Help with Resume

ThePrimetimer

Hey Guys,
Need some help. I recently put up a new resume all over the internet and haven't had a single hit, so I am starting to think that the resume stinks. However, after reading over it, I can't see what might not be working. Any help would be appreciated. This comes after I didn't get a job for a Network Engineer position (it was long shot, but I took it).


contact info

OBJECTIVE
To acquire employment allowing myself to apply the skills obtained during my past employment and college education, as well as continuing to advance those skills.


EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science in Computer Systems Technology
September 2006 – May 2008

Studies focused on Windows Server 2003 and Cisco Networking. Windows Server 2003 courses developed skills to designing and implementing a Windows enviroment along with enforcing security and configuring Active Directory. Cisco courses provided knowledge from beginner to professional in the Networking field by introduing network concepts up to creating networks that exhibited LAN/WAN communications dealing with protocols such as BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP.

Associate of Arts and Associate of Science September 2004 – May 2006

Received my degrees after completing General Education classes.

EXPERIENCE

IT General System Admin
August 2008 – Present
company

Acts as an escalated level of support in relation to banking software. Maintains functionality of banking applications, such as wire transfer and loan origination, in the form of solving program errors and streamlining program processes. Errors are solved by referencing past documention and building on that information along with collaborating with the software vendor. Plans and performs application upgrades, which may be due to vendor reccomendation or Federal requirements, such as new protocols on how to submit wire information.

Merchandiser
June 2006 – August 2008
company

Performed store stocking of Coca Cola Products along with placing and building displays of product.


Skills

Windows Server 2003

Windows XP

Cisco

Certifications

CompTIA Net+

ThePrimetimer

Any suggestions guys??????
I am starting to assume that this resume is perfect if nobody can find any flaws in it.
Would appreciate any honest criticism.
Thanks

mikedisd2

Remove the objective. If you really want to keep it, reword it to something that has value for an employer. Currently it's just about your motives.

Studies focused on Windows Server 2003 and Cisco Networking. Windows Server 2003 courses developed skills to designing and implementing a Windows enviroment along with enforcing security and configuring Active Directory. Cisco courses provided knowledge from beginner to professional in the Networking field by introduing network concepts up to creating networks that exhibited LAN/WAN communications dealing with protocols such as BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP.

This part would be better reworded and in the Skills section. In your Skills you just have a couple of vendor/brand names. Instead of just "Cisco", try something like "Comprehensive knowledge of networking protocols such as BGP, OSPF and EIGRP." and "Thorough experience of Cisco router and switches." (if you have that).

In the experience area, list out your accomplishments instead of a paragraph. Currently it says nothing about your experiences. What products have you used? What versions? Employees want to know, coz if you've done it before you can do it again for them. Mention the programs and apps that you worked with. Also VPN, terminal services, virtualisation? Stick to technology related items.

Put certs at the top and list them in full.

Make sure the format is professional and eye catching.

Hope this is of some help.

mikej412

ThePrimetimer wrote: »

OBJECTIVE
To acquire employment allowing myself to apply the skills obtained during my past employment and college education, as well as continuing to advance those skills.

Your Objective makes no sense unless the person reading already knows your skills, past employment & education.

I stopped reading the original post there when you first made it -- sort of like how someone reading though a stack of resumes may have done.

I only got past the Objective this time because it looked familiar and I went back and saw the original post date.

ThePrimetimer wrote: »

I am starting to assume that this resume is perfect if nobody can find any flaws in it.

Bad assumption.

It looks like your filling out your resume with education details because you've had only 1 IT job -- which isn't a bad thing....

I'd move the Employment History up since you're not a new grad looking for their first job.

Come up with a better "generic" Objective -- which you'll modify for each and every specific job your apply for -- or go with a Summary of Skills section (which some of the people here prefer over an Objective).

sundaysuit

Why do you have two AS degrees listed?

SrSysAdmin

You have way too much listed under education...you don't need to write an entire paragraph explaining what courses you took for a 2-year degree.


Personally I have something along the lines of this:

B.S. in Business Management, West Virginia University May '07
Morgantown, WV 26506

That's it...the formatting is prettier and what not, but that's basically all I have listed for my education. Ofcourse I also list my certifications in this section, but I just don't see the need to include so much under the education section.

You received your associates in xxx from yyy university in zzz (date). Done.

ThePrimetimer

Thanks alot Guys!! This is what I was looking for. I will take your advice and revise this and post it up again with the changes. Thanks again!

thehourman

I need to redo my resume as well.
Where do you post your resume?

I posted mine on careerbuilders and dice.
I got a bunch of calls from insurance company and they said I was qualified to get the job. However, I am looking for an IT position.

earweed

Just posting it on dice.com or careerbuilders.com probably wont do you a lot of good. Try searching the jobs and applying for them. My resume posted on Dice.com hasn't even been viewed, so that means zero opportunity. I've applied for dozens of jobs in that time though.

thehourman

I also applied to all the IT position that I think I am qualified, but so far I have received 1 call which it required a security clearance. I am not a citizen yet, so the employer said once I get my citizenship, I should give him a call right away. Heck, it will take 3-5 months for me to get it. Btw, I am working on it; also, I am still looking for some IT position.

BradleyHU

earweed wrote: »

Just posting it on dice.com or careerbuilders.com probably wont do you a lot of good. Try searching the jobs and applying for them. My resume posted on Dice.com hasn't even been viewed, so that means zero opportunity. I've applied for dozens of jobs in that time though.

man, careerbuilder is THEE worst. indeed & monster are the 2 best ones, dice is decent but they have alot of recruiters/agency postings on there. my method of choice tho is to go directly to company sites...

RouteThisWay

BradleyHU wrote: »

indeed & monster are the 2 best ones

Indeed is not a job board. It is a search aggregator that searches multiple job boards and employment websites. Including Careerbuilder. They don't actually have their own job postings / resume listings. You can't post your resume there.

BradleyHU

RouteThisWay wrote: »

Indeed is not a job board. It is a search aggregator that searches multiple job boards and employment websites. Including Careerbuilder. They don't actually have their own job postings / resume listings.

i know that, i meant in terms for searchin for a job...i should have specified....i dont rely on posting my resume on a job board to get calls anyway....and usually 98% of the calls/emails i'll get from my resume being posted on a job board are from a recruiter for a temp/contract position.

thehourman

Ok which website do you post your resume?

BradleyHU

thehourman wrote: »

Ok which website do you post your resume?

i dont post my resume to get call backs, i refuse to wait on companies to get at me, instead i get at them....i only post it on job sites in case i have to use their "apply to job" function...

but as far as searching for jobs, my main job search sites of choice are monster, craigslist & indeed. But i have a whole bookmark folder full of company sites...

fly351

BradleyHU wrote: »

my method of choice tho is to go directly to company sites...

Agreed, and you have to be fast about it. Check it twice a day, some companies get so many responses they take the job down 2 hours after its posted.

thehourman

I just received a call, and she seemed to be interviewing me already through the phone. She asked me a bunch of stuff. Also, she said that she would email me about all available position that I'm qualified for, so hopefully, I'll get an IT job.

EDIT:
Answer this just like there is someone saying it to you.
How are you going to answer this question: "Why are you looking for an IT position/job?"