resume critique request for networking positions

Hi, I'm going to be focusing my search towards networking-focused roles, preferably at larger companies or cisco partners that service medium to large companies. My last company wasn't large, so i'm trying to focus on the big things I accomplished rather than the fact that there weren't dozens or hundreds of routers and switches under management in a complex topology. I'm currently working on my CCVP and will put that in my cover letter.

This is my first draft:

Name
Address
Home #:
Cell #:

Summary

An industrious IT professional with strong networking knowledge and a broad background, with a high capacity to learn quickly, a commitment to ongoing skills development, and a proven ability to implement new solutions and maintain focus under pressure.

Work Experience

Company1, City, State 6/2005 - 1/2010
IT Director (6/2007 – 1/2010)
• Responsible for all aspects of systems/network operation including planning, implementation, monitoring, incident response, and disaster recovery in a mixed Windows/Linux environment.
• Deployed monitoring solutions to enable rapid identification and fast resolution of network, server, and call quality problems. Reduced downtime by 75%.
• Responsible for troubleshooting escalated VOIP, network, and server problems.
• Redesigned network and deployed, configured, and supported Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, and IPS. Also configured and supported site-to-site and remote access VPNs.
• Assessed security posture against PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and oversaw the implementation of required changes while keeping project cost low.
• Created a comprehensive Information Security policy that balanced compliance with PCI DSS and the need to minimize the impact on end-users. This included a training and educational component for users.
• Spearheaded migration from legacy PBX and auto-dialer system to an Asterisk based system that processed 10,000 calls per day.
• Performed server consolidation that eased management and improved uptime and scalability while minimizing upgrade costs through virtualization.
• Managed and mentored helpdesk staff and coordinated efforts with contractors and partners for select projects.
• Prepared budget and presented opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce cost and downtime directly to the president of the company.

Systems Administrator/Programmer (3/2005 – 6/2007)
• • Designed and programmed a database application that encapsulated the entirety of the company’s work processes from sales to customer service, resulting in significant increases in productivity company-wide. This reduced customer service call durations by 30% and overall operating costs by 5%, and provided management with the information needed to better evaluate employee performance and to facilitate fact-based decision-making.
• Supported Windows-based servers, including Exchange and SQL servers and Active Directory
• Implemented Active Directory group policies

Company2, City, State 5/2003-3/2005
Programmer/Jr. Systems Administrator
• Assembled, upgraded, and repaired desktops, servers, and printers.
• Handled first-line troubleshooting of user problems
• Programmed an application to import order tracking information from UPS into a heavily customized Visual Foxpro-based accounting package (SBT).
• Wrote application to help manage customer leads in SQL database

Certifications

• CCNP - Cisco Certified Network Professional
• CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate

Technical Skills

• Routers/Switches/Firewalls: Cisco ASA/PIX, Cisco routers & switches, Dell switches
• Operating Systems: Windows XP/Vista/7, Windows Server 2003, CentOS/Red Hat Linux, OpenSUSE Linux
• Software: Asterisk, VirtualIron, VMware, Datacore SANmelody, Nessus, Websense, Tripwire, Nagios, ManageEngine VQManager, Microsoft ISA Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL Server, Symantec Backup Exec, MS Office, Visio
• Programming Languages: Microsoft Visual Basic .NET, SQL, perl

Education

Blah University
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Classics, 2009

Thanks to Keenon for getting me started with his excellent thread. Hopefully with some critique I can fine-tune it.

Thanks again guys.

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Comments

mikej412

ciscog33k wrote: »

Certifications

• CCNA, CCNP

While your target employers may know what the CCNA and CCNP are, it's still a good idea to spell them out completely and include the abbreviations.

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

or

CCNP - Cisco Certified Network Professional
CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate

docrice

I would capitalize "Windows" and "Linux" in your first bullet. I'm also a stickler for spelling it "Red Hat" and "VMware." On the other hand, under your Technical Skills section I would not capitalize "routers" and "switches" since they're not name labels. I'd also perhaps list some of the more prominent device models you've worked with.

I'm just one of those guys who looks at spelling carefully. It's like the company Check Point - everyone tends to spell them as "Checkpoint" or some other variation, even their employees...

ciscog33k

Ok, thanks. I made those changes. Do you think the content is good?

historian1974

I think listing the year you received your degree is irrelevant. What's important is that you have one.

ciscog33k

historian1974 wrote: »

I think listing the year you received your degree is irrelevant. What's important is that you have one.

I would actually prefer to leave the year off as well, as it raises questions i'd rather not come up. The only reason it's on there is because I've also read that if I don't put it on, some resume scanning systems will assume I didn't complete it and automatically discard my resume.

The fact is that i was undecided about a career in IT for quite some time. It wasn't really my first choice but I couldn't get passionate about anything else either and it paid the bills. GPA wasn't good, mainly because of early screw-ups in school. When I entered into the classics program, it was after I had made a firm decision to commit to an IT career. I should say that once I got more responsibility at work and was able to run my own projects, and even more when I started studying Cisco stuff, I really started to love the work.

From the point took over from my old boss, I worked 50-60 hrs/wk and also attended school full-time, so I have some good marks, some mediocre ones, and some bad ones. It often depended on what was going on at work at the time, because although my employer gave me flexibility to attend classes during the day (work was 1 subway stop from school) as long as I kept contact for emergencies, it had to take precedence if i wanted to keep my job. Naturally that caused conflicts and grades took the hit. I actually failed classes because I had to get my ass back to the office during an exam.

The other side of things is that if I leave it off, people might wonder why i don't have more certifications?

I'd be curious what others think. Is it better to leave it on or off given what i've told you?

ColbyG

mikej412 wrote: »

While your target employers may know what the CCNA and CCNP are, it's still a good idea to spell them out completely and include the abbreviations

CCNP - Cisco Certified Network Professional
CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate

That's how I list it.

historian1974

ciscog33k wrote: »

I've also read that if I don't put it on, some resume scanning systems will assume I didn't complete it and automatically discard my resume.

I've never heard that. That rediculous if it's true.

ciscog33k

I've modified my resume based on comments from another site. The concern was that an HR person might never get to some of the good stuff because of fluff. I also completely rewrote the Summary.

Summary

A proactive IT professional that has a proven ability to leverage technical know-how into real-world solutions that modify business processes to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and significantly improve service levels throughout the organization.

Work Experience

Go Payment Processing, Montreal, QC 3/2005 - 1/2010
IT Director (6/2007 – 1/2010)
• Deployed monitoring solutions to enable rapid identification and fast resolution of network, server, and call quality problems, reducing downtime by 75%.
• Spearheaded migration from legacy PBX and predictive dialer system to an Asterisk based system that processed 10,000 calls per day. This resulted in upfront savings of tens of thousands, eliminated annual licensing costs of $20,000/yr, and removed the need for external contractors to perform system changes.
• Assessed security posture against PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and oversaw the implementation of required changes while keeping project cost low.
• Performed server consolidation through virtualization that eased management and improved uptime and scalability while minimizing upgrade and ongoing maintenance costs.
• Prepared budget and presented opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce cost directly to the president of the company that resulted in a reduction of payroll expenses by 55% in the IT department, 25% in customer service, and 9% in sales.
• Managed and mentored helpdesk staff and coordinated efforts with contractors and partners for select projects.

Systems Administrator/Programmer (3/2005 – 6/2007)
• Designed and programmed a database application that encapsulated the entirety of the company’s work processes from account valuation, to sales and to customer service, resulting in significant increases in productivity company-wide. The project reduced customer service call durations by 35%, lost sales opportunities by 20%, and overall operating costs by 5%. It also provided management with the information needed to better evaluate employee performance and to facilitate fact-based decision-making.
• Supported Windows-based servers, including Exchange and SQL servers and Active Directory
• Implemented Active Directory group policies.