I was just reading in Google Earth Blog about some who put their Resume/CV in KML. KML isn’t exactly rocket science and to me it hearkens back to all those “HTML” resumes that people sent out in the late 90’s. Plus it isn’t like people in the corporate world can actually read it legally unless they purchase Google Earth Pro (though I guess you could always view in Google Maps). Just because something can be done, doesn’t make it a great idea. If someone attaches a KML to a email asking for a job I can tell you my company won’t accept it and many others won’t either. Your resume should be in PDF or better yet sent snail mail (I’m sure most companies are like mine in this regard).
20 responses so far ↓
1 Chad // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:04 am
What if I send you my resume in WW format instead?
2 Sean Gillies // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:08 am
Yet, to the Google Earth bloggers, it’s a big deal.
3 Applicant // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:09 am
Dear Mister Phee,
KML resumes are lame. But a cover letter in a blog comment can’t hurt. I hear that you are a great boss. I like maps and want to break into the GIS biz. Do you have any high-paying jobs? I think I would make a great addition to your team.
Perhaps you have already been looking at my resume at monster.com?
I look forward to hearing from you!
- Joe (GIS) Smith
4 David Davis // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:13 am
I agree James. Just because you can do something in KML doesn’t mean you should.
I don’t need to know you worked at the Pizza Hut down the street from your college or that your college is in a small town in New Jersey. I just need a bulleted list of your skill set. Having to navigate a globe to do so seems like a step not many would take.
5 James Fee // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:14 am
Kind of like sending a CV in Wordperfect instead of Word?
6 James Fee // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:16 am
To be fair, both Google Earth Blog and Ogle Earth seem be questioning the need to put your resume in Google Earth.
7 Chad // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:17 am
Actually.. wouldn’t it be more like sending in Open Office format?
8 James Fee // Mar 7, 2007 at 11:21 am
That is even worse. :p
9 Matt Priour // Mar 7, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Snail Mail?!!??!!
Are you kidding me, my company won’t even accept faxed or mailed resumes.
If you don’t have the requiste computer skills to create a resume in word or pdf form, you’re going to need too much training to function at a basic level and aren’t worth it.
PS. Stay tuned for my resume in GeoJSON.
10 James Fee // Mar 7, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Hey I don’t question human resource policies…
11 Shawn M // Mar 7, 2007 at 1:02 pm
But what if an applicant doesn’t have the necessary skills to even send something snail mail? I think the days of knowing how to mail a letter may be numbered. THEN sending it by mail will be the way to get noticed….
Or even better yet, singing telegram.
12 ozgur alaz // Mar 7, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Good points James
I totally agree that using .klm format does not mean additional value.
And i believe that it is all about differentiating and telling stories with innovative mediums. I mean content of resume is not message. Message is i believe power of technology and i’d like to differentiate myself from .pdf masses
cheers
ozgur
- .klm cv owner
13 The First Resume in Google Earth « Marketallica // Mar 7, 2007 at 1:59 pm
[...] Here is my comment on James Fee blog Good points James I totally agree that using .klm format does not mean additional [...]
14 James Fee // Mar 7, 2007 at 2:24 pm
KML CV will differentiate, I’ll give you that.
15 James O'Brien // Mar 7, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Most big companies can’t accept resumes in PDF or KML or anything on paper. They use an automated system to scan applicant’s submissions against required data points - this means that resumes need to be in .doc or .txt and formating doesn’t matter because it all gets stripped and the hiring manager sees a “re-formatted” version on a web site. Just a pointless FYI…
16 Christian // Mar 7, 2007 at 3:48 pm
or simply stuff everything into the email body, so nobody has to deal with weird attachments…
17 carlos // Mar 7, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Using GE to classify your resume is a creative way to do it so kudos to Ozgur Alaz for trying it out.
While I agree with James that PDF is the best way to send in your resume, it may be a good way for a GIS student to add it to a on-line portfolio of work. After all, it’s not that hard these days to export to kml from ArcGIS or other programs into GE or Google Maps.
But I’d only do this again if I was starting out in the industry or was trying to apply to a place that does a lot of GE work. Otherwise, it’s too much time to devote to something that hardly anyone will see.
18 Allan Doyle // Mar 7, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Of course, if the resume is done right, then the person will pop up in every KML search near where he/she wants to work… yet another opportunity for KML search spam.
19 J Wallis // Mar 8, 2007 at 8:18 am
wow, I checked this out, giving it a fighting chance, but this is just dumb. If your resume can be summed up in KML bullet points, you might want to consider fleshing it out some.
20 glenn // Mar 13, 2007 at 4:10 pm
totally agree… I thought it was a bit lame as well although an original idea I guess. Perhaps if this dude was applying for a job at Google for the Earth team it may be cool, otherwise, I don’t see any doors opening for the guy (check his resume out and you’ll see what I mean ;0)
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