Resume Advice Requested

[Pedersen]

Okay, time to ask for the collective mind of cs.com to help me improve my resume. I've seen before and after for others, and I've liked the improvements quite a bit. Before I do, though, allow me to state this: My full resume is huge. I intend to use the full resume as a base template which I then customize when I send it to a job.

Oh, and yes, I do IT for a living. Try not to hate me too much for it, please? :)

The full resume (all four pages of it) is visible at http://web.icelus.tzo.com/pedersen-full.pdf

[matty]

Hi Pedersen! I've taken a look at your resume, and I'm impressed! I just have a few points, but I do have to warn you that I don't really have IT or programming knowledge. So, if I'm on the wrong track here, then sorry. :o

Point One

I would definitely emphasize the points that give information on how your accomplishments improved the business - the bottom line results. For instance:

**** Resolved issues with corrupted builds occurring weekly, resulting in savings of over 1000 work hours every week. ****

is the sort of thing that you want to take up most of your resume, in preference to, say,

**** Frequently wrote one-off scripts for use throughout the company, according to needs. ****

Although, looking at your resume again, it seems you've pretty much got that sorted anyway. It's simply that I found it helpful when writing my own resume, at the end of each sentence/point/whatever, to think to myself, "So what?" i.e. how would that knowledge/experience that I have listed benefit the employer?

Point Two

I'm a bit confused by the skills and experience table on page two. I myself wouldn't put what appears as more or less a "data-sheet" in a self-marketing, focussed resume, but if this format is often used in the IT field, then obviously go ahead and use it.

Point Three

This one is just a small proofreading thing from the following:

**** Tyler stores data in a set of proprietary ISAM-like. These files do not have a modern access tool available (such as Crystal Reports) to perform reporting. ****


The first sentence seems to be missing a word. Did you mean to say "Tyler stores data in a set of proprietary ISAM-like files"? Or have I misunderstood?

I'm not sure if my comments will be much help. Like I say, I'm not familiar with IT, and your resume already seems very impressive. All the best! :D

[Pedersen]

Hi Pedersen! I've taken a look at your resume, and I'm impressed! I just have a few points, but I do have to warn you that I don't really have IT or programming knowledge. So, if I'm on the wrong track here, then sorry. :o

I appreciate the effort to check it out. You did give me some good stuff. Even if nothing else, you made me stop and think a bit to make sure I was doing my resume the way I wanted to. Thank you.


Point One


This is one of those areas where I've always been weak. Still, you've given me something to look at and try to improve. I'll see what I can do with it.


Point Two


Well, the problem with IT is the width of the field. Saying "I'm in IT" is loosely equivalent to saying "I'm a cook." (bad analogy? Probably. Running with it anyway :)

What kind of cook? Short order cook? Home maker? Gourmet Chef? What type of cuisine (Chinese, American, Thai, etc)? Any special dishes?

A major difference, though, is that a cook might be able to list his skills as part of what he did at a job. With IT, there's too much. I have to leave a *lot* out of my resume in order to keep it that short (yes, 4 pages is short). I need a way to showcase the width of my skill set that doesn't show up in a listing of job duties/accomplishments.

Lots of IT people are doing it. I think this format, though, really shines. Well, I hope so anyway. I'm reaching a breaking point where I am, and am likely to walk out early next week (job or no job).

Point Three

Doh! I cannot believe I did that! The number of times I've read this, and had other people read it, is astounding, and you're the first person to catch it.

Thank you!


I'm not sure if my comments will be much help. Like I say, I'm not familiar with IT, and your resume already seems very impressive. All the best! :D

Thank you. Here's hoping it's impressive enough.

[Coconut]

I know this thread is kind of old but I just wanted to say that resume is definitely impressive!

[Mighty Girl]

First let me say, I didn't read the whole thing. I'm no techie by any means, and after a certain amount of tech speak my brain turns to mush.

However, I used to screen applicants at a couple of my past jobs and I'll impart some wisdom from that.

-If there were any typos or mis-spelled words, it went right in the trash.

-If there was no cover letter- again, in the trash. And not some generic letter will do- do a little research on the company you'll applying at so you can throw out a few things showing you know a bit about the company.

-You didn't do this, but I'm stating it anyway. Never EVER put hobbies or personal stuff on the resume. While it's very noble to build houses for the poor, it doesn't pertain to this position so I don't give a crap. Nor do I care if you like to play darts or go bowling.

-Use decent stock paper and type the info. on the envelope. You'd be surprised how many people spend all this time working on their resume, then scribble the name and address on the envelope and slap the stamp on crooked.

-Do not EVER use any color in you font other than black. And no freakin italics.

-Do not list references- simply state that they're available upon request. And for pity's sake, don't list your Aunt Millie or your best friend from junior high. One idiot listed her freakin grandmother who proceeded to ramble on forever about how Susie used to suck her thumb and has problems making friends. (Which was actually good to know- for me- can't make friends with people? Don't show up here!)

-While we all know that people sometimes exaggerate, if you sound to good to be true, rest assured I'll call every place you listed to verify you worked there, etc.



That's all I've got.