Yet another resume review... please!

imsisko

Hi All!

So I've been applying for all sorts of jobs in the last 2 months and I didn't get a single reply. I think my CV is not too bad, although I have no It experience I could put on. I "stole" the formatting ideas from this forum hope you guys don't mind...? Also I included only the first page here as the second page contains only my work history.
Any advice is highly appreciated!!!

Thank you!

ipconfig.all

Hello

It looks like you have some good certifications and a handy skill set have you done any non-IT jobs you should put it there.

imsisko

Thanks! I have all my work history on page 2 on my full CV I just excluded them from this example.
I'm really frustrated about not getting any replies, not even from volunteer or "no experience needed" job offers. Don't know where to go. I suppose the best thing I can do atm is just keep studying and labbing everything again and again so I don't forget it...

earweed

Your cv/resume looks good from the first page seen. You may need to get it out there more. Don't just post on the job boards look up companies in your area and go to their websites and/or send them resumes via snail mail.
Are all your skills coming from your home labbing experience? Don't forget that even for the "no exeprience required" jobs you're competing against people with experience.

texasit

Resume looks good but be careful with typos I noticed you misspelled organized.

it_consultant

You can spell organized with an 's', organised is more likely to be seen in the UK. Can we see your cover letter and your work history?

imsisko

earweed
Yes all my experience is from the lab. Last year when I started studying cisco I bought a starter kit from eBay, later a rack, an access server and a C3550. Best investment I had in years!!

texasit
I live in the UK we spell a few things differently here!

consultant
I write a different cover letter for every application, although I have a base txt file but it's just sentences and thoughts in a form of a list. I usually read the add then use these notes to come up with something of a covering letter. I have to admit tho, after about 3 hours of job-searching I tend to do some copying and pasting...
I won't be home till tomorrow morning so can't post it today but will do tomorrow!

Thank you!

garv221

IMO a skills section on the resume is not needed and can only limit you.

Resume in this order:

Experience

Education

Certs

texasit

imsisko wrote: »

earweed
Yes all my experience is from the lab. Last year when I started studying cisco I bought a starter kit from eBay, later a rack, an access server and a C3550. Best investment I had in years!!

texasit
I live in the UK we spell a few things differently here!

Oops sorry about that man

BradleyHU

um, if you dont provide your work history, its kinda hard to see where you might be doin wrong.

it_consultant

So you don't have any work experience at all? If you have experience, but none in the IT field, its fine to list those in your history.

You probably need to tune your resume to internships, its going to be very hard to get a job or even an interview with no relevant experience. You might also consider volunteering at organizations to bolster your work history.

imsisko

I've updated the original attachment, now contains page 2. I have no IT related work experience.

it_consultant
What did you mean by tuning it to internships? I wouldn't mind working for free at all, I just want to start somewhere!

Thanks!

it_consultant

You can't fake work experience unfortunately. Colleges and non-profits will post jobs for interns or low-paid junior admins where your job would be to assist a senior admin. In your resume, you need to be up front and say thats the type of position you are looking for. You would be surprised how many (we just hired one) people don't mind training someone if they have some basics down.

Maybe internship is the wrong word...apprenticeship is more like it.

imsisko

Thanks. That's what I'll do!

imsisko

it_consultant wrote: »

You can't fake work experience unfortunately. Colleges and non-profits will post jobs for interns or low-paid junior admins where your job would be to assist a senior admin. In your resume, you need to be up front and say thats the type of position you are looking for. You would be surprised how many (we just hired one) people don't mind training someone if they have some basics down.

Maybe internship is the wrong word...apprenticeship is more like it.

Thanks for the advice! I looked up a few companies in my area and received one reply! Had the interview last week and I start tomorrow morning!!!!!
Not gona be easy tho as I have to keep my current job too which means minimum 7 shifts a week but it's worth it on the long run.
I've got my foot in!

Thanks guys!

phantasm

imsisko wrote: »

Thanks for the advice! I looked up a few companies in my area and received one reply! Had the interview last week and I start tomorrow morning!!!!!
Not gona be easy tho as I have to keep my current job too which means minimum 7 shifts a week but it's worth it on the long run.
I've got my foot in!

Thanks guys!

Awesome!! Congratulations!!

Work hard and show that you know what you're doing, also, don't be afraid to say I don't know. Best of luck!!

laptop

Good resume and excellent certifications. Except missing IT experience. You might want to lower your expectations and find a call center IT job and move up from there. It's hard these days to land job offers without much experience. Otherwise, network with friends and relatives and request for referrals. Job agencies might help if you have a couple references.

ssampier

Interesting how things are done on the other side of the pond.

I would shorten your Technical Skills down a bit. I read once that recruiters/HR spend less than 20 seconds reading your resume. Ideally I would want to see sections broken down.

Here's a U.S. style resume from Dice.com. You probably could adapt it:

Dice.com- Entry Level IT Sample Resume

You probably already thought of this, but have you considered working as a helpdesk/desktop person for the food/beverage industry? You have worked in that industry for a long time and I hate to see you start at the rock bottom.

imsisko

You are probably right about the skills section. Once I have some work experience to put on I'll probably half it.
I've tried helpdesk positions too but didn't get any replies... In England it is almost impossible to get a job with no experience. I know a guy who's got a Bsc hons in computer systems and networks, finished uni this june and works as a driver for a supermarket chain!!! Couldn't get anything else!!
I'm very happy with this position, it sounds very promising. I'll be doing all sorts of stuff from building and installing servers, troubleshooting and configuring internal network, printers to 1st line support. Well, this is what they said
For now I'll leave the job hunt. I'll start again next year with fresh experience and new skills!
Although I wanted to get the MCSE before the end of the year, I don't believe I'll have the time do study now.
It's time to go, I'll start in in 45 minutes!