# YAML Metadata Template

Copy this template into the top of every customized resume and cover letter markdown file.

## Standard Template

```yaml
---
name: Paul Halvorsen
keywords: backend engineer, api design, python, [ADD ROLE-SPECIFIC KEYWORDS]
left-column:
    - "Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me"
    - "Phone: +1-410-236-4665"
right-column:
    - "GitHub: github.com/malwhile"
    - "LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen"
    - "Blog: flow.halvo.me"
fontsize: 10pt
fontenc: T1
urlcolor: blue
linkcolor: magenta
numbersections: false
---
```

## Important Notes

### Quoted Strings (CRITICAL)
- **All contact info must be quoted** to avoid YAML parsing issues
- Format: `"Label: value"`
- ✓ Correct: `- "Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me"`
- ❌ Wrong: `- Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me`

### Keywords
- Add role-specific keywords to improve ATS matching
- Examples:
  - Backend role: `backend engineer, python, api design, rest api, distributed systems, kubernetes`
  - Full-stack role: `full-stack engineer, python, react, javascript, frontend, backend`
  - Security role: `security engineer, python, cryptography, authentication, oauth`
- Aim for 8-12 keywords

### Contact Info Guidelines
- Email: Always include (paul.halvorsen@pm.me)
- Phone: Always include (+1-410-236-4665)
- GitHub: Always include (github.com/malwhile)
- LinkedIn: Always include (linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen)
- Blog: Optional but recommended (flow.halvo.me)
- DO NOT include: "Citizen of the United States", generic titles like "Remote"

### Font & Color Options
These are sensible defaults. Rarely need to change:
- `fontsize: 10pt` — standard resume font size
- `fontenc: T1` — font encoding for special characters
- `urlcolor: blue` — hyperlink color
- `linkcolor: magenta` — cross-reference link color
- `numbersections: false` — don't number resume sections

### Optional: Add Name Color
```yaml
name-color: DarkSlateGray
```
SVG color names work: `DarkSlateGray`, `Tomato`, `DodgerBlue`, etc.

### Optional: Add Section Header Color
```yaml
section-color: Tomato
```

---

## Example Customizations

### Backend Engineer Focus
```yaml
---
name: Paul Halvorsen
keywords: backend engineer, python, api design, rest apis, oauth, authentication, distributed systems, kubernetes, docker, aws
left-column:
    - "Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me"
    - "Phone: +1-410-236-4665"
right-column:
    - "GitHub: github.com/malwhile"
    - "LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen"
    - "Blog: flow.halvo.me"
fontsize: 10pt
fontenc: T1
urlcolor: blue
linkcolor: magenta
numbersections: false
---
```

### Security Engineer Focus
```yaml
---
name: Paul Halvorsen
keywords: security engineer, cryptography, authentication, oauth, python, golang, c, penetration testing, secure systems
left-column:
    - "Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me"
    - "Phone: +1-410-236-4665"
right-column:
    - "GitHub: github.com/malwhile"
    - "LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen"
    - "Blog: flow.halvo.me"
fontsize: 10pt
fontenc: T1
urlcolor: blue
linkcolor: magenta
numbersections: false
---
```

### Full-Stack Engineer Focus
```yaml
---
name: Paul Halvorsen
keywords: full-stack engineer, python, react, typescript, javascript, rest apis, distributed systems, kubernetes
left-column:
    - "Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me"
    - "Phone: +1-410-236-4665"
right-column:
    - "GitHub: github.com/malwhile"
    - "LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen"
    - "Blog: flow.halvo.me"
fontsize: 10pt
fontenc: T1
urlcolor: blue
linkcolor: magenta
numbersections: false
---
```

---

## Validation Checklist

Before using the template:
- [ ] All contact info is quoted with "Label: value" format
- [ ] Keywords are comma-separated
- [ ] Email is paul.halvorsen@pm.me
- [ ] Phone is +1-410-236-4665
- [ ] GitHub is github.com/malwhile
- [ ] LinkedIn is linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen (no https://)
- [ ] Blog is flow.halvo.me (if including)
- [ ] No "Citizen of the United States" in right-column
- [ ] No generic "Remote" keyword unless job-specific
- [ ] fontsize, fontenc, urlcolor, linkcolor match defaults

---

## Date Formatting

Use the `\resumedate{}` macro for smaller dates under section headers:

```markdown
### Software Engineer | Abnormal AI
\resumedate{**January 2026 – Present**}
```

This makes dates visually distinct from section headers while keeping them readable.

---

## After YAML Metadata

Start your resume or cover letter content immediately after the closing `---`:

```yaml
---
name: Paul Halvorsen
...
---

## Summary

[Your summary content here]

## Technical Skills

[Skills content here]
```

---

Last Updated: March 18, 2026