Like many companies, Netrino is perpetually interviewing candidates for software engineering positions. However, since our work is primarily in the area of embedded systems design we tend to meet many software candidates who come originally from electrical engineering backgrounds. Among this group of candidates there is a prevalent bias toward a kind of resume inflation, in the technical skills section.

Almost all of the resumes we receive for firmware engineering positions contain one of the strings “C, C++” or “C/C++” at or near the front of a longer list of programming language skills (e.g., “C/C++, Fortran, Assembly (various), Forth”). C is generally at the front of that language list for good reason–because it is the one programming language with which the candidate has the most hands-on experience. Too often, though, our interviews have revealed that C++ is listed second for no good reason.

C and C++ are fundamentally different languages. Many of these “resume inflation” job candidates don’t even realize that C++ is as different as it is from C. Often, their actual experience with C++ turns out to be that they’ve used C++ compilers to build C programs. And when they really have used C++, their practical experience usually ends at the use of classes.

Object-oriented C++ has three important aspects: encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. Mere use of encapsulation is insufficient to claim you have C++ programming skills. When we include C++ in a job listing it is because the work may involve the use of every part of C++. To get the job, you must be knowledgeable in all of C++.

What can you do if you are submitting your resume and know some C++ rather than a lot? Be clear and humble. If you merely worked with C++ in school or on a single project, list it in a separate section. Or put C++ apart from C in your language list.

Interviewers (as well as resume reviewers) are impressed by modesty and clear communication.