Forums

I went through the resume podcast and forum discussions and I realize that the general consensus is that putting URLs e.g. LinkedIn is discouraged. However, since the primary recommendation is to focus on accomplishments, is it worthwhile putting hyperlinks on accomplishments as "proof" or to lend additional credibility?

For example,

* if describing a patent awarded for an innovative design, is putting a link to the Google Patents advisable.

* for a published white paper, is putting a link to the slideshare white paper ok?

* is linking to a major website that was developed as part of one's project and listed as an accomplishment ok?

I guess I am trying to showcase a portfolio of IT accomplishments. Is the resume a right place for this, or would a service like VisualCV be better?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Rajesh

tlhausmann's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

I prefer to see the accomplishment summarized or documented on the resume. I work in IT and recognize that other industries prefer to see a visual portfolio of work.  Switching to a computer and entering an URL takes time. 

I will add that requiring special software and plug-ins to view a portfolio is a bad idea.  In my view, having a page of links available electronically is a good idea if the hiring manager expresses interest...but long hyperlinks on a resume leaves less space for accomplishments.

jrosenau's picture

I think that you should summarize your accomplishment.  Much like references,  if the hiring manager wants to see the actual work, they will ask for it.  You could have an e-mail with the links as a draft ready to go if someone asks for it.  Also, it's pretty common now to do a google search on a candidate immediately.  They may have already seen your work before you even get in the door [you can check and see what comes up if you google your name].

John

rraheja's picture

Thanks for the responses!

Just to clarify, the accomplishments are documented as such on the resume; I was just wondering if putting a link on one of the keywords of the resume itself (i.e. no URL) would be ok. The link would be to a website so no additional plug-ins required.

For example (hypothetical) an accomplishment with a link would look like:

- Designed the Google home page that is used by 50% of the earth's population.

- Presented technical strategy to senior executives at XYZ conference.

This way, it is listed as per MT guidelines, but with an additional link in case they are interested in looking at the home page designed, or say the strategy presentation.

The downside is that on the printed resume it looks like certain words are underlined without meaning much.

An alternative I have done is to put the links on the LinkedIn profile instead of on the resume. Now that I think about it, that probably sounds better anyway :)

 

afmoffa's picture

It's totally appropriate for you to include hyperlinks in your resume. Resumes these days are electronic documents, and should reflect reality.

  1. If you don't know how to make hyperlinks--or if you don't know how to make them tasteful, unobtrusive, and cross-platform--then you are missing a core professional skill and should make a plan to learn how.
  2. Your resume must (must!) still be able to function effectively as a one-page paper document when printed on a standard grayscale laser printer.
  3. You must double-check each and every link every time you update your resume.
  4. Don't go nuts with the links. A resume is not a blog. Put a tag on your E-mail address, a tag on one or two major projects, and a tag for your portfolio if you work in a field where a portfolio of artwork/ code/ published articles/ work samples is routinely required of all applicants.
  5. Don't ever use a link as an escape hatch to avoid writing a clear, concise explanation of what you did, how well you did it, and why it mattered.
rraheja's picture

 Good tips. Thanks!

wendii's picture
Admin Role Badge

Don't include links in your resume.

An accomplishment demonstrates what you did and how well you did it. How well you did it for a patent, a white paper or a website is not how it looks, or it's existence - it is the benefit to the company of what you created. That's usually expressed in increased revenue or decreased cost. You can create a horrible website which brings in millions and that's still a good accomplishment. Conversely, you could create a brilliant white paper which is never used and therefore almost valueless. Your resume doesn't need the link to what you created, it needs to tell the manager what effect that had.

Your resume is not a portfolio. If you want to be able to demonstrate the work you have created, create a portfolio AND a resume. Don't mix the two.

And two mundane reasons for not including links in your resume: one, if the manager prints out resumes to read them (and in my experience most do) they're useless. Two, unless you have total control over the domain, you don't know that the site will be up or looking as you expect when the hiring manager looks at it. It increases your risk with no benefit.

Wendii

jzklein's picture

Don't risk it; links break all the time in document transfer. Also your document format can be ruined if the link gets printed as text (see below).

  • <a href="ac.html">Accomplishment 1</a>

AppleJack's picture
Training Badge

Your resume is your resume. Per Wendii do not include links. If you happen to be a professional designer, then you will need a portfolio in addition to your resume. Many folks set up a portfolio website. If you do the same, make sure it is PERFECT, no errors or typos anywhere, and check that it appears as intended in EVERY browser version available today (and for the last 3 years) on both Mac and PC.

If you do have a portfolio site, that should be the only URL on your resume and it should be something simple and straightforward, like www.JohnJonesPortfolio.com

BTW it is guaranteed that the site will be down when you are sitting with the hiring manager and that person wants to look at your work with you, so that you can tell them what your specific contributions were to each project--and if you include a portfolio site--they should ask you this. If something can go wrong, it will; make sure you have a back up plan.

AJ

rraheja's picture

Thanks all. Great tips. Will keep links off my resume and create a separate portfolio site later. I do have a follow-on question:

If I cannot find any concrete $ value (revenue growth or cost reduction) for an accomplishment, but it was still a significant work that I would like to some how highlight, how should I go about doing that.

To take Wendii's example, say, a brilliant white paper was written, that unfortunately did not get used a lot (due to various internal political factors/reorganizations etc) but at the same time, who ever read it appreciated it a lot, how should that be positioned?

Similarly, a lot of effort was spent on say training the field sales on a new product. Presumably, it would have impacted sales, but I cannot state that in any concrete numbers.

Those were the cases I guess where I was trying to put a link to the work done (the white paper or presentations etc). I realize now that is not appropriate so would appreciate input on how to show accomplishments where there was no DIRECT impact to revenue/cost reduction, but definitely an influenced impact.

Thanks 

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