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Preparing your Resume

These days, more and more recruiters are finding technical candidates by using the Internet; therefore, having an online version of your resume is crucial. By posting your resume on line with job boards you will be exposed to employers from all over the world. You may still spend some time searching for and applying to job openings, however, with the right resume; employers will be calling you!

In preparing a Technical resume it is important that you gather specific technology details from your past. Recruiters search using keywords that are required for that position so it is important that you list all of our technical skills specifically by brand. For instance, if we were searching for an Engineer that had experience with Cisco routers and PIX firewalls we would search on Cisco and PIX not routers and firewalls. It is good to keep your resume updated with new skills or new technology as you gain more experience. Be sure to refresh your resume posting as necessary so the latest skills are listed.

Be sure to organize your resume so that these important keywords are easy to find near the top of your resume and throughout the job history. Hiring Managers will scan your resume briefly looking for these keywords so you want them to stand out.

Once you've caught their attention it is important to keep it by having an organized and grammatically correct resume. Don't rely on spell check to catch everything. The word may be spelled correctly but it is the wrong word such as typing fell instead of feel, it is spelled correctly so the computer will not pick it up as an error. Read through the document several times and if possible, have someone proof read it for you.

Organizing your resume is important and everyone has his or her own opinion as to the best layout. Your resume can be arranged in one of two basic formats: summary or chronological.

The summary (or functional) resume distills your total work experience into major areas of expertise, and focuses the reader's attention on your accumulated skills.

The chronological resume presents your skills and accomplishments within the framework of your past employers. (Actually, it should be called a reverse chronological resume, since your last job should always appear first.)

Although the information you furnish the reader may essentially be the same, there's a big difference in the way the two resumes are constructed, and the type of impact each will have.

Experience has shown that the chronological resume brings the best results, since it's the most explicit description of the quality and application of your skills within a specific time frame.

Many people use the summary format if they've changed jobs or careers often, and wish to downplay their work history and highlight their area of expertise. However, most hiring managers are interested in knowing specifically how long you were in each position handling the specific tasks they are interviewing for so the summary resume will very likely work against you. The summary format leaves questions that they may not have the time to clarify.

Use your own taste but do follow some guidelines. Here are a few ideas:

The first page is key

Resume Objectives

While a stated objective gives you the opportunity to state your employment goals, it can also work against you if it doesn't match exactly what you are applying for. If you're pretty sure of the exact position you want in the field or industry you're interested in, then state it in your objective but keep it short. Otherwise, leave it off the resume.

You want to show all the important stuff up front so know what the Employer is looking for before sending off your resume. In general it is best to focus on your strengths first.

If you are an entry level person with a college degree and you know that a college degree is important to this position than the Education section should be listed above any work experience (especially if the work experience is not related to the position for which you are applying). If you are an experienced person you will be better off focusing on your work history first and having the Education section follow. For technical positions you may want to lead off with a listing of the key words and using a list or bullets is easier to scan than a paragraph. If the list is too long consider a paragraph format with the relevant skills in bold. Again, knowing what the Employer is looking for will tell you which ones to highlight in bold. You may also want to list Technical Certifications prior to work history if they are relevant to the position and especially if they are listed as a requirement for the position, otherwise listing them with the Education section is also fine.

Headings

Use HEADINGS to mark the various sections of the resume and distinguishing each company & job title in your work history. They should be larger than the body of text, and bold. Using all capitols for this is also an option. If someone is going to spend 10 seconds scanning your resume you want the names of the companies you've worked for and the Job Titles you've held to be something they won't miss.

Using Timelines

Timelines should be accurate and listed with at least month & date in descending order. You want the most recent work history at the top since that will be the most relevant and the first job the screener will see. If there are spots in your work history it is better to explain the gap rather than use broader time lines.

Using Bullets

Bullets are great for listing specific job duties or key words under each job. Creating concise sentences that list the main duties of the position may be easier to read than long paragraphs. It may be a good idea to do a short paragraph for each job and then add specific details using bullets. Don't be too skimpy on the details for each position. Give thorough descriptions of responsibilities, technology used to do your job, accomplishments and awards given.

Check for Parallel Structure

Commonly, resumes are assembled like patchwork with different pieces added and deleted over time. As you review your resume and add new information if applicable, make sure the structure of each section remains consistent. If you begin each of the first bunch of bullet-points under a heading with an action verb, for example, then each subsequent bullet point you add under that section should also begin with an action verb. It's easy to forget this as you amend a document, so be careful!

Methods of emphasis, like the bolding of dates or italicizing of company names, should remain consistent throughout your resume as well. Other formatting rules, like spacing and border size, should remain the same too.

Adjust Dates, Company Names, and Software Versions

Look out for references to times and dates in your resume and adjust them as necessary. For example, "Six months of Citrix Experience" may now be "One year of Citrix experience." Look out for items you've marked as "current"; are they still current?

Similarly, examine any version/release numbers you may have included after your software proficiency section. You should change "Microsoft Windows 3.1/95" to "Microsoft Windows 3.1/95/98" if your familiarity as advanced accordingly.

Also be on the lookout of out-of-date company names. If a company name no longer in use appears on your current resume, consider supplementing the old name with the current name to help clarify your experience. "Jack Murphy Stadium" might appear as "Qualcomm Stadium (formerly Jack Murphy Stadium)", as an example

Content

Your resume should be no longer than two pages. Tailor your qualifications specifically to the job you are applying for.

Tips on Submitting a Resume

With the large number of resumes that companies receive, your resume must stand out for you to get an interview. Whether submitting a resume online or through the mail, pay attention to company guidelines for submitting a resume. Following guidelines boosts your chances of getting an interview and landing the job.

Attention to Detail

Before sending your resume, read the advertisement carefully and note what qualifications the company wants in a candidate. For instance, if the job qualifications include skills, list your skill level, years of experience and any awards or recognition you have received in this area. Highlight your qualifications that are relevant to the position. Include this information in your cover letter. The cover letter allows you to elaborate on your experience and qualifications for a position

Employers may ask for your resume in a specific format such as a Microsoft Word document or in text form in the body of an email. Following directions is very important, as an example when I personally post an ad I am very specific on what I want included in the cover letter. When I receive submissions without that information, no matter how qualified a candidate seems I will delete the resume. Nobody wants to hire someone who can not follow directions!


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Staffing Services Preparing Your Resume Interview Tips	Preparing your Resume These days, more and more recruiters are finding technical candidates by using the Internet; therefore, having an online version of your resume is crucial. By posting your resume on line with job boards you will be exposed to employers from all over the world. You may still spend some time searching for and applying to job openings, however, with the right resume; employers will be calling you! In preparing a Technical resume it is important that you gather specific technology details from your past. Recruiters search using keywords that are required for that position so it is important that you list all of our technical skills specifically by brand. For instance, if we were searching for an Engineer that had experience with Cisco routers and PIX firewalls we would search on Cisco and PIX not routers and firewalls. It is good to keep your resume updated with new skills or new technology as you gain more experience. Be sure to refresh your resume posting as necessary so the latest skills are listed. Be sure to organize your resume so that these important keywords are easy to find near the top of your resume and throughout the job history. Hiring Managers will scan your resume briefly looking for these keywords so you want them to stand out. Once you've caught their attention it is important to keep it by having an organized and grammatically correct resume. Don't rely on spell check to catch everything. The word may be spelled correctly but it is the wrong word such as typing fell instead of feel, it is spelled correctly so the computer will not pick it up as an error. Read through the document several times and if possible, have someone proof read it for you. Organizing your resume is important and everyone has his or her own opinion as to the best layout. Your resume can be arranged in one of two basic formats: summary or chronological. The summary (or functional) resume distills your total work experience into major areas of expertise, and focuses the reader's attention on your accumulated skills. The chronological resume presents your skills and accomplishments within the framework of your past employers. (Actually, it should be called a reverse chronological resume, since your last job should always appear first.) Although the information you furnish the reader may essentially be the same, there's a big difference in the way the two resumes are constructed, and the type of impact each will have. Experience has shown that the chronological resume brings the best results, since it's the most explicit description of the quality and application of your skills within a specific time frame. Many people use the summary format if they've changed jobs or careers often, and wish to downplay their work history and highlight their area of expertise. However, most hiring managers are interested in knowing specifically how long you were in each position handling the specific tasks they are interviewing for so the summary resume will very likely work against you. The summary format leaves questions that they may not have the time to clarify. Use your own taste but do follow some guidelines. Here are a few ideas: The first page is key Resume Objectives While a stated objective gives you the opportunity to state your employment goals, it can also work against you if it doesn't match exactly what you are applying for. If you're pretty sure of the exact position you want in the field or industry you're interested in, then state it in your objective but keep it short. Otherwise, leave it off the resume. You want to show all the important stuff up front so know what the Employer is looking for before sending off your resume. In general it is best to focus on your strengths first. If you are an entry level person with a college degree and you know that a college degree is important to this position than the Education section should be listed above any work experience (especially if the work experience is not related to the position for which you are applying). If you are an experienced person you will be better off focusing on your work history first and having the Education section follow. For technical positions you may want to lead off with a listing of the key words and using a list or bullets is easier to scan than a paragraph. If the list is too long consider a paragraph format with the relevant skills in bold. Again, knowing what the Employer is looking for will tell you which ones to highlight in bold. You may also want to list Technical Certifications prior to work history if they are relevant to the position and especially if they are listed as a requirement for the position, otherwise listing them with the Education section is also fine. Headings Use HEADINGS to mark the various sections of the resume and distinguishing each company & job title in your work history. They should be larger than the body of text, and bold. Using all capitols for this is also an option. If someone is going to spend 10 seconds scanning your resume you want the names of the companies you've worked for and the Job Titles you've held to be something they won't miss. Using Timelines Timelines should be accurate and listed with at least month & date in descending order. You want the most recent work history at the top since that will be the most relevant and the first job the screener will see. If there are spots in your work history it is better to explain the gap rather than use broader time lines. Using Bullets Bullets are great for listing specific job duties or key words under each job. Creating concise sentences that list the main duties of the position may be easier to read than long paragraphs. It may be a good idea to do a short paragraph for each job and then add specific details using bullets. Don't be too skimpy on the details for each position. Give thorough descriptions of responsibilities, technology used to do your job, accomplishments and awards given. Check for Parallel Structure Commonly, resumes are assembled like patchwork with different pieces added and deleted over time. As you review your resume and add new information if applicable, make sure the structure of each section remains consistent. If you begin each of the first bunch of bullet-points under a heading with an action verb, for example, then each subsequent bullet point you add under that section should also begin with an action verb. It's easy to forget this as you amend a document, so be careful! Methods of emphasis, like the bolding of dates or italicizing of company names, should remain consistent throughout your resume as well. Other formatting rules, like spacing and border size, should remain the same too. Adjust Dates, Company Names, and Software Versions Look out for references to times and dates in your resume and adjust them as necessary. For example, "Six months of Citrix Experience" may now be "One year of Citrix experience." Look out for items you've marked as "current"; are they still current? Similarly, examine any version/release numbers you may have included after your software proficiency section. You should change "Microsoft Windows 3.1/95" to "Microsoft Windows 3.1/95/98" if your familiarity as advanced accordingly. Also be on the lookout of out-of-date company names. If a company name no longer in use appears on your current resume, consider supplementing the old name with the current name to help clarify your experience. "Jack Murphy Stadium" might appear as "Qualcomm Stadium (formerly Jack Murphy Stadium)", as an example Content Your resume should be no longer than two pages. Tailor your qualifications specifically to the job you are applying for. Tips on Submitting a Resume With the large number of resumes that companies receive, your resume must stand out for you to get an interview. Whether submitting a resume online or through the mail, pay attention to company guidelines for submitting a resume. Following guidelines boosts your chances of getting an interview and landing the job. Attention to Detail Before sending your resume, read the advertisement carefully and note what qualifications the company wants in a candidate. For instance, if the job qualifications include skills, list your skill level, years of experience and any awards or recognition you have received in this area. Highlight your qualifications that are relevant to the position. Include this information in your cover letter. The cover letter allows you to elaborate on your experience and qualifications for a position Employers may ask for your resume in a specific format such as a Microsoft Word document or in text form in the body of an email. Following directions is very important, as an example when I personally post an ad I am very specific on what I want included in the cover letter. When I receive submissions without that information, no matter how qualified a candidate seems I will delete the resume. Nobody wants to hire someone who can not follow directions!