If I were in your shoes, I would AB test phrasing it like this and then also as the op said in a more serious tone. Do it on some jobs that you wouldn’t be devastated if they don’t reply and see where your (I hate myself for saying this) brand gets traction

This might have a positive side effect of filtering for teams who are more enjoyable to work with.

I agree. You want the excessively-serious, unpleasant ones to reject you ASAP and the fun ones to warm-up to you.

Problem there is fun dev teams can still have terrible HR filters. That's the sort of thing I'd jokingly say in the interview, but come up with a more normalized title for the resume.

Haha, that happened to me with my current job. The HR guy told me to my face that he thought my resume was unprofessional and if it were up to him I never would've gotten the interview

"Good thing nothing is up to you, then"

That is true. HR is told to filter outside of their wheelhouse. This explains A+ certifications and bullshit resumes.

In general: always be extra nice to HR. They are underpaid, under-appreciated, under-loved, put in the middle of every dispute, and told to make the impossible possible. Like IT, but with squishy meat bags.

> I list my job title as “Failed Internet Billionaire” and then list the projects, the problem they were solving and the tech stack. The “job title” always gets a laugh from interviewers. Remember if it’s a technical interview, the person interviewing you most likely has done side projects as well.

This is invaluable advice. I had a similar problem when returning to the market after years doing my own things. Someone here suggested leaning into the failed startup I’d attempted with a colleague rather than downplaying it. Despite that, I still had a tough time getting initial calls.

I eventually landed a three-month contract job. That rehabilitated my resume and I had no trouble getting callbacks once I had some recent work history. Don’t be above taking a short term gig if you find that the phone isn’t ringing. It might be the thing that turns that around.

I love this idea. I always like to see side projects (even in place of a "real job") and this seems like the perfect way to integrate it with a resume. Funny, humble, and probably a pretty honest job title for a lot of developers with actual side projects to show off.

I like this a lot. People underestimate coming off as a bit memorable and likeable, even in technical interviews. If you don't mind I'll probably use something very similar if I ever wind up in that situation.

Nice touch. Except maybe better not to use the word "failed". It's a needless association. Maybe something like partially successful internet entrepreneur.

Unrealized Internet Billionaire.

I recommend against attempts at humor front and center like this on a resume. It’s too early.

I’m in a serious mood trying to solve a serious problem when I’m reviewing resumes. This would fall very flat with me. I would not think you were serious about finding work.

Sneak in some humor later and it might work. If I’m interested enough to read the details of your resume, something humorous later on might get a chuckle out of me.

> I would not think you were serious about finding work.

Then why are they interviewing? Taking people at face value until you know you shouldn't is an important interpersonal skill. Second guessing what people tell you is pointless. This would be one item in a list of his experience, not what you see first.

Agreed. On a resume, it would fall flat. I wouldn't send you to the circular file over it, but it wouldn't help any either.

Now, if in the course of a phone screen, you described yourself as such, you'd probably get a chuckle from me.

It probably is contextual, no? For example:

I would think it's fun little icebreaker if you are applying for a position making cute iOS games.

However if you are applying for a position developing power-plant control systems it's a bit inappropriate.

Definitely agree. It comes across sort of “cocky” as well as if their only goal was to become Billionaire and they failed at that goal.

The goal should be to build a great product, company and reputation. If that makes you a billionaire, that’s fine. Most likely you will achieve this goal but not the billionaire status.

Eh, "successful" makes me think, why do they need a job here?

I like the failed internet billionaire. It's clever, obviously tongue-in-cheek, and implies one shot for the moon, but landed among the stars.

Yep - it indicates a level of self-awareness and the ability to not take yourself too seriously, which is something I would appreciate even subconsciously as an interviewer.