Frustrated.. Still not getting job calls.

Akaricloud · October 2012

Yeah, no offence but I'd throw your resume in the trash very quick based on a lot of factors including poor grammar, punctuation, capitalization, random lists of fluff and formatting inconsistencies. Really it only take one mistake on a resume before employers quit taking you seriously and I could probably find 50+ in this.

cyberguypr · October 2012

With all due respect, our theory was right on the money. Resume needs a lot of work and is far, extremely far from qualifying as professionally done.

NotHackingYou · October 2012

Objective: Highly skilled, self-motivated professional seeking IT position that requires strong foundations in desktop support, networking and troubleshooting.

Certifications:
Comptia (Security+) 10/12
CIW Web Foundations 10/12
CompTIA (A+) 9/12
CompTIA Network+ (NET+) 6/12
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) 6/12
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) 8/05
CompTIA Strata IT Fundamentals

Suggestions:

Don't use spaces in your file name. It can come across when you open it as %20% which looks messy. Try an _underscore_

Your objective doesn't sound like an objective. It sounds like a description of you. I would change 'seeking IT position' to 'seeking an IT position'. Even better, I'd rethink this entire line.

Be consistent. Don't spell it Comptia on line and CompTIA on the other. Don't spell out Security+ then abbreviate Network+. Don't put the cert name in parenthesis '(Security+)', '(NET+)' then not in parens 'Strata IT Fundamentals'. Don't include a date (All of them except Strata IT fundamentals) then not include the date on one.

The MTA is tough becuase there are quite a few of them you could have and listing them all is long.

Less bullet points, less in general. Summarize your experince, maximize every sentence in your resume. If the sentence doesn't impress, toss it.

Check grammar, punctuation and capitalization very carefully. 'Respond and Resolve' should be 'Respond to and resolve'. Better yet, rethink this completely. 'Provide world class help desk service for voice and data networks'.

Think really hard about each thing you put in Hardware, Software and Operating systems. Is Internet Explorer versions 3-6 really important?

People reading your resume have very little time. Make it easy and fast to read your resume and make the reader say 'Wow. I need to interview this person'.

Daniel333 · October 2012

That is a terrible way to format your certifications. The cert should not have additional characters padding it. Just spaces to make sure it's searchable.

Comptia (Security+) >> Comptia Security+

That said, you have a number of entry level certs which is great. But you need to break through to the junior level stuff and a specialization on there.
CCNA with specialization would be agreat. CCNA:Security is A LOT of fun. But also MCSA is coming back. LPIC-1... etc.

Lastly this resume is a landry list. Ensure that you customize it for the job you are looking for. For example, mentioning Novell when the job doesn't require it is simply not helpful.

Daniel333 · October 2012

More I read this resume the more it's a nightmare. This is certainly the problem.

Please remove the DOS based operating system from your resume unless you have a good reason to add it. Very few companies still want Windows 95 skills.

ptilsen · October 2012

I will try not to repeat all the other advice and comments. Suffice it to say that this needs a lot of work.

Don't use an objective at all. Summaries are better.

Remove dates from certification. Remove MTA from the list. MTA adds almost nothing to begin with, and absolutely nothing for someone with years of experience. Same with Strata. I guess you can keep CIW just because it's something different. The CompTIA trio and MCP are really what will get hits. Obviously I'd recommend you get an MCSA or CCNA or both as well. Heck, if you really have the knowledge and experience your resume describes, you should get your MCSA 2003 -- yes, 2003. It would go a long way towards validating your experience, and it should be easy to finish in a few months. You only need two more tests, assuming you MCP was from passing 70-270. Three if it wasn't. WGU might even still recognize it. Even if not, I would advise it unless your resume is over-presenting your server 2003 knowledge, in which case you have a different problem.

This needs to be one page. I'm not part of the one-page-only crowd, but I'm just not seeing good enough content to justify two. You can bring it to two if you can get some better content, but it has to be really good stuff.

Remove the entire Summary of Qualifications section. You don't need to list every piece of software or hardware you've ever touched. In fact, you should really only list that with which you are at least comfortable, and ideally proficient. Trim your experience and education (see below) until it's one page. Experience should show accomplishments -- value returns to the business, successful projects, etc. -- not just responsibilities. Include a 1-3 sentence job description, followed by bullet points of accomplishments. A bullet-fest of everything you've ever done does not make for good reading material.

Do you have any actual college degree? You education, excluding the diploma, looks like incomplete studies rather than a degree. These don't add value. I would remove the camps and Bloomfield. Cittone and WGU should be the only listings under education. IT camps are training, not education, and generally aren't resume-worthy. The fact that you went to the 2274 training course and don't have an MCSA 2003 to show for it is a big negative, too. Actual technical professionals -- who are likely to review your resume -- will pick up on things like that.

I would actually advise removing your CompUSA job entirely, and leaving your Fujifilm job as a single job description sentence. The CompUSA job adds no value and in fact detracts because it precedes a big employment gap that you'll have to explain. The Fujifilm job adds two years to your experience total, but the responsibilities don't add anything, so it doesn't need to take up so much space.

"REFERENCES FURNISHED UPON REQUEST" is completely unnecessary. To jump on the bandwagon here, it is astounding that this was a "professionally" written. While much of my advice here is industry specific, there are enough non-specific mistakes here to get the resume tossed almost every time.

All this with some major formatting and technical revision should get you down to one page of concise, good material. I don't want to talk about the formatting too much at this point, because there's just too much work to do with the content at this point.

lister · October 2012

You all might find this helpful: "Solving the Cyber Security Hiring Crisis DHS and the Great Talent Search"

This is a live webinar with Winn Schwartau (well known and respected InfoSec expert - he has a page on wikipedia you can read)

This is the same talk he will give at Hacker Halted in Miami (tickets are like $1000 for that!)

Concise Courses

Anyways great opportunity to ask hiring questions - especially in the InfoSec space.

NB From my understanding the DHS is actively looking for InfoSec Professionals (amongst others) so if your interested in that this should be a good resource.

Mishra · October 2012

The resume isn't that horrible but it's definitely not completed.

I think the problem I'm having with the resume is when I look at it, I can't really figure out what you do. You have so many skills listed I can only assume that you have touched the product. Using Remedy as a ticketing system isn't something I really care about. But if you developed on it or did a full infrastructure roll out, then I care but you need to explain that.

I focused directly on the bolded letters which is what you wanted me to do. Then I went to the non bolded letters to see what you did with said bolded letter... Here is what I think your skills are:

Assisted in Company-wide migration from Novell Netware to Windows 2003 environment

I think you may have helped the real administrators move the Novell environment over to 2003 which who knows what that means... Key Point: Don't ever just say assist...

Network security, applications installation, distribute software upgrades, monitor daily activity and enforce licensing agreements using Active Directory 2003, Group Policies and Computer Management

I think you have done some random stuff with GPOs. I would ask you GPO questions in an interview and expect you to answer. Good bullet point

Adding computers to the domain, lockdown and account management using Active Directory 2003

You can add computers to the domain and put them in OUs... This is OK if you want another low end help desk job.

Manage Active Directory accounts and permissions

Should be rolled into 1 AD bullet point. I'm getting the fact that you have done helpdesk tasks in AD.

Assisted in migration from Novell Email Environment to Exchange Server 2007

No idea what you did

Set up of email accts using Exchange Management Console

Should be rolled into the AD/User creation bullet point.

Performed upgrade of Newark’s C2C computer lab to Windows XP

I much more care HOW you upgraded... You upgrading a computer from something to XP is nice but doesn't tell me much.

Provided support for Wireless messaging devices for Management (Blackberry, Android & Apple)

No idea what you did. Support could mean you rebooted devices for users then escalated when you didn't know.

Setup of wireless computer lab for Paterson DRC (Day Reporting Center)

I'm just going to say stop in your entire resume, referencing Employer data. I don't want to know if it is the Day Reporting Center. I want to know what you setup for wireless and how many devices.

Setup of ADP eTIME hand punch 4000 system for Newark location

No idea what you did.

Assisted in Migration to Desktop Virtualization

No idea what you did.

So in effect, it's really hard to understand your real abilities and successes when you simply tell me you did -something- with it. I suggest you actually put in detailed descriptions of what you performed and focus on System Administration level tasks if you want to move up in the world. This is something that is very debated throughout the IT world because different people want different things, but I'm speaking for the "smart" managers out there.

Here is a section of my resume, more engineer level specific but you can use it how you wish.

Deployed a 2003 Active Directory root/child forest environment. Setup the Altiris Deployment Server; deployed the images across all servers totaling 1000 servers, 3000 workstations, 32 NASs, and 16 SANs across all four sites.
Fixed all issues relating to the deployment of the entire environment. Some examples are: AD replication issues, connectivity, DNS setup issues, registry entries, script execution, Symantec AV/EventTracker/Oracle client role outs, etc.
Engineering projects: Exchange 2007, Symantec Antivirus 11, Altiris Deployment, EventTracker, server images, NTP, software patches, and storage.
Built deployment scripts that helped with sys-admin duties using Batch/VBScript. Used Excel to help with scripting changes across all four sites.
Designed SAN/NAS use and implementation for enterprise applications. Managed storage units across all four sites using IBM SAN DS4700 and IBM NAS n3600 with 120 terabytes total usable disk space per site.
Implemented network changes released by Network Engineering. Monitored networking equipment using Solarwinds.

W Stewart · October 2012

You've got some solid experience behind you and I think you could probably shoot a little higher than helpdesk with the right certifications. An MCSE would probably look nice on your resume with your windows server experience. I also agree about throwing your resume in the trash. Professional resume writers don't understand IT so the stuff they write may not come across the right way and that will probably reflect back on you. I would take a look at some examples of IT resumes and check through some of the resume writing tips on this forum. You could probably do a much better job than any professional you would pay to write it for you.

Edit: But if I learned one thing from this, it's to never pay somebody to write my resume for me. I may also take some of Mishra's advice and be detailed on my resume although it may already be pretty detailed. It's just something I'm going to keep in mind for the future but I'm not looking for work right now.

UniqueAgEnT · October 2012

Definitely the resume is the reason you are not getting call backs. You shouldn't have every task you have ever done on your resume. The job description is insanely long for your most recent position. I would use a more standard template and trim down your resume substantially. A resume should just be a snapshot of your accomplishments, work experience, and skills.

InfantryRaider · October 2012

Good job on the 8 certs in the past few months... good luck in the future!

gdeusthewhizkid · October 2012

InfantryRaider wrote: »

Good job on the 8 certs in the past few months... good luck in the future!

thanks...

loxleynew · October 2012

Kind of an older thread but after seeing your resume I had to post. I know it's not your fault as an outside company did your resume for you, but it is one of the worst looking resume's I have ever seen. I would honestly ask for my money back.

gdeusthewhizkid · November 2012

loxleynew wrote: »

Kind of an older thread but after seeing your resume I had to post. I know it's not your fault as an outside company did your resume for you, but it is one of the worst looking resume's I have ever seen. I would honestly ask for my money back.

thanks dude.. I needed someone else to post that on this thread....

CISPhD · November 2012

gdeusthewhizkid wrote: »

thanks dude.. I needed someone else to post that on this thread....

Thanks dude... I needed someone else to give me a good chuckle this early in the morning.

DoubleNNs · November 2012

So I'm curious OP, did you end up making revisions to your resume? Did you start getting calls afterwards?

RouteMyPacket · November 2012

Mishra wrote: »

The resume isn't that horrible but it's definitely not completed.

I think the problem I'm having with the resume is when I look at it, I can't really figure out what you do. You have so many skills listed I can only assume that you have touched the product. Using Remedy as a ticketing system isn't something I really care about. But if you developed on it or did a full infrastructure roll out, then I care but you need to explain that.

I focused directly on the bolded letters which is what you wanted me to do. Then I went to the non bolded letters to see what you did with said bolded letter... Here is what I think your skills are:
Assisted in Company-wide migration from Novell Netware to Windows 2003 environment

I think you may have helped the real administrators move the Novell environment over to 2003 which who knows what that means... Key Point: Don't ever just say assist...

Network security, applications installation, distribute software upgrades, monitor daily activity and enforce licensing agreements using Active Directory 2003, Group Policies and Computer Management

I think you have done some random stuff with GPOs. I would ask you GPO questions in an interview and expect you to answer. Good bullet point
Adding computers to the domain, lockdown and account management using Active Directory 2003

You can add computers to the domain and put them in OUs... This is OK if you want another low end help desk job.
Manage Active Directory accounts and permissions

Should be rolled into 1 AD bullet point. I'm getting the fact that you have done helpdesk tasks in AD.
Assisted in migration from Novell Email Environment to Exchange Server 2007

No idea what you did
Set up of email accts using Exchange Management Console

Should be rolled into the AD/User creation bullet point.
Performed upgrade of Newark’s C2C computer lab to Windows XP

I much more care HOW you upgraded... You upgrading a computer from something to XP is nice but doesn't tell me much.
Provided support for Wireless messaging devices for Management (Blackberry, Android & Apple)

No idea what you did. Support could mean you rebooted devices for users then escalated when you didn't know.
Setup of wireless computer lab for Paterson DRC (Day Reporting Center)

I'm just going to say stop in your entire resume, referencing Employer data. I don't want to know if it is the Day Reporting Center. I want to know what you setup for wireless and how many devices.
Setup of ADP eTIME hand punch 4000 system for Newark location

No idea what you did.
Assisted in Migration to Desktop Virtualization

No idea what you did.

So in effect, it's really hard to understand your real abilities and successes when you simply tell me you did -something- with it. I suggest you actually put in detailed descriptions of what you performed and focus on System Administration level tasks if you want to move up in the world. This is something that is very debated throughout the IT world because different people want different things, but I'm speaking for the "smart" managers out there.

Here is a section of my resume, more engineer level specific but you can use it how you wish.

Deployed a 2003 Active Directory root/child forest environment. Setup the Altiris Deployment Server; deployed the images across all servers totaling 1000 servers, 3000 workstations, 32 NASs, and 16 SANs across all four sites.

Fixed all issues relating to the deployment of the entire environment. Some examples are: AD replication issues, connectivity, DNS setup issues, registry entries, script execution, Symantec AV/EventTracker/Oracle client role outs, etc.

Engineering projects: Exchange 2007, Symantec Antivirus 11, Altiris Deployment, EventTracker, server images, NTP, software patches, and storage.

Built deployment scripts that helped with sys-admin duties using Batch/VBScript. Used Excel to help with scripting changes across all four sites.

Designed SAN/NAS use and implementation for enterprise applications. Managed storage units across all four sites using IBM SAN DS4700 and IBM NAS n3600 with 120 terabytes total usable disk space per site.

Implemented network changes released by Network Engineering. Monitored networking equipment using Solarwinds.

DING! DING! DING!

OP, you should really thank Mishra for this advice because it is absolutely 100% spot on. I promise you if you do as he/she say's you will get more calls.

If I am in a hiring process and I saw your current resume, I would think exactly what Mishra pointed out and either throw your resume to the side or if by some chance I wanted to interview you I would come at you with technical questions face to face and not only listen to your answer but observe your reactions. Meaning I would know how accurate your resume me is when the interview concluded.

Frustrated.. Still not getting job calls.

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