Prerequisites for putting certain skills/programs on resume/CV?

JackofSpades261

A lot of job postings out there seem to prefer people with a very wide range of skills/proficiency with many programs. I've used many programs myself, but have only put a few of them on my resume because I am confident in saying "I know how to use this". Is there a general guideline to when you should or shouldn't put a skill/program on your resume? Should I continue going with my method of "only if you're confident with it"?

I've seen some people use "skill bars" on their CVs to gauge how proficient they are with certain programs, but I feel those just hurt you instead if any of them are at less than max.

As an example, I was taught ZBrush and I know how to use all its features, but I'm not all that confident in using it, so I always left it off my resume. In this situation, should I keep ZBrush off my resume? I know the program, which puts me above someone whose never touched it, but I am not confident in my sculpting skills and would never match up with someone who uses Zbrush primarily.

Is it a gut thing, are there rough guidelines to when you can put a skill on a resume, or is it just something everyone puts on regardless and its a roll of the dice for hiring managers (aka "fake it 'til you make it")?

Alex_J

there is no guidelines. it's war and you should give yourself every advantage. People will hire you based on your art. If you show up and got to ask lead how to do a thing in zbrush or do a 30 second google search to learn, there is no sherlock who is gonna ask, "hold up, this summabitch said he knew zbrush!" 

Obviously don't tell big lies, but if you know zbrush well enough that you made the art they hired you for, just put a check in the zbrush box, that's all. If you arent as fast in it as you are in maya or wherever, doesn't matter. If your job has you using it you'll get fast at it quick.

even if the job absolutely required max and you don't know it, if it doesn't start until 3 weeks you could probably learn it well enough, assuming you are going for a junior position, not applying to be the max wizard. Being able to learn fast and having confidence in your ability to do so is obviously a valuable skill.

remember that they are hiring you because they have a problem and you are gonna help fix it, the whole resume is just a formality and the process of reviewing it is mostly beauracratic and robotic. Nobody has got a microscope and whoever hires you probably wont remember that they did when you show up.

Zi0

Companies don't care what software you use most of the time, you can learn most software pretty quick its more about what you can do with them. Personally I think that putting software packages on your CV is a waste of space, if you use 3ds max but a studio wants you to change to Blender, it will only take a week or two to get comfortable with it so dont worry about it.

Benjammin

Zi0 said:

Companies don't care what software you use most of the time, you can learn most software pretty quick its more about what you can do with them. Personally I think that putting software packages on your CV is a waste of space, if you use 3ds max but a studio wants you to change to Blender, it will only take a week or two to get comfortable with it so dont worry about it.

I'd agree with that in terms of the main 3d packages, but if you're proficient with the more specialist tools then absolutely put that on your CV - If you're being hired to do natural environments then already knowing SpeedTree will be a big plus.