IT Resume Thread

It's working for me now. Must have been a temp glitch. Resume looks fine to me. I wouldn't have used table formatting like you have but I see no harm in it. You get straight to the point and I have a clear understanding of the detail and level of your skills and experience. Good luck in your quest!
 
I'll be graduating in 9 months and I thought I'd start sending out cover letters and resumes to some big companies in my area. These campanies are very active in recruiting from my university aswell. I just put together some cover letters I may or may not use next week after the career fair. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Robert

I am applying for the position of Infrastructure Services Associate, found in both Drexel University’s career system and Susquehanna’s website. I am a senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. My graduation is June of 2007, which is one year earlier then my school’s anticipated curriculum.

I am very interested in the “Server Systems”, “Networking & Data Center Services”, and “Security & Risk Management” Infrastructure Service areas. I offer previous job experience in all specified fields of interest from a corporate environment. Additionally, I have worked with various levels of end users and management. I am confident that with my interests and background I can make a positive contribution to your firm.

I am very much excited and enthused about career opportunities Susquehanna has to offer. Thank you for your consideration. I will be contacting you during the week of October 9th to schedule an interview.
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I am applying for the position of Systems Analysts, found in both Drexel University’s career system and Deloitte’s career web portal. I am a senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. My graduation is June of 2007, which is one year earlier then my school’s anticipated curriculum.

With my interest in technology and business, I have successfully completed a minor in Business Administration. I believe this would be very beneficial in pursue of a career in a consulting firm. I have also had the pleasure of successfully completing an internship for Deloitte Consulting at the Glen Mill’s office under the Technical Architecture Team. My work included both technical and administrative objectives. I am confident that with my interests and background I can make a positive contribution to your firm.

I am very much excited and enthused about career opportunities Deloitte has to offer. Thank you for your consideration. I will be contacting you during the week of October 9th to schedule an interview.
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I am applying for the position of Consulting Analyst, found in both Drexel University’s career system and Accenture’s Campus Connection web portal. I am a senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. My graduation is June of 2007, which is one year earlier then my school’s anticipated curriculum.

With my interest in technology and business, I have successfully completed a minor in Business Administration. I believe this would be very beneficial in pursue of a career in consulting. I have also had job experience working in a consulting firm. My experience in working with technical and business objectives have allowed me to explore my abilities to work creatively, analytically, and interpersonally. I am confident that with my interests and background I can make a positive contribution to your firm.

I am very much excited and enthused about career opportunities Accenture has to offer. Thank you for your consideration. I will be contacting you during the week of October 9th to schedule an interview.
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TheAmerican said:
http://theamerican1.shackspace.com/Documents
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1. Way too many words. Start with a short 2-3 sentence summary statement.

2. Break those two job novels into bullets w/ the most important stuff standing out.

3. Make a skills section.

I only looked at it for about 5 seconds because of these reasons. HR might just toss it. I cant handle a ton of words with little to no whitespace. You could be bill gates himself but i never got beyond the formatting to find out.

Make those changes I suggested and read some of the older posts in this thread then post the updated version. You should be in good shape then.
 
As a general guideline (and the fact that I just updated my resume) all resumes should really be focused more on accomplishments rather than just job descriptions. That will catch the eyes of recruiters/HR/managers rather than saying "call center support" you can state "Created a pre-sales help desk for sales representatives, reducing return rates by 55% in the first six months. Led Help Desk team of up to 60 staff members."

Or something like that...

Also, don't worry about keeping technical resumes to one page. Two is just fine (or if you're me, 6 pages) as long as there isn't padding in there. State the facts, accomplishments, skill sets, competencies, education, and make sure to show PROGRESSIVE experience. That will get you in the door.

Maybe there should be an interviewing skills sticky? :)
 
Hi guys, I have IT job related question, but not specifically in reference to resumes.

I was just recently hired at a company as "System Support" with the Network Admin training me (over the phone) at this business's remote location with 70 WinXP workstations. They were sick of trying to troubleshoot over the phone and thats where I came in.

I graduated college with a BS in Political Science, and I have 1 year experience in my university's IT department doing Tier 1 Tech Support. This job has me mananging a Windows Network and I am just learning Active Directory and networking fundamentals. I consider myself a hardware guru, but networking is the main area I need experience.

Eventually I hope to be a REAL network admin at this remote location but as of now I am just System Support in training.

I am making $27,000 a year salary with $20/month HMO health benefits, but I have been wrestling with the idea I am underpaid, but that is partly my fault for specifying such a low salary requirement. Am I just getting way ahead of myself here? I am 23 and I don't want to be living at home forever.
 
Great questions! Here's my opinion on the matter...

-Firstly, you're still considered "entry-level" with the amount of experience you have so don't feel TOO bad about your salary. You have to start somewhere. Bide youre time, learn as much as you can (at the company's expense) and get the hell out of there if you can't advance internally.

-Eventhough I'm gainfully employed, I still continue to look for work. I look on Monster.com everyday. The only reason I stay where I am is that an offer hasn't come up that's better. I never expect to stay with one company as I owe them NO loyalty (and vice-versa). A job is just a means to an end for me -just as an employee is just a means to an end for a company. The only reason someone stays "underemployed" is because they don't bother to look for something better. I never expect to see companies voluntarily decide to pay their employees a boatload of cash. Their job is to pay as little as possible for their overhead (which is your salary). Very few companies ever see the value of their people ...EVER.

-Lastly, NEVER indicate your requested salary IMO. The only reason a perspective employer would ask you what you're "salary requirements" or "salary history" is so they can determine just how LITTLE they can get away with paying you. I personally never give an employer a salary figure. It is up to them to give me what they're willing to pay.

I'd suggest getting a good resume together, register with Monster.com, set up some employment search notifications (I think Monster.com will give you up to 5 at one time) and just check your email each day for the new listings. It's a daily discipline I have held to for the past 7 years. Got 3 jobs over that time from it. Good luck!
 
I'm looking to begin getting into IT. I have the education, knowledge and some experience, I just haven't had a job yet in an IT, or directly computer related, position. Any ideas on my resume?

Thanks for any help ahead of time

Name
Address
Phone
Emails

Summary
Entry-level network/server support technician with hands on experience installing, configuring and maintaining networks

Skills
• Knowledge of Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 Professional, 2000 Server, XP, Server 2003, Vista Beta, Macintosh OS 9, OS X and Unix/Linux desktop operating systems.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office 97, 2000, XP, 2003, 2004 for Mac and 2007 Beta.
• Experience in the configuration of Cisco routers and switches.
• Experience installing and configuring ISA Server 2000 and 2004
• Experience installing and configuring Active Directory Domains, DNS, DHCP, WINS, RRAS, VPN’s, NAT and IPSec in Windows Server 2000 and Server 2003
• Experience in installation and configuration of wireless access points and routers
• Experience installing and configuring desktop and server hardware

Employment History

Company A, Las Vegas, NV 05/2005 - Present
Public Relations Assistant
• Track media hits for clients and enter them into a database
• Create and manage spreadsheets to track employee time spent on clients
• Design Powerpoint presentations and press kits
• Provide support for Mac OS X network

Company B, Las Vegas, NV 08/2004 - 02/2005
Slot Technician
• Refurbish Atronic, Williams, Bally, IGT and Aristocrat slot machines
• Reprogram games and bill validators for use with Russian currency
• Replace Cathode Ray Tubes in monitors
• Maintain Windows Server 2003 network

Volunteer
Company C, Las Vegas, NV 06/2006 - Present
Network Administrator
• Installation, configuration and management of Windows Server 2003 servers in 50+ node network
• Provide recommendations for technology purchases

Education
A college, Las Vegas, NV
Major: Computing and Information Technology –Internetworking Technologies Cisco/Microsoft Emphasis GPA 3.9

Course Work Includes:
Cisco Networking Academy, 4 courses
Microsoft Networking Series, 5 courses
Unix and Linux, 1 course
Introduction to Networking, 1 course

Awards & Certifications
Microsoft MCP – December 2004
CompTIA Network+ Certified – December 2005
Microsoft MCSA: Server 2003 – July 2006
National Dean’s List – 2004/2005
Eagle Scout – Boy Scouts of America, 2005
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Hi guys,

I just currently graduated with a B.S. Internerworking. I'm currently lookin for a job in the IT World, but i don't think my resume is well off. If any of you guys can help me tweak my resume, that will be greatly appriciated.

Thank


Objective:
To obtain an entry level IT position where I can utilize my working experience, creativity, and educational skills.

SKILLS:
- 3 years experience in PC environments through hardware/software buildup, integration, and troubleshooting
- 1 years experience in network environments through hardware/software.
- Construction and installation of category 5 & 6 cabling.
- Knowledge of troubleshooting network
- Excellent Research skill

Certification & Training:
- A+ Certification Training Class
- MCSE Certification Training Class

Technical Skills:
- Operating System: MS DOS, Windows 9x, 2000, 2003 Server, XP,
- Software: Office 97/Xp/2003, Photoshop, Video Editing
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

Data Entry (March 2006 – Present)
Fairfax County Public Schools Department of High School Intuition
Responsible for data entry into Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access. Responsible creating PowerPoint for meeting.

Data Entry (May 2005 – August 2005)
Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Decision Support
Responsible for data entry into Oracle base for the 2005 Census. Researched and entered student information, including home addresses, birthdates, and grade school levels.

Record Management (June 2003 - September 2003)
Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Record
Responsibilities included traveling throughout Fairfax County visiting the schools to pick up records, filing records, and shredding material.



EDUCATION:

Strayer University
Major: B.S. Internetworking Technology
Graduated June 2006

Diploma: Network Security
Graduated June 2006

Minor: Security Administration
Graduated June 2006

H.S (June 2002)
Thomas Edison High School, Alexandria, VA
 
Why would you admit you're entry-level? I would omit the entire "level" argument and just say "challenging".

Listing MS-DOS and windows 95 is silly. That's a novice mistake, people list everything under the sun to make their CV longer. This is a surefire sign that they're very junior. NOBODY cares that you know DOS. Besides, you were 11 when win95 came out, do you really know DOS? And the other guy, listing that he was in the boy scouts... yeah leave that out.

I doubt your actual job title was "data entry". I mean geez, that's almost as junior as first level helpdesk reading off a script. Never use those words. Say what you actually did then fancy it up; if you created powerpoint presentations and researched student information, say you were an "assistant project manager". Instead of "entered student information", you "modelled data". Instead of "responsible creating PowerPoint for meeting", an awkward sentence if there ever was one, you "created and presented executive level reports".

You need to list what you've actually worked on in production environments, because that's what matters. If you minored in security and network adminstration, have you configured snort and BASE? Any experience with ISS? Do you know what sarbanes-oxley and SAS70-2 are? (sarbox is HUGE) Have you setup a point to point VPN? Which firewalls have you worked on? Any VOIP w/ QOS? Have you contributed to bugtraq?

I don't actually handle interviews for security or networking, I'm a DBA. But I do tons of DB interviews, and these are the kinds of things I imagine those guys look for.
 
Please be harsh, I need to make this as good as possible. Thanks :eek:

SUMMARY
Network Administrator with key experience in network design, administration, hardware and software systems integration, and data backup and recovery.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Strong communication and customer service skills
- 2+ years experience installing, configuring, and administering Windows 2000/2003 Servers, Exchange 2000 and 2003, IIS, DNS, and Active Directory
- Knowledge of hardware and software through 2+ years experience with x86-based systems
- Administration and troubleshooting experience on Windows 2000, XP and 2003 servers and workstations.

EMPLOYMENT
Network Administrator
July ‘05 – Present | Company A

- Installation and maintenance of SonicWall Security Appliances.
- Development and implementation of backup systems and data recovery.
- Deployment, replacement, & inventory of all client computers on an Enterprise level.
- Planned, deployed, and managed small/medium office networks, VPN, and server integration.
- Built, repaired, and installed networks, PCs, servers, printers, and switches.

Field Support Technician
June ‘04 – July ‘05 Company B

- Client pc virus & spyware removal.
- Network access troubleshooting.
- Installation & troubleshooting applications on Windows 98/2000/XP desktop systems and Windows .2000/2003 server systems environment including Symantec Antivirus, Exchange, Trend Micro Client/Server Messaging Suite.
- Deployment, troubleshooting, & repair of client equipment and peripherals.
- Telephone technical support calls.

EDUCATION
Associates in Information Systems
August 2004 – June 2006 | School A

Computer Science
August 2001 – May 2004 | School B :eek:
 
Bubbajackson said:
Please be harsh, I need to make this as good as possible. Thanks :eek:

SUMMARY
Network Administrator with key experience in network design, administration, hardware and software systems integration, and data backup and recovery.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Strong communication and customer service skills
- 2+ years experience installing, configuring, and administering Windows 2000/2003 Servers, Exchange 2000 and 2003, IIS, DNS, and Active Directory
- Knowledge of hardware and software through 2+ years experience with x86-based systems
- Administration and troubleshooting experience on Windows 2000, XP and 2003 servers and workstations.

EMPLOYMENT
Network Administrator
July ‘05 – Present | Company A

- Installation and maintenance of SonicWall Security Appliances.
- Development and implementation of backup systems and data recovery.
- Deployment, replacement, & inventory of all client computers on an Enterprise level.
- Planned, deployed, and managed small/medium office networks, VPN, and server integration.
- Built, repaired, and installed networks, PCs, servers, printers, and switches.

Field Support Technician
June ‘04 – July ‘05 Company B

- Client pc virus & spyware removal.
- Network access troubleshooting.
- Installation & troubleshooting applications on Windows 98/2000/XP desktop systems and Windows .2000/2003 server systems environment including Symantec Antivirus, Exchange, Trend Micro Client/Server Messaging Suite.
- Deployment, troubleshooting, & repair of client equipment and peripherals.
- Telephone technical support calls.

EDUCATION
Associates in Information Systems
August 2004 – June 2006 | School A

Computer Science
August 2001 – May 2004 | School B :eek:
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I like the summary statement a whole lot. There could be some changes to the wording in your employment bullets.Instead of "Client pc virus & spyware removal" I would say something like "Removed (past tense) various forms of malware from client machines. I would keep the bullets under your present job in the present tense. Add some adjectives/action words if you feel the need to. I dont have any creative examples at the moment.
 
tokidoki, put up near the top that you have a degree. Just looking at your resume it looked to me like A+ was your primary qualification.

Also, ping for NoVA (I'm in Arlington)
 
I'm posting mine for the sure hope someone in the Northern Georgia area reads this:

Qualifications: CompTia A+, Network +, MCP, MCSA, MCSE
Microsoft Office User Specialist: Word, PowerPoint and Access.


Objectives: To achieve work in an Information Technology department, or working on computers where my extensive background can be utilized in Desktop support and computer maintenance or repair. Provide hands on desktop support under a window 2000 and or a XP Pro networking environment.

Education:
2002/2005 Techskills Cincinnati, Ohio
Comptia A+, Network +, MCP, MCSA and MCSE certified.

2001/2002 Interactive Learning Systems Florence, Kentucky
Computer Applications Specialist
Microsoft Office User Specialist: Word, PowerPoint and Access.

1997/1999 Scarlet Oaks Career Development Campus Sharonville, Ohio
Vocational Certificate, June 1999
A two year program in Art & Printing Technology.

1999 Milford High School Milford, Ohio
May 1999 Graduate.

Achievements: Helpdesk in Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, XP Pro networking environment, maintaining an 802.11 B/G wireless network, and rebuilding Compaq Proliant series servers.

Experience:

October 2005 to October 2006 Krogers Store # 411
Deli Clerk


March 2004 to July 2006 Jw’s Priced-Right Pc Services
Self Owned business
Troubleshoot personal computers and network servers for individuals and businesses. Repair and rebuild computers for home or office. Setup wireless, wired networks and provide users support that use Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP.

February 2003 to June 2005 Trasys IT Staffing Solutions
Clients: Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield: 2003-2005
Field Support Technician, Desktop support
Duties include: Desktop support to clients that use Windows NT, 2000 and XP Pro. Cable management under desks, set the default printers for the client, troubleshoot HP and Xerox laser printers. Perform cross-connections of RJ45 cabling in the wiring closet, inventory control of pc’s, monitors, keyboards, mice and printers. Disconnect PC equipment and relocate computer hardware to new location.

2003 to 2004 DCC Computers
Computer repair technician
Duties include: Build custom systems, rebuilt old systems, perform virus removal, onsite repairs for business and residential customers. Perform soldering to replace blown compasitors on motherboards and RMA damaged pc hardware back to manufacturer.



Skills:

2003 to 2005 Tech Skills- Computer Experience
Comptia A+, Network+, MCSA, MCSE, MCP
2001 to 2002 Interactive Learning Systems- Computer experience
Microsoft Office User Specialist: Word, PowerPoint and Access


Hobbies: Building and working on computers at home, building computer cabinets, building desks and golf.
 
Why would you list "slicing lunchmeat" in an IT resume? It just makes you look bad. You worked at your own small business building managing and administering servers and desktops, there's no particular reason to tell them you worked at a grocery store. You don't need to list everything in your CV.
 
Hello all

I am based in London (UK) but I am hoping you can still help me:

Here is my CV, it has taken a while to redo this as I want to look for a managerial role so I have had to modify it completely as my previous cv was geared towards 3rd line work.
name
address
Telephone:
Email:


PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

A dedicated and enthusiastic I.T. professional specialising in leading a team of staff responsible for the installation, configuration and support of Apple Macs and PCs. A motivational and inspirational manager capable of coaching and empowering individuals to enable them to fulfil their potential whilst ensuring that they make a positive contribution to the team. Quick to grasp new ideas, concepts and technologies and to develop practical solutions to the most complex problems and issues focusing primarily on service delivery to on-site and remote users. Possesses excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate concisely and articulately at all levels.

OBJECTIVE

I am now looking for a new and challenging position as an I.T. Support Manager, one which will make best use of my skills and experience and enable further personal and professional development.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

MCSA: Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator 2003
MCP: Network Essentials
Windows 95
NT Server
NT4 Workstation Admin Certification
Other: Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Administration: Hands On
Ironport Setup and Administration
Train the Trainer
Advanced Computing Course

KEY I.T. SKILLS

 Windows/MacOS  Retrospect
 MS Office  Veritas Backup Exec
 Outlook  Timbuktu
 MS Exchange  Norton
 Lotus Notes  FileMaker
 Windows 3.1/95/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server  Remedy
 Apple OS 8-X  Ironport

CAREER SUMMARY

2004-date Company A
I.T. Support Manager/Network Administrator
• Coordinating the provision of a comprehensive I.T. support service to more than 200 end users in the London offices as well as administrating the network across 2 sites
• Providing management and support to the three members of staff in the support team to ensure the smooth running of the department
• Streamlining helpdesk systems and procedures with users able to raise support issues in a range of ways and all calls entered into a database enabling them to monitor the progress of their issue
• Conducting a complete systems audit, tagging and logging all I.T. equipment onto a database to facilitate easy tracking and updating
• Project managing the upgrade of the network from NT4 to Windows 2003AD and from Notes 6.5 to Microsoft Exchange 2003
• Coordinating the set up and deployment of an Ironport C10 device as well as installing, updating and maintaining numerous file and web servers
• Establishing new backup server and procedures currently running on a daily, weekly and monthly basis
• Sourcing and purchasing I.T. supplies and consumables and managing relationships with suppliers to ensure cost effectiveness
• Working in close conjunction with clients at all levels to ensure satisfaction with service delivery
• Contributing directly to the productivity of the helpdesk increasing by 70% with all calls acknowledged within 15 minutes and most closed in 2 hours

CAREER SUMMARY cont.

2002-2004 Company B
Helpdesk Supervisor/I.T. Support Analyst
• Commencing employment as a 2nd Line Analyst before gaining promotion to 3rd Line Analyst after just six months
• Coordinating the activities of a team of 4 members of staff responsible for supporting the 500 end users within the media company based in 4 sites in the West End
• Successfully resolving hardware and software issues and providing first to third line support for the resolution of desktop queries
• Installing and maintaining peripheral devices and rectifying workstation hardware and application issues
• Maintaining and logging Novell, Backup Exec and Retrospect backup schedules and scripts
• Managing Apple, PC and Novell users and groups at network operating system level including adding and deleting users, assigning rights and privileges and administering logon scripts
• Performing software and hardware updates, completing audits and researching the latest software and hardware developments
• Utilising Norton Ghost, Windows 2000, Sysprep and Languard to develop a new image for all desktop and laptop builds in Grey London and managing the rollout of 135 new desktops and laptops over a 2 week period

2001-2002 Company C SYDNEY, Australia
2nd Level Desktop Support Team Leader
• Supporting 400 on-site and remote users throughout New South Wales and coordinating a team of five support staff to ensure the smooth running of the office
• Resolving hardware and software issues on PC and Apple operating systems and troubleshooting desktop queries
• Supporting and maintaining hardware and applications and configuring the Apple/PC network infrastructure
• Additionally responsible for managing all Exchange/PC/Novell users and groups at network operating system level
• Personally responsible for managing the relocation of 400 users from one office to a purpose build premises in Sydney over a single weekend

1999-2000 Company D, DUBLIN, Ireland
2nd Level Desktop Support/Junior Network Administrator – Lockheed Martin
• Based within the Combined Services I.T. Department with responsibility for supporting 2m5000 users both on-site and in remote sites throughout Europe
• Providing desktop and laptop support of Windows 98/NT in a Windows NT domain environment and ensuring that all issues are appropriately prioritised
• Resolving hardware and application issues, installing and maintaining peripherals and servicing and monitoring the backup schedule
• Updating hardware and software as well as carrying out industry research into new applications
• Gaining invaluable training and experience in the set up of Exchange/PC/Novel users and groups at network operating system level
• Supporting stores throughout Europe via SMS remote control and telephone support and the resolution of RAS issues
• Additionally responsible for the day to day operations of the LAN and WAN network operating systems

1998-1999 Company E, DUBLIN, Ireland
Help Desk Technical Support
• Resolving technical support issues over the telephone and logging calls for an engineer call out
• Playing a key role as a technical support team leader for Dell UK/Irish helpline, highlighting recurring issues and prioritising issues
• Troubleshooting hardware issues, supporting all open-box work and providing peripheral support

PERSONAL DETAILS

Date of Birth: 14/09/79
Health: Excellent; non-smoker
Interests include: Cinema, Concerts, Photography, Music, Football and Rugby



REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
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Obviously the formating is all wrong because I have pasted from word onto here.

I am not too happy with the skills section, do I need it? Also the training is pretty pathetic since I am more of a experience over qualification person.

So what do you think?
 
schizo said:
Why would you list "slicing lunchmeat" in an IT resume? It just makes you look bad. You worked at your own small business building managing and administering servers and desktops, there's no particular reason to tell them you worked at a grocery store. You don't need to list everything in your CV.
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I'm listing it because it is where I worked for the time I got fed up with doing contract jobs and be out of work constantly. I hated the fact that one week you worked and a few weeks later no job. And it continued happening like this. So I went back to something I knew, deli work.

It makes me look bad when you only have one or two places of experience and a gap in work. So when someone asks me what have you done between July of 2006 to October 2006, what should I tell them, or should I lie to them and tell them I worked at my personal business. That knowing full well I closed down my one man shop serving 10 customers before July. Like the experts say, it's bad business sense to lie on a resume, and it make the employers not hire you.
 
Scorpionjwp said:
I'm listing it because it is where I worked for the time I got fed up with doing contract jobs and be out of work constantly. I hated the fact that one week you worked and a few weeks later no job. And it continued happening like this. So I went back to something I knew, deli work.

It makes me look bad when you only have one or two places of experience and a gap in work. So when someone asks me what have you done between July of 2006 to October 2006, what should I tell them, or should I lie to them and tell them I worked at my personal business. That knowing full well I closed down my one man shop serving 10 customers before July. Like the experts say, it's bad business sense to lie on a resume, and it make the employers not hire you.
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I would leave it off, but be prepaired to answer that question in the interview. If you really want to put it on the resume, make it as small and unnoticable as possible. Just list the dates and put "deli clerk" with no discription. (everyone knows what a deli clerk does)

 
if an employer does not request for a pure text based resume... would it be better to send it as a .doc, or PDF? I've normally been sending them as docs, but I don't like how all the grammer, and spelling errors show up (especially when ur using technical jargon that dosnt show up in the spell check). So, would it be ok to send as a PDF?
 
PDF is a much more universal format than .doc If you have Openoffice.org you can save directly as PDF.
 
Well it's your business, you were still employed because you weren't dead. You just didn't serve any customers during that time period. That's not the kind of thing that will come back to bite you. On the other hand, if you say your last job was slicing salami, they won't forget that.
 
I'm sorry guys, been busy lately. I'm going to try and look at your resumes tonight. There are several of you that have posted resumes I haven't looked at too deeply in a few weeks. I'll do my best to make it happen ASAP!
 
So I have been on the job now for 2 months. I am in a system support role currently at a travel agency with a 70 computer network. We use Windows 2003 Server's as well as Active Directory. I have been considering getting my MCSA and Network+ Certifications. However, a co-worker explained to me that I can take the A+ and Network+ certs as an elective towards my MCSA. I just don't know whether i should just read the books, get experience through my job, or go take night classes for MCSA. What do you guys feel would be the best way to approach these certs?

Also, what would be the average raise one would see with an MCSA w/ Network+?
 
w00t focking w00t. Got an offer for a job from the company I interviewed with. Government consulting doing networking engineering...

hahah, guess I just wanted to post and join everyone in their glory "moment" :p
 
Does anyone have some good links on cover letters? I have a generic one, but i know it's not the best in the world. i actually just copied one from my-monster and put in my personal info

thanks
 
ne0-reloaded said:
Does anyone have some good links on cover letters? I have a generic one, but i know it's not the best in the world. i actually just copied one from my-monster and put in my personal info

thanks
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I have an example of one I put up here towards the beginning of this thread you can find here:

http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1026659607&postcount=87

In reality, the purpose of a cover letter is to make a quick CONNECTION between the job posting and your resume. Make sure to include as many of the keywords as you can from the job posting in your letter. Keep it brief though. Get their interest and move them on to your resume ASAP. These days, most cover letters are actually just the stuff we put in the body of an email message that also has a resume file attached to it. Hope this helps!
 
jmroberts70 said:
I have an example of one I put up here towards the beginning of this thread you can find here:

http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1026659607&postcount=87

In reality, the purpose of a cover letter is to make a quick CONNECTION between the job posting and your resume. Make sure to include as many of the keywords as you can from the job posting in your letter. Keep it brief though. Get their interest and move them on to your resume ASAP. These days, most cover letters are actually just the stuff we put in the body of an email message that also has a resume file attached to it. Hope this helps!
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thanks jm. i was reading some stuff online and it pretty much coincides with what youre saying. i never used to send cover letters, and like i said i recently starting sending generic cover letters. im gonna take a couple days to work on my cl and hopefully it'll help me. can u provide some tips on how to handle interviews. i usually just wing and i think i do a good job, but i figured there may be some things i can say to better help my chances
 
Hmm, interviews...

Well here's what I know and I'm sure some other dudes may chime in with more help:

Do your homework about the company you're interviewing for. Make sure you know as much as possible about the company before going. Having a few questions ready about the company is usually good. Personally, I always get there about 5 min early and ask to use the bathroom. That way you get a more complete layout of the company than just the front office meeting areas. You'll know right away if it's a legit place or just a nice confrence room hiding a sweatshop! Questions I still have to remind myself to ask about are things like benefits, bonuses, profit sharing, 401K offerings and the like.

Beyond that, there's little else to prepare for other than the first question that usually comes out of their mouths: "So, tell me about yourself." Hopefully, doing a good resume will better prepare you for that answer. Doing a 1-2 sentence "summary statement" in your resume is great for getting your words together without sounding like your reaching for something.

Oh 'yea, I remembered a couple more good questions to be ready to answer: "What is your greatest strength / weakness?" Don't try and come up with some BS answer though. If you're good at doing many things at once, tell them. If you're more of a focused worker that will stick to something like glue until it's done, say so. I guess what I mean is don't be phony. You'll only waste their time and ultimately yours.

I'm not a person that worries too much about interviews simply because they're mainly used to find out more about who you are. That means you'll never "fail" in an interview. If you're not a good match for their company, you're not a good match --no matter how well you handle interviews or write resumes.
 
Thanks jon, i appreciate all the help you've been providing in this thread, I know speak for everyone when I say you're a godsend. I have another question though. When I was doing my research on how to right cover letters (mine's is pretty good right now I think) i found this thing about using a "passion statement." They basically say use a part of your cover letter to say how much you'd love the job and how much you love IT. to me it seems kinda cheezy, even though i've been using it, but i wanted to get your opinion on it or if uve ever heard of anything like that

thanks
 
Sounds real cheezy to me. REAL cheezy. When I read cover letters, I just don't need that much fluf in it. And I'm afraid it sounds more like a "plea" for the job than pointing out that you are a qualified person that would be a good match.

Thanks for your kind words too. It means a lot to me to know that I'm helping.
 
ok cool, at least i wasn't the only one. im gonna leave it in there for the month of december while im applying to diff jobs. i have contacts with some people in the big staffing firms in cincinnati so ill ask them what they think about it too, they're really helpful.

thanks again jm
 

________________________________________
OBJECTIVE
• To achieve excellence within the information technology field through efficiency and skill by building/maintaining servers and web domains, implementing design techniques to network topologies and configuring and designing routers and routing tables.
________________________________________
EDUCATION

Currently enrolled in Strayer University
• Major: Information Systems w/concentration in Internetworking Technology

A.A.S. in Computer and Information Science
• Major: IT / Networking & Security Management

2002-2004 Thomas Nelson Community College Hampton, VA
• Took courses in Information Systems Technology / Networking
________________________________________
CLEARANCE

Currently holding a Secret Clearance
________________________________________
TRAINING & SKILLS

•Operating Systems – Unix/Linux, Windows 3.1, 95/98, 2000, XP; Experience in
the use of text-based operating systems and command prompts. Trouble shooting client side software related System Errors. Reviewing Event Logs.

• Server Systems – Server 2000 Professional, SAN Servers; File server management and user profile management. Verifying Event

•Microsoft Office 2000/XP/2003 –Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations.

•Networking – Small network set-up and installation of appropriate software; Installation and configuration of Network Interface Cards; Basic Cisco router maintenance.

•Network Security – Maintaining simple firewalls; configuring CISCO routers; running packet capturing software such as Ethereal.

•PC Upgrade & Maintenance – Assembly/Disassembly/Reassembly of PCs using various tools and procedures. Design and implement techniques that best fit the needs of the Network and Local User.

•Electronic Ticketing System – Currently hold experience in using Remedy and TrackIT electronic ticketing system
________________________________________
HOME LAB

Endian Community Edition Firewall
• Application Level Proxies on Multiple Protocols with Antivirus Protection
• Intrusion Detection
• Content Filtering of Web Traffic

2 x Cisco 2503 Routers
• DHCP
• Static Routes
• Following SYBEX CCNA Labs

1 x Cisco Catalyst 1912 Switch

________________________________________
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

08/2006 – Present ZZZ Yorktown, VA
Computer Operator, Sr. for ####### Contract
• Applying trouble-shooting assistance via phone and email for employees using the ####### program
• Monitor and run batch job operations via SSH Secure Shell Client
• Review batch run logs
• Performing UNIX commands via SSH Secure Shell Client
• Analyzing Oracle Database Instance performance calls
• Monitoring load balances between instances
• Troubleshooting LDAP and Web Server performance calls

11/2005 – 08/2006 YYY Norfolk, VA
Tier 1 Helpdesk Agent/DPS for #### Contract
• Applying trouble-shooting assistance via phone to customers on NMCI network
• Assist in troubleshooting issues with hardware and software components to minimize down time for customer
• Assisting with network connectivity, hardware, and software related issues
• Troubleshooting remotely with tools such as Tivoli and Netmeeting
• Adhering to the Help Desk Efficiency metrics for Average Call Handle time
• Taking proper documentation and procedure during customer interaction for proper assistance
• Received File Server Management (Tier 2) rights
• Received Blackberry Enterprise Server Management rights
• Currently on DPS team
• Working close with supervisor and Remedy admin to improve production for DPS team and “four hour” dispatches


10/2004 – 11/2005 XX Newport News, VA
PC/Hardware Product Specialist
• Helping customers make the right choice for their computer/networking needs
• Assist in troubleshooting issues with hardware and software components
• Perform installations on memory and printer software

Please review my resume and provide any feedback you have. I have about 10 local SysAd/NetAd jobs I would like to send my resume in for. Thanks in advance!
 
JM,

I have a bit of a favor to ask you. I submitted for a job in my area, and the hiring manager e-mailed me back saying I made the first of two cuts to get the job. He said that if im still interested email him a short narritive on why i feel im qualified and whats my salary range. Im wondering if you wouldnt mind reading over what I wrote and letting me know if it sounds good. Also I know that salary for this job is gonna be higher than what I currently make, but is it wise to try to request a higher salary, now or to stick with what I'm comfortable with. I don't want to not get the job because I'm requesting too much. Here's my reply:

Mr. Derge,
Thank you for e-mailing me back about this position, as I'm very interested in it. The rate at which I was promoted into my current position is the reason I feel I am the best candidate for this role. I went from being a college intern doing helpdesk, to being the first intern in the departments history to receive a fulltime position, to now administering the Active Directory infrastructure for the city (among other things) all while attending UC fulltime. I have extensive knowledge in a lot of the technologies which you mentioned and I'm an extremely fast learner. I can be utilized in many different scenarios from dealing with end-users, working with different vendors, to resolving network and server related problems quickly. I understand that IT's role in a business is to make the company more competitive in order to increase the bottom line, and I'm able to effectively do that using various technologies. I'm always trying to expand my knowledge through certifications to make sure I'm always knowledgeable on technological advancements. Lastly my passion for the IT field is my greatest qualification. I chose this profession because of my love for it, and I'm excited to know that everyday I can go to work doing something I love.

I currently make $21.68/hr, which is approximately $45,000 per year.
I eagerly look forward to hearing from you in the near future regarding this position. You can call me anytime on my cell phone, 513-555-555, or send me an e-mail.

Thank you again for considering me for this position.
Sincerely,
Mr. Henderson
Click to expand...
 
Coke head....i mean can here's my advice:

1st off if you haven't go through the thread and read the advice that's been posted here. for whatever reason people keep skipping that step, but its the quickest way to get answers.

- lose the objective. the hr dept already ur objective, thats why ur applying. instead right a short blurb about yourself and ur abilities. don't go into specifics, the rest of ur resume will show that. in ur experience, u wrote that u setup a small network.

- never give info on what type of environment you have exp in, unless it'll be used to your advantage. since ur going for a sys/network admin job more thant likely you'd be dealing with larger environments. just said you worked on networks of various sizes or something to that effect. also dont mention you any type of basic exp. they could have been assuming you had intermediate to expert level and you just shot urself in the foot (ruining ur chances for a callback)

- under work experience you list working with ldap. what type of directory service was it? active directory, e-directory/nds, openldap, sun, ibm, etc? most hr departments probably wouldn't know what ldap was, but if they see active dir, e-dir, etc it'd better ur chances.

- for your exp, try to be as specific as possible to any projects youve been involved in. it'll show that youve been progressively increased ur responsibilities while uve been employed

hope this helps
 
ne0-reloaded said:
JM,
I have a bit of a favor to ask you...
Click to expand...

There are several gramatical errors in the letter to begin with:

"I went from being a college intern doing helpdesk, to being the first intern in the departments history to receive a fulltime position"

would probably sound better as
"I went from being a college intern [working at the] helpdesk, to being the first intern in the [department's] history to receive a fulltime position,"

You mention "extensive knowledge" and "extremely fast learner" in there in places where I'd get rid of the "ex- words". They're completely subjective. Try and convey the depth of your knowledge in measureable / demonstratable ways without getting too detailed. Also, make sure you know if the person you're sending this letter to is technical or not. I'd word your letter quite differently in either case. The average HR person will not know what Active Directory is and would be better suited to things like "high-level corporate networking administration" or something like that over specifics that they will not understand. Other than that, I think your letter clearly shows that you are a fast learner that advances quickly while still going to college (amazing feat BTW) -and that you like the work you do. All good points to bring up.

Now about the salary range requirement, I'm afraid you're going to have to make a judgement call on that yourself. My opinion is to never disclose what you're being paid now or just how low you're willing to work there for. Every time I've ever thrown out a figure of what my minimum salary requirement is, I would up working for that amount. So I actually refuse to divulge that information any more. They need to tell you what they're willing to pay for you and you decide if that's good or not -not the other way around. Some might not want to take a risk by making a move like that but that's what I feel is the best move to make. Still, it's up to you.

Good luck and congrats on the proress!
 
ne0-reloaded said:
Coke head....i mean can here's my advice:

1st off if you haven't go through the thread and read the advice that's been posted here. for whatever reason people keep skipping that step, but its the quickest way to get answers.

- lose the objective. the hr dept already ur objective, thats why ur applying. instead right a short blurb about yourself and ur abilities. don't go into specifics, the rest of ur resume will show that. in ur experience, u wrote that u setup a small network.

- never give info on what type of environment you have exp in, unless it'll be used to your advantage. since ur going for a sys/network admin job more thant likely you'd be dealing with larger environments. just said you worked on networks of various sizes or something to that effect. also dont mention you any type of basic exp. they could have been assuming you had intermediate to expert level and you just shot urself in the foot (ruining ur chances for a callback)

- under work experience you list working with ldap. what type of directory service was it? active directory, e-directory/nds, openldap, sun, ibm, etc? most hr departments probably wouldn't know what ldap was, but if they see active dir, e-dir, etc it'd better ur chances.

- for your exp, try to be as specific as possible to any projects youve been involved in. it'll show that youve been progressively increased ur responsibilities while uve been employed

hope this helps
Click to expand...

Thanks so much
 
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