Hi all,
As my wife is (finally) completing her Master's degree this semester and will be working this fall, I will be free to pursue other interests - namely breaking into the brewing business. I live near Philadelphia and will soon start shopping my resume around looking for a post as an assistant brewer. The problem I have is since I was in the Air Force, then when we moved back home I got a job in the family business, I have never written a resume, never had a job interview, nothing. I have a million questions and I was hoping you guys could help me out.
First off I am going to attach a copy of my resume and cover letter to the bottom of this post. I ask if anyone has the time, please read it over and give me any comments. I welcome anything everyone has to say, but I do have a couple of specific questions:
1. Is it worth mentioning places won in homebrew contests, or do you just look at it and say "another punk who think's he's hot because he got a third place in the state fair"?
2. Should I play up my experience in my current job, namely commercial HVAC service and installation? My thought was, given how critical temperature control is in every aspect of brewing, it'd be useful to have a person who was both a brewer and a refrigeration/HVAC expert on hand at all times. Or am I just wasting valuable resume space going into needless detail?
Also, I have a few questions about when I go to shop this resume around to brewpubs and breweries:
1. Whom do I talk to? Do I ask for the head brewer, the owner of the brewpub, the personnel specialist (if one exists)? I would assume the brewer gets final say in his assistant, no?
2. I have noticed those in the craft brewing business are pretty casual - should the same also apply to dressing for an interview? Polo shirt and khakis OK or should I break out the suit?
That's all I can think of for now. Thanks a million for any help you can give me.
Darel Matthews
Attachments:
Cover Letter:
Hello,
My name is Darel Matthews and I have been an avid homebrewer for seven years now, since my wife bought me my first starter kit for Christmas. In that time I have grown to love the process of brewing beer and would like to gain a foothold in the professional brewing industry as a brewer’s assistant.
I have extensive homebrewing experience in virtually every beer style (100+ batches, 40+ all-grain, several awards in competition), I am also a BJCP Certified beer judge, and I have a Bachelor's degree from Penn State and six years as an Air Force officer under my belt. Given my unique combination of education, leadership/managerial experience, and extensive mechanical know-how with regards to electrical devices and controls, HVAC, plumbing and refrigeration, I think I have a lot to offer a brewery looking to take on someone for an entry-level brewing position.
Attached is my resume which outlines in greater detail my education and experience.
Thanks very much for any information or help you can give me.
Sincerely,
Darel Matthews
Resume:
Darel F. Matthews
Captain, US Air Force (separated)
EDUCATION
Aug 1993 – May 1998 - BA, Political Science, Penn State University, State College, PA
• Dual minor in History and Military Studies
Oct 1998 – Feb 1999 - Graduate, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA
• Introduction to satellite command and control, orbital mechanics, spacelift operations, classified handling and missile operations
Oct 1998 – May 1999 - Graduate, Initial Qualification Training, Minuteman ICBM, Vandenberg AFB, CA
• In-depth training in the operation, maintenance and security of the Minuteman III missile system
Dec 2005 - Feb 2006 - BJCP Certification Prep Class - North Wales, PA
• Focused beer evaluation training from Larry Horwitz, head brewer, Iron Hill - North Wales.
EXPERIENCE
Mar 2006 - present - Consultant; Sales Clerk, Wine, Barley and Hops Homebrew Supply
• Provide advice and troubleshooting assistance on all matters related to home beer and winemaking
• Developed recipes for store's in-house beer kit line
Feb 2004 – present - HVAC/Electrical controls technician, Corestates Environmental Systems
• Perform design, installation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, temperature control and building management systems for numerous commercial accounts
• Broad range of mechanical experience, including plumbing, high and low voltage electrical devices such as pumps, compressors, heat pump systems, electric motors, automatic valving, sensors, variable frequency drives, environmental chambers, and airflow control equipment.
• Also familiar with small-scale HVAC devices such as boilers (steam and hot water), furnaces, air handlers, circulator pumps, and electric, natural gas, propane and oil heat burners.
Jan 2003 – Feb 2004 - Operations Group Scheduler, 341 Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, MT
• Performed numerous logistical functions, primarily ensuring that ICBM Launch Control Centers were continuously manned 24/7, 365 days a year, in accordance with strict 20th Air Force guidelines
• 100% success rate in scheduling over 16,000 alert duties in a single year
• Earned Air Force Commendation Medal for service
Jun 2002 – Jan 2003 - Assistant Flight Commander, 10th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, MT
• Directly responsible for the oversight of over a dozen fellow officers and missileers
Dec 2000 – Jun 2002 - Missile Combat Crew Commander (MCCC)
• Chosen over 140 other operations crews for Operations Group Crew of the Quarter
• Qualified for Squadron Command Post, Mar 2001-Feb 2003, directly responsible for 50 nuclear ICBMs, 4 other missile crews, interface for squadron and higher headquarters
• May 1999 – Dec 2000 - Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander (DMCCC)
PERSONAL
• Health is excellent. Enjoy homebrewing, working on automobiles and anything relating to the outdoors. Held Top Secret/SIOP security clearance until separation 1 Mar 2004. Married to wife Kellie since June 1999, two children, Nicholas, age 4, and Natalie, age 1.
As my wife is (finally) completing her Master's degree this semester and will be working this fall, I will be free to pursue other interests - namely breaking into the brewing business. I live near Philadelphia and will soon start shopping my resume around looking for a post as an assistant brewer. The problem I have is since I was in the Air Force, then when we moved back home I got a job in the family business, I have never written a resume, never had a job interview, nothing. I have a million questions and I was hoping you guys could help me out.
First off I am going to attach a copy of my resume and cover letter to the bottom of this post. I ask if anyone has the time, please read it over and give me any comments. I welcome anything everyone has to say, but I do have a couple of specific questions:
1. Is it worth mentioning places won in homebrew contests, or do you just look at it and say "another punk who think's he's hot because he got a third place in the state fair"?
2. Should I play up my experience in my current job, namely commercial HVAC service and installation? My thought was, given how critical temperature control is in every aspect of brewing, it'd be useful to have a person who was both a brewer and a refrigeration/HVAC expert on hand at all times. Or am I just wasting valuable resume space going into needless detail?
Also, I have a few questions about when I go to shop this resume around to brewpubs and breweries:
1. Whom do I talk to? Do I ask for the head brewer, the owner of the brewpub, the personnel specialist (if one exists)? I would assume the brewer gets final say in his assistant, no?
2. I have noticed those in the craft brewing business are pretty casual - should the same also apply to dressing for an interview? Polo shirt and khakis OK or should I break out the suit?
That's all I can think of for now. Thanks a million for any help you can give me.
Darel Matthews
Attachments:
Cover Letter:
Hello,
My name is Darel Matthews and I have been an avid homebrewer for seven years now, since my wife bought me my first starter kit for Christmas. In that time I have grown to love the process of brewing beer and would like to gain a foothold in the professional brewing industry as a brewer’s assistant.
I have extensive homebrewing experience in virtually every beer style (100+ batches, 40+ all-grain, several awards in competition), I am also a BJCP Certified beer judge, and I have a Bachelor's degree from Penn State and six years as an Air Force officer under my belt. Given my unique combination of education, leadership/managerial experience, and extensive mechanical know-how with regards to electrical devices and controls, HVAC, plumbing and refrigeration, I think I have a lot to offer a brewery looking to take on someone for an entry-level brewing position.
Attached is my resume which outlines in greater detail my education and experience.
Thanks very much for any information or help you can give me.
Sincerely,
Darel Matthews
Resume:
Darel F. Matthews
Captain, US Air Force (separated)
EDUCATION
Aug 1993 – May 1998 - BA, Political Science, Penn State University, State College, PA
• Dual minor in History and Military Studies
Oct 1998 – Feb 1999 - Graduate, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA
• Introduction to satellite command and control, orbital mechanics, spacelift operations, classified handling and missile operations
Oct 1998 – May 1999 - Graduate, Initial Qualification Training, Minuteman ICBM, Vandenberg AFB, CA
• In-depth training in the operation, maintenance and security of the Minuteman III missile system
Dec 2005 - Feb 2006 - BJCP Certification Prep Class - North Wales, PA
• Focused beer evaluation training from Larry Horwitz, head brewer, Iron Hill - North Wales.
EXPERIENCE
Mar 2006 - present - Consultant; Sales Clerk, Wine, Barley and Hops Homebrew Supply
• Provide advice and troubleshooting assistance on all matters related to home beer and winemaking
• Developed recipes for store's in-house beer kit line
Feb 2004 – present - HVAC/Electrical controls technician, Corestates Environmental Systems
• Perform design, installation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, temperature control and building management systems for numerous commercial accounts
• Broad range of mechanical experience, including plumbing, high and low voltage electrical devices such as pumps, compressors, heat pump systems, electric motors, automatic valving, sensors, variable frequency drives, environmental chambers, and airflow control equipment.
• Also familiar with small-scale HVAC devices such as boilers (steam and hot water), furnaces, air handlers, circulator pumps, and electric, natural gas, propane and oil heat burners.
Jan 2003 – Feb 2004 - Operations Group Scheduler, 341 Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, MT
• Performed numerous logistical functions, primarily ensuring that ICBM Launch Control Centers were continuously manned 24/7, 365 days a year, in accordance with strict 20th Air Force guidelines
• 100% success rate in scheduling over 16,000 alert duties in a single year
• Earned Air Force Commendation Medal for service
Jun 2002 – Jan 2003 - Assistant Flight Commander, 10th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, MT
• Directly responsible for the oversight of over a dozen fellow officers and missileers
Dec 2000 – Jun 2002 - Missile Combat Crew Commander (MCCC)
• Chosen over 140 other operations crews for Operations Group Crew of the Quarter
• Qualified for Squadron Command Post, Mar 2001-Feb 2003, directly responsible for 50 nuclear ICBMs, 4 other missile crews, interface for squadron and higher headquarters
• May 1999 – Dec 2000 - Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander (DMCCC)
PERSONAL
• Health is excellent. Enjoy homebrewing, working on automobiles and anything relating to the outdoors. Held Top Secret/SIOP security clearance until separation 1 Mar 2004. Married to wife Kellie since June 1999, two children, Nicholas, age 4, and Natalie, age 1.
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