Resume Gurus?

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

I need help with an IT guy resume.

I don't know how to make it look pretty, as I have not had a "real" job for the last four years. I've been drumming and building/fixing computers and providing network/systems repair out of my home for ahem...(mostly cash)... ahem.

I have decided to make an attempt to enter the workforce, but my resume is ancient, and need to make it current and pretty.

God knows I can't make myself look current and.... well, you know.

I have 10 years experience and certs, but not very good at putting together a resume.

Will trade lots of casino cash for help.

Help?

Dinny

[beavis]

Be specific. I recently redid my resume because it was so out of date. Everyone I talked to told me to avoid vaguery. List specific tasks you've completed. Concentrate on how you will provide value to an organization.

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

Yes, I have M$ Word and can use the templates, I'm just not good at the required flowery verbage.

I need a flowery verbager.

Dinny

[beavis]

Originally Posted by Dinny Blues

Yes, I have M$ Word and can use the templates, I'm just not good at the required flowery verbage.

I need a flowery verbager.

Dinny

That's what you want to avoid I think. Lot's of protracted paragraphs with meaningless terms. Use bullets lists, with specific terms. I even got down to OS level on mine.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by Dinny Blues

I need help with an IT guy resume.

I don't know how to make it look pretty, as I have not had a "real" job for the last four years. I've been drumming and building/fixing computers and providing network/systems repair out of my home for ahem...(mostly cash)... ahem.

I have decided to make an attempt to enter the workforce, but my resume is ancient, and need to make it current and pretty.

God knows I can't make myself look current and.... well, you know.

I have 10 years experience and certs, but not very good at putting together a resume.

Will trade lots of casino cash for help.

Help?

Dinny

Create a "summary" resume that is entirely listed on a single page. Very often prospective employers, swamped with resumes, will only read the top page. ALWAYS SUPPLY A COVER LETTER. The cover letter should indicate why you are interested in that particular company/job. Most template resumes/services recommend a one page resume. It is important to go further than that, however, so provide a secondary, more detailed "resume" in behind the single page. The secondary resume gives you a chance to "sell yourself" to your prospective employer. To create the secondary resume, start with the single page resume as a framework. Under each job listed, provide detailed information about your job responsibilities, accomplishments & etc. This is your opportunity to "throw in the kitchen sink" about yourself. Believe me, if you do this you WILL get interviews.

Employers often get many resumes that all look alike. Do SOMETHING to make yours stand out a little from all the rest. A logo, colored fonts, colored paper or any reasonable, professional looking eye catcher is a good idea. You don't want your resume buried under 100 others that all look and sound similar. Many employers like e-mailed resumes. Some are not as keen about e-mailed resumes. For a job you REALLY, REALLY want, send both a hard copy resume and an electronically generated resume. Call to find out an e-mail address if you don't have one. For marginal job opportunities you may wish to only send the electronic resume (saves you time, postage, paper, ink, & etc.).

DON'T BE AFRAID TO EMBELLISH since most people do to some degree. Mickey Rooney, for example, appeared in many movies, television shows, theatre and etc. Nevertheless, he said HE embellished his own resume. (Embellish but don't lie). Don't be embarrassed to "toot your own horn" and tell about all the great things you have accomplished at each job you held. Your opening paragraph of this thread is indicative of what you SHOULD NOT DO. You opened in a defensive manner explaining why you haven't been in the main stream workforce. Don't do that! It is a RED FLAG to prospective employers. Although your recent work history may have been a little unconventional in your mind, communicate it as though you were actively employed. In your case, you simply had YOUR OWN COMPANY that provided I.T. services. Doesn't that sound much better? Don't demean yourself before you ever get your foot in the door! Always remember that prospective employers WANT TO LIKE YOU! They are looking for quality employees.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, AVOID "RED FLAGS". Don't include anything that may get you immediately eliminated. For example, obviously don't mention you required "cash" in your own business. That makes people think you were avoiding paying legal taxes. If you have received honors and awards in your field, include those on your resume. If you haven't, or if they were minimal, just don't include a section titled, "honors/awards." CHECK YOUR REFERENCES. If you don't have good references, just put "References will be supplied upon request". If you think you have good references, and want to list them, call them in advance to let them know you are updating your resume and ask their permission to use them as a reference. Try to get an indication from them that they will actually say GOOD THINGS about you. Don't just assume they will say good things about you even if you think they will. In extreme cases, you can hire a professional reference checking service. These services call your references and document their responses to questions about your background. These services are not cheap. The prices typically range from $100 up depending on the complexity of the questions asked. Despite the cost, they can be helpful if you really aren't certain what your previous employers may say about you.

All this sounds like hard work. Just remember that you have a job right now. Your job now is to find a job. Therefore, it takes time and effort to get it right. Hope this helps.