I\u2019ve got a nice job and I\u2019m not hunting for a new one. This allows me to have some fun writing an uncommon resume \u2013 honest and personal. Not the polished, impersonal copy you\u2019d use in a real-world job application. (Please remind me to delete this blog post if I\u2019m actually searching for a job someday\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I usually describe myself as \u201ca passionate Web developer<\/strong> working on Digital Asset Management (DAM) software.\u201d (You\u2019re not familiar with the \u201cDAM\u201d term? Think image databases and newspaper archives. More in my list of DAM resources<\/a>.) I do have a passion for Web development, DAM and information management, software architecture, quality, user experience, honesty, communication, and customers. (Not in that order.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to hire me as a developer, note that I\u2019m not a \u201creal programmer\u201d in the sense that I have no Computer Science degree<\/strong>. Yes, I\u2019ve been working as a full-time programmer (\u201csenior developer\u201d and \u201csoftware architect\u201d if you\u2019re into fancy titles) since 1997, but in German bureaucracy that\u2019s not always sufficient. It also means that I don\u2019t do advanced mathematics and I\u2019m not passionate about algorithms. (If you want me to sketch a quick sort algorithm during the job interview, I\u2019m out.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike you probably expect from a good developer, I also haven\u2019t learned a host of programming languages<\/strong>. No C, C++, Java, Ruby or Python experience, I\u2019m afraid. I\u2019ve been intentionally sticking to PHP, SQL and JavaScript for more than a decade now \u2013 not because I wouldn\u2019t be able to learn other languages, but because I find it not that interesting to solve the same problem in a new language just for the sake of it. (I prefer solving new problems, or improving existing solutions.) If you need me to work in another language, though, and can pair me with an expert I can learn from, that\u2019s fine with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I enjoy exploring related technologies<\/strong> and disciplines: I dived into XML, XSLT, Unicode, LDAP, Nagios, VMware, Solr, Topic Maps, Linked Data, Hypermedia APIs. Tried to figure out how to document software and projects. Managed and implemented customer projects from end to end. I love to communicate so I started using screencasts, Wikis, blogging<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. I appreciate having had the freedom to discover and introduce a lot of these things to our company, and I expect similar freedom from my next job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I regret not having spent more time working on open source<\/strong> projects. Aside from the occasional PHP bug report<\/a> and a few small<\/a> tools<\/a> I published, I didn\u2019t contribute although most of our software is built on open source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have the little-known degree of \u201cDiplom-Dokumentar (FH)\u201d, which is roughly equivalent to a bachelor in information science \/ information management<\/strong>. This profession is about structuring, researching and disseminating information; I love it. I could work as a newspaper archivist, build taxonomies and metadata guidelines, help researchers find scientific articles and facts, or organize your company library or large intranet. Unfortunately this job market is small in Germany and continues to shrink. (Update:<\/em> See my blog post Where have all the librarians gone?<\/a>) But programming was my hobby, so working as a developer to produce software for archivists was something I could identify with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being able to identify with<\/strong> the stuff I\u2019m working on is very important to me. I\u2019m sorry, but I won\u2019t do browser games, software for the financial industry or work on ads. If I think your company is offering boring or pointless services or products, I\u2019m not interested as I don\u2019t consider myself primarily a software developer: Code is just a means to an end. My purpose is to help share information and\/or creative works to delight or educate people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of person am I? First of all, you likely want to hire someone younger than me. Born in 1972, I\u2019m quickly growing too old<\/strong> for the German job market. I\u2019m an uncool non-hipster, not drinking, not partying, no sports. Just a family guy. A bit risk-averse and very loyal, so I\u2019m likely to join you for the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And I\u2019m serious about spending time with my family: I want to travel as little as possible. I prefer office hours from 9 to 5<\/strong>, to be home in time to see the kids. Which doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m not willing to work more: I\u2019m known for working late, on weekends and even during vacation. My customers have got my mobile number and can call me anytime in case of emergency. But I\u2019m doing extra time on my own terms, at home, when the kids are in bed. You let me go home in time and allow for the occasional \u201chome office\u201d day, and I\u2019ll see that the work gets done (unless the work load gets unreasonably high). I\u2019m also not into after-work activities and weekend retreats. (If you don\u2019t value team building activities enough to do them during work hours, why should I?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I may say so, I think I\u2019m a good communicator and can explain things well. I\u2019m very empathic and a good listener; I care about people and harmonious relations. Working in a team \u2013 tackling huge tasks together, or playfully exploring and validating ideas \u2013 means a lot to me. But I\u2019m also an introvert<\/strong> and sometimes like to focus on a single task all by myself. Then I put on the headphones and ignore everyone around me to get stuff done. (I hate working in a large room full of people, by the way\u2026) You\u2019re welcome to drag me out of my cave if you feel I need to spend more time with the team. I\u2019m full of ideas, curious, and always learning. I love taking responsibility and having freedom, and I think I\u2019m a good \u201cmanager of one\u201d until you\u2019re piling too much work on my desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can be very patient with customers, and very impatient with pointless meetings and dumb policies. I hate lies. From you, I expect good, humble, transparent, team-driven management<\/strong> in some form of \u201cagile\u201d environment. See my blog<\/a> for lots of quotes on what I consider good management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n