Resume Critique

OBJECTIVE
COMPUTER TECHNICIAN
A highly motivated and experienced computer operator with extensive problem solving and analytical skills, seeking a position as a Computer/Network Technician where these skills and knowledge will add similar or greater value.

PROFILE
•Cisco Certified Network Associate (Obtained 10/2007).
•Familiarization with Cisco 804, 2500, 2600, 2800 Series Routers as well as Cisco 2900, 3500 Catalyst Series Switches.
•Experience with MS Windows XP/2000/NT/9X/Vista operating systems as well as Apple OS-X.
•Extensive knowledge with MS Office 2003/XP/2000/97.
•Knowledge of PC setup, installation, and troubleshooting.
•TCP/IP Ethernet Networking and Wireless Networking.
•Knowledge of LAN/WAN administration, installation and configuration.

EMPLOYMENT
Arrow Reprographics, 2007-2008
Graphic Design / Computer Technician
•Provided customized graphic design and/or typesetting for customer products and businesses.
•Maintained the availability of computer resources including desktops, laptops, printers and copiers.
•Designed and implemented an accounting information system.

M&A Technology, 2003-2004
Computer Technician
•Installation of computers and networks for local DISD schools.
•Imaged and prepared PC’s and laptops for distribution.
•Assembly of computer hardware including motherboards and hard drives.

EDUCATION
DeVry University, Irving, TX 2008-Present
Major: Bachelor of Science in Technical Management
Focus courses in Network Communications & Management.

University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 2003-2007
Major: Bachelor of Science in Accounting Information Management
Major GPA of 3.20/4.00.

Let me know what you guys think and if I need to do any improvements on it. I am very open to constructive criticism! Also, do any of you use cover letters? I haven't created one yet, but do you feel it is important to have?

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Comments

Goldmember

Get rid of the Objective heading...

I've had a few employers suggest that to me years back and I got rid of it.

Instead include a cover letter with each resume which covers the objective tailored towards the position you are applying for.

People pay money for that advice...:)

techED

First: you do not have much experience therefore I would suggest elaborate on the work done and not use bullet points.

You have experience and qualification for both networking and server administration. I would do 2 resume 1 for network and 1 for admin. And then use each according to the job requirement.

Expand on what knownledge you have, PC setup network. What about networking you know, setup BGP routers...what. And same for PC setup.

Pash

Right here go's:-

1. Get rid of objective.

2. profile should be where you do a VERY short BUT sweet reminder of the type of person you are with brief achievements related to the position you are applying for. That is correct, this section is modifiable.

3. Get rid of the technical skills from the profile, put them under a title Technical skills. The router models and switch models is perfect, keep them.

4. Education & Certifications should be the title. Put your certs there. If you have multiple vendor cert's put them under the vendor titles for example.

5. order should be like:

Your details (very very very impotant and keep it brief, use the full width of the page):-

Name.
DOB.
contact details
Current Living Location
Current Salary
Current job title
Availability
Married, kids, etc etc

Profile:-

Keep it bullet pointed short and brief

Education and Certifications:-

As mentioned above put certs under vendor titles here, your degree information is good. Remember dates for all, your potential employer will want to know about your time.

Technical Skills:-

Let them know what you can do. Two titles Hardware & Software. DO include IOS versions, ScreenOS versions, Operating Systems, Applications and all hardware types. They can and probably will word search your CV for what you can do.

Employment History:-

Put everything you have ever done that is relative to the position you are applying for. This is crucial. Do not be brief here if you have limited experience, drag out everything but dont be repetitive.

Now, references....this is the golden nugget. No No NO you do not have to put references on your CV. You can put the simple line under each employment record "References available on request.". This stops any issues with potential employers ringing your current place of work (or even old place of work, ive heared stories) to ask about you and putting you in a pile of ****. This is perfectly acceptable and if they want the references they will ask for them.

Covering Letters are good but again keep it short and sweet and make sure you say why you are interested in the job. Covering letters are never generic, always individual to the job you are applying for.

Cheers,

empc4000xl

I'm gonna have to disagree with getting rid of the objective. I have been through several job hunting classes in the past few months and a few job fairs in the past few weeks. Having a objective in your resume is important. You are communicating to people what you want. I do agree with getting rid of the profile part of your resume. Add those to your job where it will fit.

brad-

I also disagree with removing the objective. Just make sure you change it to be tailored to the position you are applying for, if you decide to leave it in.

bighornsheep

Pash wrote:

Name.
DOB.
contact details
Current Living Location
Current Salary
Current job title
Availability
Married, kids, etc etc

In North America, some of those things can not legally be asked in a job application unless the offer is made.

Salazar99, I think you need to focus your skills a little bit more...
you seem to have quite a bit of PC hardware skills, you should expand the details and responsbilities of those jobs. Talk about some of the tools you used during your job, Ghost, RIS, sysprep, photoshop...

Recognize your strengths and your weaknesses, your biggest asset is your degree and strong GPA, I would talk more about that. CCNA and PC hardware skills is definitely up there, if PC Tech is what you're aimming for, perhaps pickup the A+ cert. to really sum things up for yourself.

networker050184

empc4000xl wrote:

I'm gonna have to disagree with getting rid of the objective. I have been through several job hunting classes in the past few months and a few job fairs in the past few weeks. Having a objective in your resume is important. You are communicating to people what you want. I do agree with getting rid of the profile part of your resume. Add those to your job where it will fit.

Your objective is to get a job. I'm sure they know that already if they are reading your resume. You can church it up anyway you want "looking to utilize my skills as PC Tech to fix all your computers..." but I'd rather leave out the BS and get to the point. The point should be your experience and education/certification. You should also include a cover letter with the position you are applying for and a brief introduction of yourself and skills. I have never used an objective and have always been told not to use one by professionals. There is not set standard for a resume though so you can put anything you want.

Daniel333

Salazar99 wrote:

OBJECTIVE
•Cisco Certified Network Associate (Obtained 10/2007).
•Familiarization with Cisco 804, 2500, 2600, 2800 Series Routers as well as Cisco 2900, 3500 Catalyst Series Switches.
•Experience with MS Windows XP/2000/NT/9X/Vista operating systems as well as Apple OS-X.
•Extensive knowledge with MS Office 2003/XP/2000/97.
•Knowledge of PC setup, installation, and troubleshooting.
•TCP/IP Ethernet Networking and Wireless Networking.
•Knowledge of LAN/WAN administration, installation and configuration.

Here is just some stuff that jumped out at me, our HR lady had me remove almost identical things from my resume.

I would drop the obtained date from your CCNA, as long as it's valid they are not going to care, and secondly it dates you. Also, type in "CCNA" somewhere in your resume. HR department do text searches of resumes now days, you want the keyword "CCNA" to come up, as of now it would skip your resume.

Saying you are familiar with Cisco Switches and Routers is enough, no real need to explain models unless it's a specialty model like in the case of VOIP ones.

Drop windows 9x from your list of operating systems. Also Office 97 can go too. if they need legacy support, they'll ask for it in the job posting in which case add it back in for only that job.

Salazar99

First and foremost, thank you all for your comments and critiques! I found a lot of them VERY useful and I have spent the last couple hours implementing many of your suggestions. As far as the Objective is concerned, I kind of did the latter. I put up a Qualifications Summary section instead which advertised my strongpoints.

Without further adeu, here is an updated resume that I have created. I realize that there is still some work to be done on the employent/experience section, and it is still a work in progress. Also keep in mind it is formatted much neater in word form

Name
Address
Contact Info

Network Administrator • Computer Technician

A highly motivated and accomplished IT professional with demonstrated success implementing and administering IT initiatives that help improve business functionality. Technology savvy self starter, able to adapt to fast paced environments demanding strong organizational, multi-tasking, and technical skills. Detail oriented, resourceful, and capable of communicating effectively to collaborate with diverse groups.

Qualifications Summary
-Over 4 years of personal experience with all aspects of computer troubleshooting.
-Deep understanding of technology with a recent focus in network communications.
-Responsible and flexible with the ability to multi-task and utilize resources efficiently.
-Loyal and trustworthy with a strong set of values in honesty, integrity, and ethics.

Technical Expertise
Certifications: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Operating Systems: Windows 9X & ME, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Vista, Mac/OS
Hardware: Cisco 804/2500/2600/2800 Series Routers, Cisco 2900/3500 Catalyst Series Switches, Hubs, Linksys Routers, Laptops & Workstations (HP, Dell, Compaq, Apple, Sony), Raid, SCSI, Modems, Network Cards, Memory, Printers, Copiers, Scanners, and other peripherals.
Software: Cisco IOS, Norton Ghost, Active Directory, Adobe Photoshop CS3, AVG, Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook), Acrobat, QuickBooks, Explorer, Firefox
Network/Protocols: LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, NETBEUI, WINS, DNS, DHCP, POP3, SMTP, FTP, TELNET, VPN, ICMP, RIP, NAT, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, Ethernet

Experience
Arrow Reprographics, Dallas, TX 06/2007 to 01/2008
Graphic Design/Computer Technician
IT Administrator for a small business providing basic copying and printing services as well as customized printing. Held responsibilities to configure, install, and administer a network infrastructure system that supported 5 workstations. Configured and monitored printers utilizing Windows XP in addition to upgrading printer firmware and handling installation of other peripherals. Other responsibilities included customer service, customer relations, and accounting (expenses, invoices).
• Provided customized graphic design and/or typesetting for customer products and businesses with the utilization of Adobe Photoshop.
• Maintained the availability of computer resources including desktops, laptops, printers and copiers.
• Designed and implemented an accounting information system using QuickBooks.

Erwin Salazar
Page 2

M&A Technology, Carrollton, TX 05/2003 to 02/2004
Computer Technician
Performed as both a remote and on-site technical specialist assisting in the allocation of workstations specifically for schools in the Dallas Independent School District.
• Installation of computers and peripherals on-site for local DISD schools.
• Imaged and prepared workstations and laptops for distribution.
• Assembly of computer hardware including motherboards and hard drives.

Education
DeVry University, Irving, TX 2008 to Present
Major: Bachelor of Science in Technical Management
Focus courses in Network Communications & Management

University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 2003 to 2007
Major: Bachelor of Science in Accounting Information Management
Major GPA of 3.20/4.00

References
Available upon request.

Let me know what you guys think! Thanks again everyone!