As a vocational school counselor I have the opportunity to view many resumes from students, which will never be read because of the way the documents were written. This article is an open letter to all information technology professionals who are looking for a new job in the information technology field.
Hello Information Technology job candidates:
I’m Melissa Waltch. After reading your resumes, please let me take this opportunity to help you ensure companies will read your resume and give you the opportunity, which you have worked very hard to obtain.
When helping students write a resume I use a six part formula, which will be explained to you below.
Let’s start by keeping one point in mind. When writing a resume, remember to think about the person who will be reading your document. That person must read through hundreds if not thousands of resumes in a year and the big question is how to make your resume stand out from the pack. This is what we will do for you below.
1. At the top of your document please list your contact information. This is an excellent way to begin your resume.
2. Directly under your contact information insert a heading, which we will call goal. This heading is very important because this is your first chance to sell yourself to that future employer. Under the goal heading list your goal to match the job title you are applying for. You might ask why would someone do this? If your goal matches the job title you applied for, the person reading your resume will draw the impression of a perfect match. Congratulations you won round 2.
3. Your next heading should be a list of skills. This one is a bit tricky and you will have to think for a moment before you start writing. Under the skills heading list the skills, which you feel matches the job you are applying for. For example if you completed CompTIA A+ course for computer repair When you apply for a job repairing computers, list the skills needed to repair a computer. The person reading your resume now forms a stronger impression of your document. Your reader saw your goal and you followed up with matching skills. Now your document should be advancing in the pile.
4. The next area you want to list is your previous work experience. Try to describe your past experience in a way to match the job your applying for.
5. Your fifth heading will be your education. List every school you attended including your most recent vocational school. Employers love to see applications from a candidate who has recently attended school.
6. Your last statement on your resume is very powerful, but few people fail to use it. The sixth part of your document should state (references are available upon request). This adds credibility to your resume.
The next document you will send your targeted companies is a cover letter. The cover letter should be no more than 1/3 of a page. This is the place to talk about yourself as being a team player and having excellent people skills. In order to make your cover letter stand out, insert a couple of sentences about the company you want to work for. For example if you were applying to ABCO Technology use something like this. I have always wanted to work for a good vocational school who offers students the opportunity to achieve a career in information technology. By inserting this sentence your cover letter is more about the company than yourself. You are telling this company that you researched them and you believe the skills you have will be a perfect match.
Remember a resume is about selling yourself to the employer you want to work for. When you combine your accomplishments and demonstrate how they will help your future employer, your resume will move ahead of the rest of the crowd who do not understand this concept.
Lastly I would strongly recommend passing certification exams. Employers are under heavy pressure to hire employees who are certified because companies receive a large discount for technical support when they hire someone with vender certifications.
ABCO Technology offers information technology training in four major areas: networking, database, web development and programming. Please call our school for more information about our programs. You can reach us at (310) 216-3067 Monday Through Friday from 9 AM. To 6 PM. If email is your preferred method to communicate, email our team for a schedule of programs and classes to:
info@abcotechnology.com.
Learn to write a strong resume today!
Article by Melissa Waltch.
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