Resume help

[TooPatient]

Okay. My job sucks. It has for the last 3 years but I put up with it so that I had the 3 years of experience needed to apply for the jobs that are more in line with what I want.

The computer with my resume was stolen in the move so I am starting from scratch.

Does anyone have a favorite template they use to create a resume?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Sorry to hear you''re not liking your job. There are soooo many resume templates out there today and unfortunately each industry requires their own version. What is your target position and industry?

 

[TooPatient]

Date: 12/1/2009 1:30:20 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Sorry to hear you''re not liking your job. There are soooo many resume templates out there today and unfortunately each industry requires their own version. What is your target position and industry?

I am currently an independant contractor doing IT stuff. Even though my job here is mostly secretary, they hired me to take care of their computers, build a website, manage back-ups, etc.

The degree I''m just starting on will be a Bachelor''s (possibly a Master''s) in computer engingeering. Focus on software.

Currently have basic skills (or better) with:
HTML (& XHTML)
CSS
VIm
JavaScript
computer networking (including running wire and doing 110 punchdown)
Home Theater wiring
computer building (take pile of parts, make computer)

Also:
Windows98 through Win7
Word
Office 2000, 2003, 2007
Linux (a bit)
Virtual Box

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

okay so if you''re looking for another job in IT that won''t have you doing admin work you''re going to want to focus on accomplishments on IT-specific tasks instead of describing your job. For example:

XX/2008-12/2009 Office Manager and IT Specialist, XXX company
Was instrumental in establishing a proprietary online database system within three months.
Managed the payroll system for a staff of 25 to include troubleshooting and resolving system problems as they occurred.
Created Access database to track all company expenditures and report on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.
Provided cost savings of $1500/month by triaging all computer hardware and software problems and fixing in-house before outsourcing to an external vendor.

Basically you want to illustrate the value you added to the company, so the hiring manager isn''t focusing on your non-IT work or lack of a college degree.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Also, highlight any courses you''ve taken in pursuit of your degree and any proficiency tests you''ve taken (I know MS and a lot of the hardware companies requires these for technicians to be certified)

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Also if you have done things to help improve the systems of doing things (for instance I too work in IT and we run regression tests on all our websites each night, well one of the guys i work with built an automated program that will do it for us so it checks more throughly and faster. Things like this you might want to include) I find that using a more solid type of color and shapes works well for our type of profession but that is just my opinion Like HH was saying about proficiency tests, html, css, java, etc are good ones to have listed, here's a few links to ones i have done in the past

http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_exam.asp
http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_exam.asp
http://www.w3schools.com/Xhtml/xhtml_exam.asp
http://www.w3schools.com/JS/js_exam.asp

Also if you use have used MySQL or any other database programs it is good to list those as well. And please don't learn from my spelling and grammar, I'm terrible at capitalizing things lol

 

[TooPatient]

Thanks for all the great advice.

It looks like a good start to getting my resume together would be to take the w3schools tests to get the certificates. (I''ve done many tutorials there, but never took the tests for certificates)

Also:
Get a database put together and build a website for the office. (The guys I work for are anti-computer so haven''t wanted me to do any of this.)

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 12/1/2009 3:00:13 PM
Author: TooPatient
(The guys I work for are anti-computer so haven''t wanted me to do any of this.)

Ahahah my dad is the same way. He refuses to learn how to use powerpoint so the office can''t make him give presentations. He''s so close to retiring that they don''t even care anymore lol

 

[TooPatient]

Date: 12/1/2009 3:05:42 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved

Date: 12/1/2009 3:00:13 PM
Author: TooPatient
(The guys I work for are anti-computer so haven''t wanted me to do any of this.)

Ahahah my dad is the same way. He refuses to learn how to use powerpoint so the office can''t make him give presentations. He''s so close to retiring that they don''t even care anymore lol

Easier to just give up on teaching them sometimes.


And it isn''t an age thing.
My grandfather just turned 75 and I built him a new computer for his birthday. He is having all sorts of fun learning to do new stuff.