Need some Advice Resume/CL

ITnewb

Hello I am new to the forums. I wanted to see if I could get some advice about how I should go about getting some IT experience to put on my resume. I believe my resume and cover letter is okay for applying for jobs but it seems that it is severely lacking because I have not had the results I want.

Cover letter
March 19, 2014

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have great interest in the technical support specialist position that is currently available. I feel that this position aligns well with my educational background in the technology field as well as my interest in computer technology. I have a passion for working with and fixing problems related to computers. I currently work in retail but my time spent outside of work involves me learning more about various operating systems, system maintenance, and computer troubleshooting techniques. I have been troubleshooting, building, and upgrading personal computers for six years.

To substitute for the lack of actual on the job experience in the field of IT I have utilized many resources to help me gain experience by demoing different help desk ticketing systems such as Spiceworks, BMC Track-IT, and ServiceNow. I also have experience working with active directory in a Windows Server test environment conducting user and group management. I have provided troubleshooting for software and hardware issues, virus/spyware removal, and computer setup and configuration for myself, friends, relatives and colleagues. I also build computers from time to time and have recently completed the CompTIA A+ 801 (hardware) exam and I will be taking the 802 (software) exam in April to become fully A+ certified. This has helped me stay current on changing technology during my search for a career in the IT field.

My employment in the retail industry has helped to improve my communication and interpersonal skills that allow me to effectively engage and help customers. I have been praised numerous times for how well I work with people and give them an enjoyable experience. Thank you for your time and I hope to discuss employment considerations in the near future.

Sincerely,

Joe Joe

Resume
Joe Joe
Anytown USA

SKILL/KNOWLEDGE SUMMARY

• Proficient skill using the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, & PowerPoint)
• Hardware & Software Installation
• PC/Laptop setup and configuration
• Hardware support for desktops, laptops, and peripherals
• Printer/copier setup & configuration
• Technical knowledge of Microsoft Operating systems Windows XP, Vista, and 7
• Basic user account administration in Active Directory
• System maintenance and optimization
• Virus/Malware removal
• Helpdesk Ticketing Systems

EDUCATION
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY – Greensboro, NC
Masters of Science in Information Technology, June 2013

• Two and a half year degree program
• GPA: 3.5/4.0

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY – Greensboro, NC
Bachelors of Science in Electronics Technology, Dec 2010

• GPA: 3.1/4.0
• Cum Laude honors

WORK EXPERIENCE
9/13-Present
Roses,
Customer Service Associate

• Stocking and back stocking merchandise.
• Keep merchandise front faced and all products pulled to the front of shelves.
• Provide excellent customer service and answer any questions customers may have.

4/12-2/13
Target,
Presentation Team Member

• Setup aisles using technical schematics.
• Greet guests in the store and help with any questions they might have.
• Use PDA’s to set aisle locations on the sales floor, generate merchandise pulls, and scan missing items.
• Pulled and stocked merchandise generated from the merchandise pulls.

I am currently in the process of studying for my 802 A+ exam and from there moving on to my get my Security+ and CCNA. I have done a lot of things dealing with installing components and configuring computers on my own time but nothing for a company. Any advice would help thanks.

Reibe

Overall, I think your resume isn't that bad. Things I would change:

• I'm assuming "Cover Letter" and "Resume" aren't actually at the top of the cover letter and resume; drop them if they are.
• If you can get enough information, the cover letter should specify the person's name, company's name, and job position title. This helps the cover letter look focused for that job and not a blanket letter that you send out to everyone.
• Aside from your desire to work with technology, I would be also try to add in a bit about how you enjoy helping others with their computer issues. <--I'm assuming this. If you don't enjoy it at all, you are going to have a rude awakening once you get a support job.
• I'd rearrange the skills to put the more "technician" skills towards the top of the list. Being able to use MS Office would be the last item to me.
• I would drop the program's length bullet under the MS degree and the GPA bullet on the BS.
• Spacing between sections looks cramped after the skills section.
• Personally I like my employment dates to be after (I use a right alignment) the job title.
• In both of your previous jobs, I would try to emphasize customer service details and anything you were directly responsible for to help show that your previous employers relied on you in some form or another.

Pros

• Keep the skills-based format, it works best for someone with little or no work experience in the field.
• Keep the info about the A+ progress in the cover letter.

Did you have this as a PDF so we can see the actually formatting/design that you are using?

ITnewb

Thanks for the advice Reibe I will definitely change it up a bit. I am unable to post my pdf/word document until I have 10 posts. I will do so once I am able but I don't have the Cover letter and resume titles on there. That was just for reference for my thread. Just for clarification I should only drop the program length and keep GPA bullet for my MS and remove GPA bullet and keep honors for my BS?

Reibe

Yes. I considered taking both GPA bullets out; but since you have the honors on your BS I thought the 3.5 GPA on the MS was high enough to stand out and show that while there wasn't any honors, you still did well. After you secure a solid employment history in a couple of years, I personally would drop the GPA from the MS as well.

Though this is only my opinion, so take from it what you will.

ITnewb

Okay I made some changes to both the cover letter and resume to make it stand out a little more. Any other advice anyone has to offer feel free. I uploaded them to google docs since I can't attach documents to my posts.

Resume

Cover letter