g., volunteer work, internships, freelance projects).
Additional Sections (if applicable)
Certifications: Any additional certifications that are relevant.
Awards: Any awards or recognitions related to your field.
Extracurricular Activities: Involvement in coding clubs, hackathons, or relevant online communities.
Really highlight your projects and hackathon experience! It shows real initiative and drive for the field, which is quite appealing to employers. Good luck on your journey!
Creating a strong resume for CS-related jobs without formal experience or a degree involves emphasizing your self-taught skills, projects, and any other relevant experiences. Here's a structured approach:
Resume Structure
Header
Full Name
Contact Information (Phone number, Email, LinkedIn, GitHub/Portfolio)
Professional Summary (Objective)
A brief summary highlighting your skills, enthusiasm for web development, and any notable achievements or projects.
Skills
List of programming languages, frameworks, tools, and technologies you're proficient in.
Projects
Highlight your web development projects. Include project names, descriptions, technologies used, and links to live demos or GitHub repositories.
Education
Include any relevant courses, certifications, or self-learning platforms you've used
Relevant Experience
Any non-professional experience that demonstrates your skills (e.g., volunteer work, internships, freelance projects).
Additional Sections (if applicable)
Certifications: Any additional certifications that are relevant.
Awards: Any awards or recognitions related to your field.
Extracurricular Activities: Involvement in coding clubs, hackathons, or relevant online communities.
Really highlight your projects and hackathon experience! It shows real initiative and drive for the field, which is quite appealing to employers. Good luck on your journey!
Thank you for the advice, Anika.
Shanah
Stuart Ort
Manage a team of software developers
32
Answers
Boca Raton
Updated
Stuart’s Answer
Absolutely, any project you've completed independently, such as a website or an app you've created for yourself or friends, should be proudly displayed under your experiences. These are real, valuable experiences, and you should confidently record them as others have described. Remember, they reflect your capabilities and dedication. As a hiring manager, I'm always on the lookout for bright, self-driven individuals. However, it's equally important that they can effectively communicate their knowledge and skills, both verbally during interviews and in writing on their resumes.
This is helpful, thanks for sharing your perspective as a hiring manager.
Shanah
Dave Brookshire
Systems Engineer/Developer
4
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Dave’s Answer
I organized my early resumes as a portfolio, similar to how an artist would do. Clearly organize your experience into projects, and highlight what you had to learn to complete it, and what skills you learned as a result. To make these projects standout, collect and store screenshots, source code and include a link. If you are writing code, having a GitHub repository is the standard.
If you know anything about the position, include anything that would tie what you have learned into skills required for the position.
Focus on clarity--do not have your resume look cluttered. You don't have to include every single thing you've done that _might_ be interesting.
Setup a GitHub account, and learn how to create repositories and work with source code
Look at the resumes of other people (look at Linked In, Google) and ask your self to summarize what they are trying to say about themselves, and what you find effective, and use it yourself!
If you know anything about the position, include anything that would tie what you have learned into skills required for the position.
Focus on clarity--do not have your resume look cluttered. You don't have to include every single thing you've done that _might_ be interesting.
Dave recommends the following next steps:
This is valuable feedback, I'll revamp my resume accordingly
Shanah
Chuqi Zhen
Software Engineer
17
Answers
Weehawken, New Jersey
Updated
Chuqi’s Answer
When applying for CS related jobs without a CS degree, technical skills and project experience are important. Given that you are self-learning web development, you can include programming languages and frameworks you use, such as JavaScript, React, etc. You can also include any CS-related courses you've taken on your self-learning journey. For your project experience, be sure to include what you achieved for each project (both quantitatively and qualitatively) and how you achieved it, to show your problem-solving skills. To add to your technical skills and project experience, you may want to consider joining opensource projects on GitHub and volunteer for tech events to show your engagement in the tech community. Building a resume is not checking off boxes; it's a self-improving process that makes you a better software engineer.
Caryn Conklin, MBA
Project Manager for large computer sales opportunities.
23
Answers
Key West, Florida
Updated
Caryn’s Answer
Shanah, your question is excellent and relevant to the journey that lies ahead in your professional life. After you've completed your formal education and earned your degrees, the majority of your learning will be fueled by your own initiative. It's crucial to highlight your achievements on your resume, focusing on the value they've brought.
For instance, instead of simply stating on your resume that you "developed a new xxx function (for example, self-pay, auto research, complaint) website for yyy user group (like consumers, B2B) to assist with zzz task(s) (such as sharing payments with friends, researching car prices, logging a complaint)", it would be more impactful to a potential employer if it were phrased as "developed a new xxx function website for yyy user group that facilitated zzz achievement(s) (like quicker processing, handling a higher volume of transactions, or generating increased revenue)".
By the way, what you are doing IS experience!
Keep pushing forward, you're doing great!
Caryn
For instance, instead of simply stating on your resume that you "developed a new xxx function (for example, self-pay, auto research, complaint) website for yyy user group (like consumers, B2B) to assist with zzz task(s) (such as sharing payments with friends, researching car prices, logging a complaint)", it would be more impactful to a potential employer if it were phrased as "developed a new xxx function website for yyy user group that facilitated zzz achievement(s) (like quicker processing, handling a higher volume of transactions, or generating increased revenue)".
By the way, what you are doing IS experience!
Keep pushing forward, you're doing great!
Caryn
Appreciate the encouragement, definitely focusing on value delivered.
Shanah
Rajesh Kumar Subbiah
Manager
39
Answers
Florham Park, New Jersey
Updated
Rajesh Kumar’s Answer
When applying for CS-related jobs without prior work experience or a degree, it's important to highlight your self-learning journey, skills, and projects to showcase your capabilities. Here's a suggested structure for your resume:
Summary/Objective Statement: Begin with a concise summary or objective statement that highlights your passion for web development, your self-learning journey, and your eagerness to contribute to the industry.
Skills: Create a section to list your relevant technical skills. Include programming languages, frameworks, tools, and technologies you have learned, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, and any specific web development frameworks like React or Node.js. Be honest about your skill level and indicate whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner.
Projects: Emphasize your practical experience by showcasing personal projects or assignments you have completed during your self-learning process. Include the project name, a brief description, the technologies used, and any notable features or achievements. If available, provide links to live demos or GitHub repositories to demonstrate your work.
Education: Although you mentioned not having a CS degree, include any relevant coursework, certifications, or online courses you have completed. Mention the platforms or institutions from which you obtained these credentials, such as Codecademy, Udemy, or Coursera. Highlight any specific courses related to web development or computer science.
Volunteer Experience: If you have volunteered for any organizations or collaborated on open-source projects, mention them. Describe your role, responsibilities, and the skills you gained from these experiences. This demonstrates your commitment, teamwork, and ability to contribute to real-world projects.
Additional Skills: Include any transferable skills that may be relevant to the job, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, or time management. These skills are important in any professional setting and can help compensate for a lack of formal experience.
References: Optional, but if you have any professional or academic references who can vouch for your skills and dedication, consider including their contact information. Make sure to seek their permission beforehand.
Remember to tailor your resume to each job application by emphasizing the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific position. Additionally, build a strong portfolio website or online presence to showcase your projects and skills further. This can serve as a supplement to your resume and help potential employers assess your abilities.
Lastly, during interviews, be prepared to discuss your self-learning journey, projects, and how you have overcome challenges without formal education. Showcase your passion, motivation, and drive to continually learn and grow in the field of web development.
Summary/Objective Statement: Begin with a concise summary or objective statement that highlights your passion for web development, your self-learning journey, and your eagerness to contribute to the industry.
Skills: Create a section to list your relevant technical skills. Include programming languages, frameworks, tools, and technologies you have learned, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, and any specific web development frameworks like React or Node.js. Be honest about your skill level and indicate whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner.
Projects: Emphasize your practical experience by showcasing personal projects or assignments you have completed during your self-learning process. Include the project name, a brief description, the technologies used, and any notable features or achievements. If available, provide links to live demos or GitHub repositories to demonstrate your work.
Education: Although you mentioned not having a CS degree, include any relevant coursework, certifications, or online courses you have completed. Mention the platforms or institutions from which you obtained these credentials, such as Codecademy, Udemy, or Coursera. Highlight any specific courses related to web development or computer science.
Volunteer Experience: If you have volunteered for any organizations or collaborated on open-source projects, mention them. Describe your role, responsibilities, and the skills you gained from these experiences. This demonstrates your commitment, teamwork, and ability to contribute to real-world projects.
Additional Skills: Include any transferable skills that may be relevant to the job, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, or time management. These skills are important in any professional setting and can help compensate for a lack of formal experience.
References: Optional, but if you have any professional or academic references who can vouch for your skills and dedication, consider including their contact information. Make sure to seek their permission beforehand.
Remember to tailor your resume to each job application by emphasizing the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific position. Additionally, build a strong portfolio website or online presence to showcase your projects and skills further. This can serve as a supplement to your resume and help potential employers assess your abilities.
Lastly, during interviews, be prepared to discuss your self-learning journey, projects, and how you have overcome challenges without formal education. Showcase your passion, motivation, and drive to continually learn and grow in the field of web development.