Anyone mind critiquing this for me?

theamishllama

Well to give you a understand of who I am what is going on for me here is a little background info. I have been using this site for ages now. Before I started school back in 2007 to be exact. I don't really post anything, but I do read a lot of information on this site. I find this site to be more than a helping hand. The situation I am in right now is that well I currently run my own consultant business. It has gone great for me while I was in school and paid the bills, but I am ready for the next step. I am getting married in January and well my fiancee and I are the ones paying for the wedding. So time to step it up and try to make some extra cash. Plus I want to get away from the basics and get into the entry level management or help desk running tickets. What I was wondering if any of you would not mind critiquing my resume for me. I've posted it on a google doc at the following link.

Resume - Google Docs

Note: There is a space in the document towards the bottom because that is a page break.

Any help is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Josh

WillTech105

I'd put a lot of the "Highlights of Qualifications" and somehow tie them into your work history. Employers don't really care what you list under "skills" -- they rather you see how you actually use them while on the job.

And I'd make the software area little more organized as it gives off the impression of a giant list with no order.

Hope it helps.

Essendon

With the amount of experience you have, your resume should not exceed a page. I would omit the "Profile Highlights" section or shorten it, to maybe 3 bullet points. Or perhaps something on the lines of "Skilled MCSA with expertise in Systems Administration offering consistent record of problem resolution activities" would be better.

I havent expanded out MCSA in the list of certifications on my resume. I just have:

MCSA:M
MCSA
MCTS
MCP
ITIL...

I'd recommend the above format for the certifications list, but then people have their own opinions.

In your work history section, I dont know why you have separated skills and what you actually did. If I were an interviewer, I wouldnt care what skills you have listed. Like WillTech105 suggested, your skills should show in the job you did. Somehow re-arrange the bottom two sections into 5-6 bullet points and it's look better and more readable.

I'd also say that you delete the References bit. If a prospective employer wants your references, they'll ask for it.

It's not a bad resume, you have some decent experience, tweak it a bit and you should be good to go.

theamishllama

alright I will go and adjust those items you guys talked about. Thanks for the advice and sorry for not responding sooner had some people from out of town at the house if you know how that goes. Busy, busy heh.

tpatt100

Yeah I would break up the bottom part since it just goes on and on. I have mine broken up into three columns, pretty much the only reason I did that was for keyword hits on job boards.

RobertKaucher

I agree with the other posters about not listing the tests individually. But I would also include some concrete example of how you have accomplished the things lited in your resume. Saying you have the ability to work in a team is not the same as demonstrating it.