Need help building resume. Military experience. Non-technical background.

Hey TE,

I need some help with my CV/Resume. After reading all the posts about resumes and "Resumes Dos and Don'ts guide line for getting contacted" sticky I realize that I need to completely redo mine. After looking at my CV, I'm surprised that I even got a job at all. But I think it was my language skills that helped me out. Elaborating my experience is difficult for me. What do you all think I should add/subtract?

Some facts:

Less than a year in IT, about 8 months. Current title is "Technical Team Lead". Working in a MS environment. Windows XP/7, Server 2008R2, Hyper-V, HP Printers, IBM tower server, Cisco router and switch, McAfee EPO, VPN, etc. Mostly an internal support role, but have been sent to Bangkok, Thailand on occasion to support a satellite office we have. Deployed a couple times as a "Field Engineer" in a subcontract with Tata Communications/Neeco, to diagnose/load config/install a Cisco 800 Series router at a customer site, with assistance from a Support Engineer on the phone. We have a multi-national, multi-lingual staff. Communication in different tongues has been a big part in my work. American analogies translated into different languages can be fun at times.

My military background is non-technical. Just go to shoot a lot of guns pretty much. Finding it difficult to convey that into relevant IT experience. Besides the team dynamics, leadership skills, stress factors, etc. I have had special orders for office work (pushing papers and using MS Office) in the military. Was also a trainer for units mobilizing for deployments.

I'll include an attachment of my CV that I used to get my current job. *Warning* It looks like a soggy sack of poo that's been sitting around in 120degree weather.

Attachment not found.

MY CV.doc

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Comments

KPLC

Most of the military experience is irrelevant to IT. How would I articulate that experience in a meaningful way?

TheCudder

I'm no expert, but here are my thoughts...

1) I see your tech exams profile mentions that you have A+ & CCENT certifications, but there's no mention of this on your resume? I would add this to a "Certifications" section after your education.
2) With the exception of the work history/experience portion of your CV, I would start by removing any additional skills & training irrelevant to IT. There's really no need to mention any sniper or automotive training. I'm an Army Reservist and only list skills applicable to IT (25B, IT Specialist) --- unfortunately for your field, it's next to impossible to do so. So basically leave the IT & language skills section.
3) I would say it's safe to drop the Wal Mart Lube Specialist as it was a short term position and that you held a similar position after for a longer period of time and its irrelevant, although the Service Tech position is as well, it may help to show you've held a job
4) The "Employment Summary" section can be deleted, it's redundant. The "detailed assignments" & "awards received" most likely wouldn't be of any interest to a civilian employer as well. The employment experiences section focuses on what should be mentioned: senior role, leadership, planning, prevention & reporting skills.

Also, what is your current job? You mentioned being surprised having a job (I'm assuming its IT related?). Also can you explain the employment gap from 2005-2011? Just wondering since you're a National Guardsmen and I only see an overseas deployment period from 2008-2010? Not to be offensive, but I don't recall ever seeing a full time national guard position for a Sniper.

SteveLord

The military experience was one of the hardest things to put on my resume, being infantry and all. I kept it short. Here is the portion from my resume. It was last updated 4 years ago though I'll paste it here anyway in case it can help or someone else can suggest something. (I need to put my resume on the forums sometime to get assistance updating and might exclude this if I was.)

[h=2]US Army Infantryman[/h]4/2003 - Present New Jersey National Guard, Jersey City, NJ

Loading and unloading heavy equipment
Attending weekend drills on time and in proper uniform
Participating in training courses, classes and leadership meetings
Provided security presence at Newark Airport (2003)
Assisting in supply section with equipment management and load outs

[h=2]US Army Infantryman / Team Leader[/h]5/2004 - 5/2005 United States Army (Active), Guantanamo Bay, Guantanamo Bay

Providing a security presence for fellow soldiers, government contractors and civilians on foot and in vehicle for 12hr shifts
Fulfilling a Team Leader position
Lifting and transporting heavy government equipment
Access to high level secure areas
Supervising patrols and adhering to other soldiers' needs as a Team Leader
Trained in reacting to emergency security threats

Mrock4

KPLC wrote: »

Finding it difficult to convey that into relevant IT experience.

That's because it's not relevant IT experience. What you CAN do is what you pretty much already hit on, focus on your leadership hard- there is NO better place IMO to get leadership experience than in the military..use that to your advantage. Also, the training experience is valuable. Training is training- regardless of what you're offering in your class. Once you know HOW to train, training on a different subject is not that much more difficult.

Also, if you have any experience while in an office capacity managing assets (ie: you were responsible for $xxx amount of assets) that could be valuable too. If you have ANY experience briefing leadership on missions/projects/etc, use that. That qualifies as "able to communicate effectively to senior level management", which is a valuable skill too.

Finally, I didn't get a chance to check out your CV, but my general theory with resume's is to be as focused as possible. If you purport to be a jack of all trades (mechanic/automotive experience, weapon experience, IT experience), you'll appear to not have any real specialized skills. Take away the excess stuff, and it looks like you really want to be in IT.

I know some people don't do this, but EVERY job I have ever got, I listed a certification I'm currently working on, and EVERY interview the company has mentioned it..so I found that beneficial. For example, I don't have my CCIE, but I sure as hell say I'm working on it. My current position is technically a CCIE position, but I was hired into it because they saw I was working on it. If I had left it at just "CCNP", they might have assumed I had no ambition to work towards the IE. Just an example though.

KPLC

TheCudder wrote: »

I'm no expert, but here are my thoughts...

1) I see your tech exams profile mentions that you have A+ & CCENT certifications, but there's no mention of this on your resume? I would add this to a "Certifications" section after your education.
2) With the exception of the work history/experience portion of your CV, I would start by removing any additional skills & training irrelevant to IT. There's really no need to mention any sniper or automotive training. I'm an Army Reservist and only list skills applicable to IT (25B, IT Specialist) --- unfortunately for your field, it's next to impossible to do so. So basically leave the IT & language skills section.
3) I would say it's safe to drop the Wal Mart Lube Specialist as it was a short term position and that you held a similar position after for a longer period of time and its irrelevant, although the Service Tech position is as well, it may help to show you've held a job
4) The "Employment Summary" section can be deleted, it's redundant. The "detailed assignments" & "awards received" most likely wouldn't be of any interest to a civilian employer as well. The employment experiences section focuses on what should be mentioned: senior role, leadership, planning, prevention & reporting skills.

Also, what is your current job? You mentioned being surprised having a job (I'm assuming its IT related?). Also can you explain the employment gap from 2005-2011? Just wondering since you're a National Guardsmen and I only see an overseas deployment period from 2008-2010? Not to be offensive, but I don't recall ever seeing a full time national guard position for a Sniper.

Yeah, the CV was the one that I used to get this job. It hasn't been updated. I was initially hired as a salesman, but got my A+ a month in and requested to transfer to the IT department.

05-07, I was going to school (in which I didn't complete a degree) and working a temp job off and on. Later in 07' got on ADSW with my unit. We were transition from an Armor Batt. to a Cav. Batt. Did inventory, equipment turn-in, logistics/supply work. The 6 months between deployments, I got on ADSW for my state's Pre-mobilization Training Assistance Element (PTAE). After the deployment in 2010, got on ADSW at the state JFHQ, helping processing/archiving Officer's records into the state archives. Lost that gig at the end of FY2010. Couldn't find a job after that. So decided to move out to where I am now and change careers.

The official title for my current job is "Technical Team Lead". Doing JOAT IT work for my company.

Thanks for your input, your suggestions are very helpful. I'm going to completely redo my resume.

KPLC

SteveLord wrote: »

The military experience was one of the hardest things to put on my resume, being infantry and all. I kept it short. Here is the portion from my resume. It was last updated 4 years ago though I'll paste it here anyway in case it can help or someone else can suggest something. (I need to put my resume on the forums sometime to get assistance updating and might exclude this if I was.)

US Army Infantryman

4/2003 - Present New Jersey National Guard, Jersey City, NJ
Loading and unloading heavy equipment

Attending weekend drills on time and in proper uniform

Participating in training courses, classes and leadership meetings

Provided security presence at Newark Airport (2003)

Assisting in supply section with equipment management and load outs

US Army Infantryman / Team Leader

5/2004 - 5/2005 United States Army (Active), Guantanamo Bay, Guantanamo Bay
Providing a security presence for fellow soldiers, government contractors and civilians on foot and in vehicle for 12hr shifts

Fulfilling a Team Leader position

Lifting and transporting heavy government equipment

Access to high level secure areas

Supervising patrols and adhering to other soldiers' needs as a Team Leader

Trained in reacting to emergency security threats

Thanks! I like how your's is clear and concise. I'll have to use it as a template.

KPLC

Mrock4 wrote: »

That's because it's not relevant IT experience. What you CAN do is what you pretty much already hit on, focus on your leadership hard- there is NO better place IMO to get leadership experience than in the military..use that to your advantage. Also, the training experience is valuable. Training is training- regardless of what you're offering in your class. Once you know HOW to train, training on a different subject is not that much more difficult.

Also, if you have any experience while in an office capacity managing assets (ie: you were responsible for $xxx amount of assets) that could be valuable too. If you have ANY experience briefing leadership on missions/projects/etc, use that. That qualifies as "able to communicate effectively to senior level management", which is a valuable skill too.

Finally, I didn't get a chance to check out your CV, but my general theory with resume's is to be as focused as possible. If you purport to be a jack of all trades (mechanic/automotive experience, weapon experience, IT experience), you'll appear to not have any real specialized skills. Take away the excess stuff, and it looks like you really want to be in IT.

I know some people don't do this, but EVERY job I have ever got, I listed a certification I'm currently working on, and EVERY interview the company has mentioned it..so I found that beneficial. For example, I don't have my CCIE, but I sure as hell say I'm working on it. My current position is technically a CCIE position, but I was hired into it because they saw I was working on it. If I had left it at just "CCNP", they might have assumed I had no ambition to work towards the IE. Just an example though.

Understood! My CV is pretty much everywhere at the moment. Your suggestions and others will help out a lot. I'll have to start from scratch and not use a Word template this time.

Valsacar

Format also needs some work, I believe you have access to ACAP as a guardsman, definitely work with them as they can help a lot.

I'm going to assume you hold an active clearance, you need to put that on there (with current adjudication date if applying for anything Gov/contractor related, and put DoD clearance as DoE and DoS are different and they don't recognize each others). It might not be obvious, but the fact that you have a clearance (and therefore the US Government has put a high level of trust in you) is valuable to civilian employers as it tells them they can put the same level of trust in you. It also tells them, depending on where you apply, that any background checks they do on you will be pretty clean.

I would put in your certifications and call it Certifications/Skills/Awards (or something like that) and mention the MSM. Even though it's not really relevant to civilian employment it is a achievement that should stand out (the name tells them all they need to understand) and can be viewed as an indicator of the quality and effort you will put into your work. The other awards aren't too big (ARCOM maybe, but that MSM is one I would definitely leave on there).