How to list certification on a resume

So I know there are about 1000 different opinions on this but I wanted to get some recent feedback on how you should list out your certifications on a IT resume. Should you list only the highest level achieved or should you list out ancillary and lower level certifications as well? I know it can look messy but I feel like I've earned them so why not list them. Should you spell them out or just use acronyms that an HR department might not understand? Also the inevitable debate of should they be at the end or on the front page of the resume? I would be really interested in hearing out what any of you IT hiring managers prefer.
Currently on my recent draft I have the following (looks jumbled here but its tabbed out and spaced nicely on mine)
Certifications:
Microsoft:
• MCSE:M Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Messaging
• MCSE Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
• MCSA:M Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Messaging
• MCSA Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
• MCPT Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
• MCP Microsoft Certified Professional
Cisco:
• CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate
• CCENT Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician
Currently on my recent draft I have the following (looks jumbled here but its tabbed out and spaced nicely on mine)
Certifications:
Microsoft:
• MCSE:M Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Messaging
• MCSE Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
• MCSA:M Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Messaging
• MCSA Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
• MCPT Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
• MCP Microsoft Certified Professional
Cisco:
• CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate
• CCENT Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician
Comments
My other suggestion, which is a matter of personal taste, is to take off the ":" after the vendor.
Currently working towards MCITP: Enterprise Admin
Current Title: Network Administrator
Actual Job Functions: Network / Server / System Administrator, Tier-3 Help Desk, Jr. Project Manager, and "The Closer"
I could see a case where you list MCSA and MCSE. I agree that all the courses for MCSA are included in MCSE but one is described as Administrator and one as Engineer which might catch someones eye in HR.
However, the MCP is a little redundant if you already have an MCSA and MCSE. Also, if you have a MCSE/MCSA in messaging there is no reason to put it twice. I would delete the entries that do not include the "Messaging" part.
Also, I am not too familiar with Cisco certs but isn't the CCENT an entry cert you get before CCNA? Like an MCP is to MCSA/MCSE? If so same thing on the CCENT, remove it.
My $0.02, good luck on your job searching!
Microsoft:
• MCSE:M Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Messaging - Windows Server 2003 ???
• MCTS Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: ????????????? In What? Vista? SQL Server???
Cisco:
• CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate
I would use the highest certification attained per technology if there were others that had to be obtained along the way. You might also use the exact name of the certification as the vendor lists it.
Just a thought.
I completely agree. While it may seam redundant to us who know IT certs, a scanner or human resource person doesn't know the difference with MCP's, MCSA, MCSE, ect... They might require an MCSA and if it's not on your resume, it may get automatically thrown out. You need to beat the computerized system
So my suggestion is to list all certs and spell them out, no matter how redundant you might think it is.
Since I've gotten into information security I've been able to whittle down my resume to two pages. I've beefed up my current information security experience and lessened my technical support background. This is, of course after padding my technical support background, because I would have recruiters call me and ask me if I had any technical support experience... uuuhhhhh... they would have bothered noticing that just by my previous job titles...
Anyway, spell out the certifications as well as giving the initials has also helped. Also spell out any industry specific terms. I lost a job opportunity at Oracle because I put OEM, as in original equipment manufacturer. The guy probably thought I was a jerk because he was asking about OEM, Oracle Executive Manager, and all I could talk about was Dell and Gateway. Turns out I became a thing of legends at Oracle, because years after the interview a friend of mine who worked there relayed the OEM story back to me and asked "THAT WAS YOU!?!".
Good luck.
“We build our computer (systems) the way we build our cities: over time, without a plan, on top of ruins” - Ellen Ullman