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Resume - Boring? or Really Boring?
FF
Once Upon a TimeIn OaklandRegistered User regular
Once Upon a TimeIn OaklandRegistered User regular
So there's a job I really want to get (if it pays enough), but I realized that I haven't updated my resume since around 2006 or so.
The job is for a Help Desk Coordinator. A couple of years ago I submitted a similarly formatted resume to this particular company before and was granted an interview. I think this updated version should do the trick, but any help would be appreciated. I can't help but feel it's way too verbose.
Spoilered for possibly too damn long...
Edit: There should be some tabs in there...forum doesn't like tabs, but they're there. Probably doesn't matter too much as I'm submitting it online anyway. Formatting always gets screwy with those.
The job is for a Help Desk Coordinator. A couple of years ago I submitted a similarly formatted resume to this particular company before and was granted an interview. I think this updated version should do the trick, but any help would be appreciated. I can't help but feel it's way too verbose.
Spoilered for possibly too damn long...
REDACTED BY FF
Edit: There should be some tabs in there...forum doesn't like tabs, but they're there. Probably doesn't matter too much as I'm submitting it online anyway. Formatting always gets screwy with those.
Huh...
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Also, PM to you
You managed to merge your résumé with your cover letter! That's a Bad Thing. Just divide your CV into two main sections :
1) Past experience - 2 or 3 short lines at most for each.
2) Skills : What you can do, and how.
Remove all the blocks of texts, reformat. Copy and past all that into your cover letter with a small intro about where you come from and a small conclusion about what you hope to do in the near-future-next 5 years.
You have some good points but they need to be stressed out more! Thus..shorten everything and only bring up the most relevant parts. Otherwise they'll be drown in the otherwise good lines you wrote.
Hope that helps,
^ Perfect example of "I... I... I..."
Condense and pare down your writing.
Also, get someone else to read it. Trusted work associates, friends, family, or basically anyone you can get to read it. The more the better.
To give you an example:
2007-Current Assistant Systems Administrator & MacHelp, Academy of Art University
- Provided help-desk support for 25 academic and non-academic departments totaling over 400 computers.
- Scheduled help-desk appointments, tracked and performed repairs, set up new machines, and advised external departments on future computer purchases
- Helped to create a replacement ticket and client tracking database.
- Managed multiple servers and databases, created new accounts for staff, students and faculty, and created deployment packages
That's what it should look like for each of your jobs. Obviously you'll want to play with the language so you aren't using the same verbs (created) over and over again.
That's not inherently bad, mind, especially if you're submitting it online (where many companies simply let software sort based on words mentioned, so if you say you have HTML experience in a bullet point or in a 400 word essay, it says "we've got one!" and moves it along).
Ultimately your resume is seen by a person, though, so having a separate cover letter and then an actual resume is ideal.
If you want it to be snappy, don't do the job obit stuff. Separate your work into tasks and list those under the job, like tsmvengy said. Don't do
Job Inc., 2002-2006. Desk Monkey
My job here was to sit at my desk and behave. It was a good job and I felt that I learned a lot. But it was time to move on, and I feel that the job is in a better place now.
What you should do is:
Job Inc. 2002-2006. Desk Monkey
-- Assisted other people daily
-- Helped integrate new feeding system in lunchroom
Make the key features of your past jobs stand out, to show that you both learned shit and that you actually were an asset to the job. If it was a bad job, don't pad, just be short.
It's also useful to create separate sections for skills, personal aptitudes, etc. The cover letter should then be specific towards this specific job, referencing your resume to point out why you'd be a good fit.
Many people (who have good resumes) actually have a modular resume, so they can swap elements quickly depending on the job they're applying for. For example, if I were to apply to a job tomorrow I would omit my first job, which sucked ass and taught me nothing. The type of job I would be applying for woudln't give a damn what crappy job I took in high school for some spending money, anyway -- it would care about my current skills and attributes.
That's ultimately the trick -- to make your resume sound like you're talking about what you're going to do... without using the future tense ;D
This reads like a very unintersting book. Listen to the advice on bulleting.
Your education section is gibberish. It should include dates attended (1/1/01-1/1/02), School name, location, and degree earned. If you are currently enrolled then list expected date of graduation, list your graduation date if you've got your degree.
As for the cover letter you need to write, keep it short and sweet, only a few paragraohs.
Oh and stage hand 10+ years ago in high school does not belong.
Also, instead of saying "Other Experience" change the word Other to Additional. To me, "other" sounds like "oh yeah, just some other meh stuff I did".
Electronic composer for hire.