(2004-01-26) Joel Resume Advice

Joel Spolsky [gives](http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/Resume Read.html) some basic advice on applying to jobs. (Job Market) * I don't think there's ever a reason to apply for more than three or four jobs at a time... Would I reject someone just because they don't quite understand the relationship between the comma and the space? Well, not necessarily. But when I have to find two summer interns out of 300 applicants, here's what I do with the resumes: I make three piles: Good, OK, and Bad. I give the same resumes to Michael and he does the same thing. There are always enough people that we both put in the Good pile that those are really the only people that stand a chance.* Some issues/questions:

• do you reply to all 300 as decisions are made?

• do you really learn anything from the cover letter? Is this also true for more experienced people (where their CV has something to communicate)?

Some discussion.