Software Engineer Credits Résumé-Building Platform for Landing Job at Magnificent 7 Tech Company

Maulik Suchak, a 34-year-old lead software engineer, shared the résumé that successfully landed him a job at a Magnificent 7 company, alongside invitations to final-round interviews at Google, Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Atlassian, and SurveyMonkey. Suchak’s expertise in crafting compelling résumés stems from his unique background, which includes co-founding a résumé-building platform called CVsIntellect in 2013, when he was just 23 years old. CVsIntellect aimed to simplify the résumé-creation process by guiding users toward stronger content and structure. Through this project, Suchak reviewed and reworked over 100,000 résumés, gaining invaluable insights into what catches the eye of hiring managers and what often gets overlooked. These lessons proved crucial in shaping his own career trajectory. By 2015, Suchak had leveraged his résumé-building skills to secure a job at Yelp, where he moved to San Francisco and worked for nearly five years. During his tenure, he advanced to become an engineering manager, overseeing a team of 14 software engineers and taking on hiring responsibilities. This role allowed him to further refine his understanding of what makes a résumé stand out in the tech industry. In 2019, Suchak returned to the job market and applied to several Big Tech companies, including the Magnificent 7. His well-crafted résumé helped him reach the final rounds of interviews at Google, Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Atlassian, and SurveyMonkey, ultimately leading to multiple job offers. He accepted a position at his current Magnificent 7 company in 2020. Suchak attributes his success to five key strategies: Show Clear Impact: Each point on his résumé highlighted specific results and metrics, demonstrating the tangible impact of his work. For instance, instead of stating "Worked on improving Yelp Cash Back sign-up page," he wrote, "Improved Cash Back sign-up pages with various A/B tests using Python and JS, resulting in a 2x higher conversion rate." Tell a Precise Story of Career Growth: Suchak structured his résumé as a narrative, emphasizing how each role built upon the previous one. Early roles focused on project impact at a smaller scale, while more recent positions highlighted leadership and strategic decision-making. This approach showed a clear progression and intentional career moves. Stay Clear, Concise, and to the Point: Aware that recruiters often spend less than 10 seconds reviewing a résumé, Suchak kept his document to one page, with each bullet point no longer than one to two lines. He avoided buzzwords and ensured that the content was easily scannable. Favor Projects Over Certifications: While technical certifications can be useful, Suchak prioritized practical experience and real-world projects. He linked to live projects or GitHub repositories, showcasing his initiative, technical depth, and product thinking. One project, in particular, came up during an interview, significantly aiding his application. Remember Readability and Formatting: A professional and readable format is essential. Suchak used clean fonts, consistent spacing, and clear section headers. He also ensured there were enough white spaces to make the document visually appealing and easy to read. He tested the résumé on paper before submitting it online to ensure it looked polished. Despite his successes, Suchak admits his résumé wasn’t perfect and offers additional advice. He now believes in customizing résumés for each application, aligning experiences with the specific role and company. This involves studying job descriptions and incorporating relevant keywords to pass through applicant tracking system (ATS) filters. By doing so, he aims to reduce the number of rejections and improve the likelihood of securing coveted tech roles. Industry insiders often emphasize the importance of a well-crafted résumé in the tech sector, where clarity, impact, and relevance are paramount. Suchak’s journey and strategies underscore the value of practical experience, continuous learning, and a strategic approach to résumé building. His successful transition into Big Tech and current role highlight the lasting benefits of investing time and effort into creating a standout résumé. CVsIntellect, the résumé-building platform co-founded by Suchak, played a pivotal role in his career. It not only honed his résumé-writing skills but also provided a platform to share those insights with a broader audience. Suchak’s ongoing mentorship of aspiring engineers demonstrates his commitment to helping others navigate the competitive tech job market.