What do you think of my resume?

RedGaiter

Just finished formatting my resume. Please tell me how it is, and where I could improve.Thanks!

Resume1.pdf

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Comments

Xyro

After taking a quick skim of the resume, I would recommend:

1. Shortening the summary.
2. Moving the skills/certifications above the education.
3. Making the spacing consistant.
4. Removing the personal accomplishments section entirely.

gbdavidx

should fit it on one page, skills and education does not need to be that much room, and is personal accomplishments a thing now? I sometimes get asked that in an interview but i've never put it on my resume

i'd also get rid of the summary, that is what your cover letter is for

ajs1976

Experience before education. You appear to have relevant experience.

Certs before education. You have certs and your education is not IT related.

You have two BAs in History?

Get rid of the Personal Accomplishments section. Its nice that you have hobbies but not relevant to most jobs.

The professional experience section took me some time to figure out, which is a bad thing. So you have one job as a personal trainer and another job with IT responsibilities. Since you want an IT job, list that job first. Not sure if you even want to list the personal trainer job. That summary line after the city, province and before the second job title, threw me off. Not sure that is a standard format. For the IT job, are you currently doing that job? you switch between present and past tense in the list.

networker050184

It looks pretty good overall to me. The summary is fine as it is IMO, but I agree with the other suggestions from Xyro and ajs1976. Especially the personal accomplishments part. Unless you have some related professional accomplishments.

I'm not a big fan of having skills section on a resume. It takes up a whole lot of space without telling me anything that you have actually done. I'd personally use the space to expand on your employment. That is what really matters. Anyone can make a list of buzz words that means absolutely nothing,

RedGaiter

Thanks for all the suggestions, everybody! I have taken what I believe to be your advice and made necessary changes in the following attachment.Thank you all for your help.

Resume2.pdf

lsud00d

networker050184 wrote: »

I'm not a big fan of having skills section on a resume. It takes up a whole lot of space without telling me anything that you have actually done. I'd personally use the space to expand on your employment. That is what really matters. Anyone can make a list of buzz words that means absolutely nothing,

There is added value in a skills section--many HR/automated systems parse keywords and the skills section helps expand what might not be covered in the experience/employment section

networker050184

If it's worth having a filter search on why wouldn't you be expanding on that in your experience section already anyway?

I just know when I'm reading through resumes I really hate these skill sections. I shouldn't have to wade through a bunch of BS filter catching before getting to the important part. What you've actually done.

If it is a student resume or someone with no experience, then I can see having one. If you are an experienced professional though it's nothing but filler IMO.

iBrokeIT

Personally I am not a fan of the skills section on a resume, especially when you have an IT job with experience. The ones I usually see are a shallow collection of skills mixed with over used cliches and technology buzzwords. Any fool can touch a computer once an put "Proficient in Windows 7" on their resume if they wanted. Let your experience speak for itself.

Drop the skills section and work those skills into your work experience and projects. For example, you list "Experience setting up and managing a LAN in a small office." that should go under the job description. You seem to have a lot of great IT experience and IT experience is king. Elaborate more under your job description on which technologies you worked with.. which brand switch and routers? Did you use any helpdesk ticketing software? ect..

From top to bottom your resume should go job experience, certifications and then education. Drop the summary, company description and skills sections. Get your resume down to 1 page. Avoid colored ink.

Overall I think your have a great start in IT and have some great experience, it just needs to be presented differently.

ajs1976

Review of Resume 2.

Experience, Certification, then Education.

Get it down to 1 page. If you want to keep the personal training, but back on the detail there.

I agree with getting rid of the color ink. Use bold, italics, and bold/italics instead.

RedGaiter

ajs1976 wrote: »

Review of Resume 2.

Experience, Certification, then Education.

Get it down to 1 page. If you want to keep the personal training, but back on the detail there.

I agree with getting rid of the color ink. Use bold, italics, and bold/italics instead.

Is there a particular reason why it must be 1 page? I just thought that even though it's not IT related, personal training shows I can work with unique individuals with patience and professionalism.

RedGaiter

I have taken multiple suggestions from multiple sources and have made two versions. A one-page, and two-page resume. Both are attached below.

Once again, thank you to all who are helping me out! You really have no idea how much this means to me

Update1.pdf

Update2.pdf

networker050184

I like the one page better as I'm a fan of keeping it simple and to the point. The two page isn't bad though and I wouldn't not call you because of it if your skills matched my needs.

cyberguypr

A few things:

- Why is that summary not spanning the whole page? Look way too odd.
- Spell checker is your friend: "PROFRESSIONAL EXPERIENCE". Somehow this made it through both iterations of the resume. In my book this would go in the trash immediately.
- Color has to go.
- "Presently studying for CCNA)" - what does that mean? Taking it next month? Next year? 2016? That would be better phrased as "Working towards CCNA - expected date 6/2014." Also, spell out CCNA, helps with the bot checkers.
- "Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and Outlook." - Outlook is part of the suite. Why is it mentioned separately?
- Your experience is confusing. What is your current role? You say "Investor Relations Sep. 2010 - Present" but all verbs are in past tense. Again, very confusing.

Personal accomplishments have to be handled carefully. Used properly they do add value and help paint a better picture of who you are as a potential employee. However, in your case I just don't see what they bring to the table. If you tell me you wrote an IT book, spoke at an industry conference, developed an app that did something amazing, or something else along those lines, that's perfect. The ones you listed just don't add anything.

In regards to 1 or 2 pages, normally you see 2, even 3 pages for candidates with extensive experience. If I were you I would stick to 1.

RedGaiter

cyberguypr wrote: »

A few things:

- Why is that summary not spanning the whole page? Look way too odd.
- Spell checker is your friend: "PROFRESSIONAL EXPERIENCE". Somehow this made it through both iterations of the resume. In my book this would go in the trash immediately.

Although I would always double and triple proof-read it before I sent it to an employer, I didn't in this case because I was more concerned about my content/layout. It's weird though, spell check in MS Word didn't even underline that error.

I did fix the text span of the summary though. I use tables (whited out afterwards) for formatting.

Xyro

Update 2 is the better resume and not because it is only 1 page. It is just a superior presentation of your information.

1. What is with the dating though? Are you currently working 2 jobs? Why does the second (really first) position not have the appropriate heading in that case?
2. The header alignment is still off.
3. Why the usage of // instead of - ? Example: "Simon Fraser University // Bachelor of Arts, History"

RedGaiter

Xyro wrote: »

Update 2 is the better resume and not because it is only 1 page. It is just a superior presentation of your information.

1. What is with the dating though? Are you currently working 2 jobs? Why does the second (really first) position not have the appropriate heading in that case?
2. The header alignment is still off.
3. Why the usage of // instead of - ? Example: "Simon Fraser University // Bachelor of Arts, History"

I've changed the // to -

To be honest, I worked at that company in 2 roles (it services and investor relations) from 2010-2012, and I've only been working as a personal trainer from 2010-present. But I feel that if I changed my IT role from 2010-present, it makes me look relevant. I could omit the Investor relations role, and proclaim that I've been working part-time as it services and part-time trainer. Or do you think it would be best to be honest and have 2010-2012 for it services, and 2012-present as a personal trainer.

Xyro

It is always best to be honest. Imagine making the above comment to an employer during an interview lol. You likely will have to face many asking the question that is in my head though and that is, "Why have you not had an IT role for two years?".

I applaud your honesty on the forum.

Please just do drag this honesty into physical life. It is for the best.

RedGaiter

I know it's best to be 100% honest. I will change the dates.

iBrokeIT

I like the direction your resume is going. The one page looks is much better. Now you just need to work on the formatting. The reader should be able to scan your resume in 30 seconds or less and get all the relevant infromation.

One other thing, is your employment dates are formatted inconsistantly. Either keep the one at the top next to the company name or list two next to each position title.