What does a hiring manager look for in a resume?

Agenda

• Biography/Introductions– Mike Fridolfs– Ken Maney

• Factors in Career Planning and Management• College Graduate Career Path Example• How a “Req” is Created• Common Themes• Summary

BiographyMike Fridolfs

• Graduated from University of San Diego 1995, Bachelors Degree• SAIC as Network Infrastructure Engineer – 2000-2003• Multiple IT type certifications (Cisco, MCSE, Network +) 1999-2002• Hired by Northrop Grumman 2003 in IT Sector – UAVs industry just taking off• Did some work for Global Hawk Ground Segment Lead and hired as Engineer in July 2004

– Key is to always be NETWORKING and ALWAYS have your best foot forward.

• Given the question at a review “What do you want to be when you grow up?”• Led to 1st Management Position of Ground Segment Homeroom Manager – 2006• Ground Segment IPT Lead 2010 - Present• Graduate of Northrop Grumman Program Management Course – 2011• Completed CalTech System Engineering Program – 2005• Completed UCLA Digital Military Avionics Program – 2010• Current attending University of Michigan – Masters of Science in Program and Project

Management• Top Secret Clearance

BiographyKen Maney

• 1988 - Graduated from University of Florida• 1989 -Commissioned Officer, USMC• 1991 – designated naval aviator, AH-1W attack helicopter pilot• 2008 – transitioned from the USMC• 2008 – hired at Northrop Grumman• 2008 - Present

– CAM (budget, cost schedule briefer)• Interface between the technical and business sides of the company

– Homeroom Manager• Manage and lead up to 24 employees• Hiring Position

– IPT of a new position• Currently attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univ– Masters of Masters of Business

Administration (Summer 2013 est graduation)• Top Secret Clearance

5

Factors in career planning and career management• Think *employability* vice *job security*• Best career enhancer is performance and reputation• Management’s job is to provide options/opportunities and remove

obstacles• Want engineers who are deep in a particular domain and broad in

several domains• Want 20 years experience, not 1 year experience 20 times…• Ask what skills add benefits, are distinguishable from the run of

the mill, and are not easily replicated• Several possible career paths• Not all within avionics – What are you interested in?• Encourage movement within the company• Grow multi-talented engineers• Grow specialists• Grow managers / leaders• No “single trick ponies”

6

How a “Req” is Created – what we are looking for..• Homerooms support IPT’s• IPT’s are teams that execute and deliver• IPT’s need people (employees)

– Homerooms create the requisitions that you see on the job board• Homerooms and the Technical Leads conduct interviews

• Looking for:• Positive attitude• Education• Team and organization activities• Resume• Professional Dress• Persistence• Self starting

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Option 1 – College GraduateCollege Grad

2-3 years in initial position

Still learning?

Prefer different

program/same job?

No No

Yes

Stay another year or two

Stay 2-3 years in position: Be in

charge of SOMETHING

Select another job on same

program

Yes

Still learning?

Been responsible for making

something work to cost & schedule?

No

Been on more than one program?

No

Yes

Select a different program and

similar position

Yes

Go to a different discipline for 1-2

years

Vehicle SystemsVehicle StructuresSoftwareLow ObservablesTest & EvaluationSystem EngineeringLogistics

Like it better?

Select one of the programs to

return to for 2-3 years.

Yes

No

Yes

Select job on another program

Return to

avionics J

On long term project?

5-13 Years ExperienceE3-E4

2-5 Years ExperienceE2

5-10 Years ExperienceE2-E3

No

Want to stay in functional

management?

Stay 6-8 years. Perform technical leadership role.

Yes

Select Functional Homeroom Mgr position for 2-3

years

Apply for sub IPT or IPT lead

position. Stay 2-3 years.

No

E4-E5-E6Mgr3

Want Program Management?

Apply for Functional Manager 3 Positions

No No

Mentor junior engineers. Meet requirements for

tech fellows.

9-21 Years ExperienceE3-E4-E5

Yes Yes

Goal is to maximize skill sets and

thereby maximizing the available opportunities

DiscriminatorsTechnical & Leadership trainingGet Advanced DegreesTake on the hard jobsTake on additional duties

8

Common Themes

• Technical Depth – have made something work!• Personal contribution• Supervisory Experience• Two or more programs• Two or more different jobs• Leadership experience• Two or more discipline experience• Multiple career paths – no one-size-fits-all• Of course, expect exemplary performance throughout !!!• Think employability vice job security• 20 years of experience vice 1 year of experience 20 times!

9

Summary – It’s never too late !

• What do you want to be when you grow up?• Look over your resume. Would you hire you?• Critically assess your strengths and weaknesses? What are

your discriminators?• What are you doing in this job to add as an accomplishment

on your resume?• What do you want to do next?• Go get it !