[ckcheng]

There really is a few comments here with great suggestions for how to improve your resume and online presence. It seems like some of it can still be tried, or if you feel it was already tried but got rolled back, then they can be tried again altogether.

Unfortunately, there's also a lot of noise here too... As a start, I'd say these few comments have solid, specific, actionable suggestions:

- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43978225

- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43978405

- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43981072

- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43983905

But I also want to say... I sympathize and agree with you that it's tough now out there. There's ageism, offshoring, AI, end of ZIRP, economic uncertainties, etc.

I hope you get to a position you're happy with soon.

[ckcheng]

I find resume advice very difficult to implement.

Maybe you made some drastic resume changes at the beginning of this HN discussion that I didn’t see, but since then you’ve only had time and energy to fix the repeated “maintained” word in …_Resume_2025-7 (current version is 8 now).

Your latest two posts in substack are interesting reads tho.

So I decided to spend some time to rewrite your resume. IMHO this is better, but there is still so much room for improvement even here.

I anonymized it somewhat as I don’t have your permission for this, but perhaps it’ll help you or someone else to see this revision. I’m not a pro resume writer, so maybe I’ll get some feedback here to learn from too.

Best wishes!

***

Note: links to your other online presence was intentionally deleted and omitted from the resume. See other’s comments linked above for more great suggestions.

***

Sam Hayden

Somewhere, USA / [e-mail]

Senior full-stack engineer with 20+ years experience in ZetaScript, data architecture, machine intelligence tools, and immersive web. Builds production-grade systems, leads high-impact teams, and values clear and kind communication.

Objective

Seeking a role on a small to mid-sized engineering team solving complex problems with machine intelligence tools. Focused on growing technical leadership and contributing to cutting-edge work in applied ML and immersive tech.

Experience

Lead Full Stack Engineer – WorldSpaceXR.dev

2021 – 2023

• Built full stack subscriptions system resulting in tens of thousands MRR.

• Built an in-world AI-assistant NPC using VectorX RAG search and ChainWeave.

• Built and maintained Atlas Cloud infrastructure.

• Led DevX and documentation improvements.

• Designed user experiences in Glance/GlanceUI.

• Implemented front-end interfaces with responsive UI components.

Sr. Full Stack Engineer – LinkLayerNetworks.io

2018 – 2020

• Built management dashboard software for enterprise networking and SD-VPN systems.

• Integrated with over a dozen telecom APIs including HorizonLink, AlphaComm, TriWave, OmniNet, and MatrixComm.

• Delivered custom tooling for clients like Beanbrew Co., FitNow Gyms, ForgeGear, and SureTrust.

• Enabled client management of large-scale networking and telecom infrastructure.

Sr. Full Stack Engineer – Sam.example.com

2011 – 2018

• Built IVR phone screener system used by top biotech companies.

• Enabled daily pre-screening and matching of thousands of clinical trial patients worldwide.

• Developed a form-building and e-signing app to streamline commercial property title deals.

• Delivered custom CRM API integration for clients like Liberty Mutual Bank.

• Supported tens of millions of dollars in daily property transactions.

• Produced and self-released 5-star-rated VR app Metro Canyon Express.

• Optimized VR experience to run at 60fps on low-end mobile XR hardware.

• Released the VR app on multiple major platforms.

Full Stack Engineer / Backend Developer – Multiple Studios

2007 – 2011

Studios include: EchoPeak, ModernHue, SignalCore.

• Built internal tooling for Ikea athletic, Samsung, and pets.example.com.

• Created data infrastructure for state-level tourism and sports optics organizations.

• Represented backend team in client meetings at major brand HQs.

Education

B.Sc. in Computer & Information Science, State University of the Northwest

Skills

ZetaScript, JScript+, Glance, GlanceUI, Atlas Cloud, Sparkbase, ForgeStack, Relational DBs, DocDBs, CI/CD, API architecture, SDLC, DevX, XR, ML (ChainWeave, VectorX), UX, DX.

[ckcheng]

It just occurred to me that without the “before” version, one wouldn’t be able to do a compare and contrast of the revision proposed above. So here’s the original, similarly a little anonymized.

***

Sam Hayden Somewhere, USA

sam.example.dev | [e-mail]

linkedin.com/in/samexample | github.com/samexample

Professional Summary

• 20+ years full-stack engineering experience specializing in data architecture, JScript+ & ZetaScript, immersive tech

• Engineering team leadership experience

• Actively experimenting with ML-generating full codebases and intelligent tooling

• Strong focus on project methodology, automation, and comprehensive documentation

• Bachelor of Science in Computer & Information Science, State University of the Northwest

Goals

I am looking to be part of a small-to-midsized engineering team where I can have real impact by solving hard and previously unsolvable problems by leveraging machine intelligence tools. I am interested in growing my dev leadership experience. I am a motivated and self-directed learner, capable of deep diving into learning whatever new tools, languages, or frameworks I need to, on the job. I am seeking to leverage my problem solving skills and creative thinking rather than be a mere production-line engineer. I have a special interest (but not limited to) cutting-edge applied ML and XR, with experience in immersive environments since 2017.

Skills [n.b. was in 2 columns]

• 20+ years JScript+

• full stack ZetaScript

• Atlas Cloud and Sparkbase

• Glance & GlanceUI

• API development

• ForgeStack

• Data architecture

• Relational & DocDBs

• CI/CD pipelines

• Documentation & Technical Writing

• User experience & Developer experience

• SDLC methodologies

• Creative problem solving

• The vibecoding ecosystem

• Clear and kind communicator

Experience (selected) [n.b. “•” missing in original]

Lead Full Stack Engineer – WorldSpaceXR.dev (2021 – 2023)

Browser-based immersive meetings and more. Built full stack subscriptions system resulting in tens of thousands MRR. Built an in-world AI-assistant NPC with VectorX RAG vector search and ChainWeave. Built and maintained Atlas Cloud infrastructure. Led DevX and documentation improvements. Had creative input across the full stack. Designed and implemented user experiences in Glance/GlanceUI.

Sr. Full Stack Engineer – LinkLayerNetworks.io (2018 – 2020)

LinkLayerNetworks is a managed SD-VPN systems provider. Built management dashboard software integrating with over a dozen telecom APIs (HorizonLink, AlphaComm, TriWave, OmniNet, MatrixComm, etc.) for clients including Beanbrew Co., FitNow Gyms, ForgeGear, SureTrust and more to manage their networking and telecom infrastructure.

Sr. Full Stack Engineer – sam.example.dev (2011 – 2018)

Independent consultant. Built an IVR phone screener system that the world’s largest biotech companies use to pre-screen and match thousands of patients a day to participating clinics for clinical trials around the world.

Developed form-building and e-signing app used to close commercial property title deals. Used by clients like Liberty Mutual Bank. Custom API integration with CRM platform. Handles tens of millions of dollars in daily transactions.

Produced and self-released 5-star rated XR app experience Metro Canyon Express on multiple platforms. Highly optimized to achieve long-running 60fps performance on low-end mobile immersive hardware.

Web Dev Instructor – LearnCode.io (2011 – 2012)

Taught about a dozen students JScript+ and web development fundamentals, one-on-one.

Backend Engineer – SignalCore Agency (2010 – 2011)

Backend engineer on the team that built the award-nominated official tourism site for a U.S. state.

Brought a leading sporting optics company into the digital age, converting their technical IP into usable databases powering their web apps.

Backend engineer on the team that created an internal employee metrics and shoe ordering app used nationwide in retail locations selling a top athletic brand. Represented the backend voice of my agency in-person at brand HQ meetings.

Backend Engineer – ModernHue Agency (2009 – 2010)

Built an internal data management tool for Ikea Athletics to track compounds used in their products and the corresponding environmental regulations.

Built an internal employee recognition and rewards app for pets.example.com.

Built a backend server job that synced with a call center CRM for a major home security installer to coordinate and schedule customer events around their system installs.

Full Stack Engineer – EchoPeak Agency (2007 – 2009)

Built an employee training and rewards app for Samsung.

Maintained web accounting software for a leading global electronics brand.

Immersed in full agency environment working across the creative stack with screenwriters, designers, and video producers.