In your past company, the colleagues around you did some pretty interesting work. Maybe they repurposed some old tool to do a new thing, and you are impressed by this.
You are so impressed that you ask your colleagues how it was done, and you learn how it works.
Do you list this on your CV as something you built?
Let's recap:
- You didn't build it.
- You didn't maintain it.
- You know it's impressive so you know just enough about it that you might be able to build it yourself if given the opportunity.
Do you list this on your CV as something you built? I'll let you answer that.
The answer is yes, by the way. Here are two main reasons:
- You are now on the hook for being as good as you say you are.
- You are now advancing at the speed of how fast you can observe, not at the speed of company bureaucracy.
I used this technique the last 16 years while interviewing for new jobs.
My career has moved faster as a result, and my skill sets have vastly grown because I am in a constant state of discomfort having to prove myself