Sharing Community Involvement on a CV
Soft Skills and Community Involvement
Addressing Career Breaks on a CV
Differences in CV Expectations Across Countries
Frequency of Resume Updates
Inclusion of Non-Industry-Related Jobs in CV
Hiring a Designer for Resume
The Impact of Formatting on CVs
Reviewing and Tailoring CVs
Final Thoughts and Closing
Description
In this Discussion session, our wonderful host Jenna Charlton is joined by three career experts to discuss ways to improve your CVs and make them stand out.
Our three career experts are:
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Elizabeth Zagroba is a Quality Lead at Mendix in Rotterdam. Her goal is to guide enough testers, leaders, etc., to make herself redundant so she can take on new and bigger challenges. You can find Elizabeth's big thoughts on her blog.
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Nicola Martin is passionate about increasing diversity and inclusion in software engineering. With over 20 years of experience in tech, she is a panellist and speaker who speaks at global conferences on topics such as quality, testing, diversity, women in tech, and mentoring.
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Peet Michelsen is a seasoned software tester with over 20 years of experience who specialises in test automation, test management and continuous integration. In his work, he wants to be challenged and is always on the lookout for the next problem to solve.
This session is packed with invaluable insights for anyone looking to polish their CV and make a memorable impression on potential employers. They cover crucial topics such as key elements to include or avoid on your CV, strategies for making your CV stand out, and the importance of highlighting the impact of your work rather than just listing responsibilities.
Furthermore, they touch on the nuances of CV expectations in different countries and offer advice on addressing career breaks or non-industry-related jobs to showcase a well-rounded skill set. It also sheds light on the debate between the traditional CV and LinkedIn profiles, exploring how each can be optimized for job hunting in today's digital age.
No matter what stage of your career you're in, this discussion offers practical tips and personal insights to help you navigate the complexities of creating a CV that stands out. It's an essential watch for anyone eager to secure their next role.
Elizabeth Zagroba
Quality Lead
Elizabeth is Quality Lead at Mendix in Rotterdam. She reviews and contributes code to a Python test automation repository for 15+ teams building Mendix apps across three units. She builds exploratory testing skills by asking pointed questions throughout the unit, facilitating workshops, and coordinating an ensemble (mob) testing practice. She injects what she learns from conferences, books, and meetups into her daily work, and spreads her knowledge through the company-wide Agile guild she facilitates. She's presented at conferences throughout North America and Europe, and co-organizes the Friends of Good Software conference (FroGS conf http://frogsconf.nl/).
She coaches people to success when possible, but isn't afraid to direct when necessary. She's the go-to person for things like supporting new presenters, reviewing documentation, navigating tricky organizational questions, and thinking critically about what we're building. Her goal is to guide enough testers, leaders, etc. to make herself redundant so she can take on new and bigger challenges.
You can find Elizabeth's big thoughts on her blog (https://elizabethzagroba.com/) and little thoughts on Twitter @ezagroba.
Nicola Martin
Head of Quality Engineering
Nicola is currently Head of Quality Engineering at Adarga, a UK-based AI software company.
Nicola is passionate about increasing diversity and inclusion in software engineering. She mentors and coaches professionals wanting to either change or develop their careers.
Nicola is a Council Member for the British Computer Society. She is also a professional member of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES).
Nicola is a speaker and panellist at global events on diversity, women in tech, quality, AI, software testing and mentorship.
Nicola has been included in the 2022 Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech List top 30.
She has also been a judge for the UK Tech Awards and will be part of the judging panel for the Black Tech Achievement Awards in 2023.
Peet Michielsen
Lead systems verification engineer
I am a seasoned software tester with over 20 years of experience. I specialise in test automation, test management and continuous integration. I started my career in The Netherlands and later moved to Scotland. On both sides of the North Sea, I have worked on numerous projects in a wide range of industries. I'm currently working as a senior systems verification engineer at Optos in Dunfermline, Scotland.
In my work I want to be challenged and am always on the lookout for the next problem to solve. And when not working, I like to explore the Scottish countryside and enjoy a good ale or whisky.
