AN EFFECTIVE IT RESUME IS THE FIRST STEP towards demonstrating yourself as a viable employee. It shows your background, establishes your persona, and when done well becomes a spotlight that helps you stand out from hundreds of other applicants. Sitting down to write (or revise) your resume, however, can seem daunting. You have your basic biography,but in most cases rattling off a catalog of everything youve ever done just isnt feasibleor desirable.

So what goes in and what stays out? How, amidst all this chatter about bullet points, stressing accomplishments, and describing your work history, do you actually write a resume?

Well, unfortunately there is no magic formula. Resumes, like candidates, are intensely personal, full of tics, idiosyncrasies, and individual stories. What enhances one resume might damage another. While no unswerving blueprints exist, however, there are common elements. This resume guide will help you make informed decisions about:

UnderstandingprofitableskillsetsintheIT Industry Assessingyourbackground Locatingatargetjob Criticallyreadingajobposting Researchingatargetcompany Pullingitalltogether

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALSASTEP-BY-STEPGUIDEONWRITINGEFFECTIVEITRESUMES

INSIDE1. UNDERSTANDING PROFITABLE SKILL SETS IN THE IT INDUSTRY2. ASSESSING YOUR BACKGROUND3. LOCATING A TARGET JOB4. CRITICALLY READING A JOB POSTING5. RESEARCHING A TARGET COMPANY6. PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDEEventhoughwellbediscussingwriting a resume as a series of discrete steps, it probably wont work like that in practice. Writing is a recursive processitgoesinfitsandstarts,assteps overlap and spark new ideas. Everystepyoutake,andwordyouwrite, shifts and impacts every other decision, so there will be some back andforth.Considerthesesectionsas different aspects youll need to address, rather than rigid process instructions.

P2

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

1. UNDERSTANDING PROFITABLE SKILL SETS IN THE IT INDUSTRY

Oneoftheinitialstepsisrecognizingwhatwillcatchapotentialemployerseye.Everyjobhasitsownrequirements and expectations (more on that later), but there are nevertheless some reoccurring features.Thesecanbeclassifiedashardskillsandsoftskills.

Here are things you might see popping up repeatedly as hard skill traits for IT positions:

Operating Systems(Unix/Linux) Desktop Operating Systems(Macs,the various iterations of Windows) Programming Languages(Java,C++,Perl) Network Administration (design, capacity planning, management) Systems Analysis and Systems Design Database Management or Design HTML, XML, or other Web-based programming skills Hardware and Accessories (printers, docking stations,PCcards,etc.) Workstation and Desktop Administration Virtualization(servervirtualization,desktop virtualization,applicationvirtualization,cloud computing, etc.) Mobile application development Securities, Data Protection, and Fault Tolerance Any industry specific technical skills (ex.Computationalchemistryprograms; sales force, accounting, or stock tracking software;logisticssupport,etc.) Proprietary applications

Manycompanies,dependingonsizeandfocus, wont be looking for someone who can do all thesethingstheyll look for someone who can do some combination of these things very well. Smallerbusinesses will usually look for generalists IT professionals with a broad set of skills who can

do more but may not have deep understanding of any one technology. Specialists on the other hand, are valuabletolargerorganizationslookingforexpertsspecializinginspecifictechnologies.Understandingthedistinction between generalists and specialistswillhelpyoudefineyourtechnical skill set and identify theorganizationsyoushouldbe applying to.

P3

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

Beyondtechnicalskills,(whichyoushouldthinkofasthe baseline of competency for an IT position),companies look for employees who can demonstrate so-calledsoftskillslessconcretebutnolesscrucial. Here are the major types:

LEADERSHIP SKILLSAsolidleaderdoesmanythingswell.Hiringmanagers want someone who can motivate others, resolve differences (whether of opinion or personality), anticipate issues before they arise, and weave the goals of one department into the larger fabric of the companyamong many other things.

WRITING/COMMUNICATION SKILLSBusinessisaworldofconstantdocumentation.Incoming employees, even highly technical ones, are oftentakenabackbytheamountofwriting.Ona call-centerjob,youwritenightlyreportsaboutvolumeand trends, as well as accounts of individual calls. Teams and individuals write status reports. You couldwritefieldreportsaboutclientconsultationsor conferences, and incident reports to document securitybreaches.Lowerlevelemployeeswriteproposals seeking approval for projects or equipment, and managers write memos to dictate policy and documentstandardoperatingprocedures.Anddonteven get me started on process instructions.

TEACHING AND TRAINING SKILLSEventhoughyourethetechnologyexpert,youllstill train people to use the technology. Sometimes, this will be simple (say, setting up a secure network password) and sometimes more complicated (like, say, using the database you built so lovingly). The trainingmaybeonaone-offbasis,orinthecontextoftrainingmultipleend-usersinaclassroomsetting.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLSAcommonindustrybuzzwordismulti-taskinghandling more than one project or task at once. Its a challenging skill set because it involves heavy prioritization,time-management,andorganization.

Onestepabovemulti-taskingisproject management, where you oversee a multidimensional project, often involving overlapping stepsor multiple employees working at the same timeand coordinate them all toachieveacommongoal.Especiallyfor higher level IT jobs, project management is a crucial skill set.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLSMosttechnicaljobsarentdoneinisolation. You solve other peoples computer problems, answer their questions, and harness technology to meet their objectives. Since technology enhances peoples lives, you better make sure that (as an expert in technology)peopledontfindyoutoofrustrating.Playingniceinthesandboxis just as important as an adult as it is when youre a child.

DONT LIST SKILLS IN WHICH YOU MAY NOT BE PROFICIENT.

DO BE HONEST ABOUT THE SKILLS YOU POSSESS. LIST THOSE SKILLS THAT YOUR SUPERIORS HAVERECOGNIZED.

P4

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

When you read job postings, or consider what you might bring to a position, be mindful of these common traits, and try to present your material (and anticipate a companys needs) accordingly.

2. ASSESSING YOUR BACKGROUND

Equallyasimportantasknowingwhatemployerswant, is knowing what you have to offer and how topresent this information. It is common to think of all ways of describing something on a resume as beingequal. That is simply not the case.

Ideally,aresumewillprofilethemostnoteworthyparts of your backgroundthings separating you fromotherpeopledoingthesamejob.Asyouconsider your resume, keep the following questions in mind.Doingsowillhelpyougenerateclear,specificresume material.

1. DESCRIBE ANY TIMES YOUVE BEEN SINGLED OUT FOR RECOGNITION.

This can be in a formal settingreceiving employee ofthemonth,forexample,orearningaspecificcompliment during an annual review. It can also be more casual, like getting a gift card from a managerasanattaboyforworkingovertimetomeetadeadline.What,specifically,earnedyoutherecognition? What did you receive?

2. DESCRIBE ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS OR PROPOSALS IMPLEMENTED AT YOUR PREVIOUS JOBS.

The ability to innovate, and communicate innovation, is highly prized.Ifanyspecificideasofyoursmade it through the approval process, include them on your resume. Whatspecificthingdidyouproposethatmade the company better?

3. DESCRIBE TIMES YOU WERE GIVEN SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY.Think about moments a manger picked you to head up a project, or take on an opportunity, when they could have selected other people. What was the nature of the task? What did it involve?

DONT LIST EVERY JOB OR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE SAME LEVEL OF DETAIL.

DO SELECT SPECIFIC MOMENTS AND EXPERIENCES THAT HIGHLIGHT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

P5

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

4. DESCRIBE TIMES YOU CONTRIBUTED SOMETHING TANGIBLE AND MEASURABLE TO THE COMPANYS SUCCESS.Companieslovequantifyingaccomplishments.Didyouincreasenetworkefficiency?Orboostoverallofficeproductivitylikefasterresponsetimetocustomerinquiriesororderprocessing?Didyourworkincreaseprofits,sales,webtraffic,ormarketshare?Ifso,byhowmuch?Didyouincreasethecompanysindustryprofilelikebysecuringapublication or speaking at a conference? Think about how success is measured in your industry. How do you measure up?

5. DESCRIBE ANY MAJOR PROJECTS IN WHICH YOU WERE INVOLVED.What did you contribute to them, and what did they contribute to the company? How were they received? Try to avoid vague terms like assisted, helped,contributedto,andsimilarterms.Chartthenatureofyourinvolvementasspecificallyasyoucan.

6. DESCRIBE HOW YOU STAY INFORMED ABOUT EMERGING DIMENSIONS OF YOUR FIELD.Doyouattendconferences,subscribetomajorpublications, or maintain membership in trade

organizations?Areyourcertificationsand knowledge current? How do you ensure this? What might make the immediacy of this knowledge valuable to an employer?

Eachofthesepromptswillhelpyouisolate strong resume material that can demonstrate the kind of personality traits hiring managers often seek, including: reliability, respect for others,professionalism,confidence,innovation, and openness to new ideas.

Goingthrougheachpositioninyourbackground with these prompts in mind will help you pick out material that will shine on your resume, and give you a better sense of what jobs to target.

3. LOCATING A TARGET JOB

Nowitstimetoseewhatthejobfieldhas to offer. This can be intimidating. Whensearching,youllfindlots of things that dont quite match your education, expertise, or

P6

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

Thereareothersaswell.Manyothers.Thousands of others. In fact, just like you probably wont use all databases and web resources at your disposal, most companies wont use all of them either.

Consequently,theressometimesavast difference between search results at the various sites, so strike abalance between combing through the massive sites and the specialty ones.

Dontgotoocrazywithsubmittingapplications, by the way, or apply too hastily. Really scout the positionsfor something that matches your skill sets,andtrynottowinkatthefirstpretty job that comes along. It may seem counterintuitive, but youll be much more successful if you effectively target,say,tenjobsthatfityouwell,than if you apply to a hundred jobs haphazardly.

For more details about some of the sites mentioned above, as well as profiles of a few others, check outour blog post listing the 7 Best Job Sites for IT Professionals.

experience. When you toss in anxiety about all the other people looking for the same kind of job, it is easy to be discouragedand perfectly natural.

If you know where to look, however, and can accept theunavoidable,needle-in-a-haystackfeeling,therearefineopportunitiestobefound.Therearetwowaysto conduct a job search: passively and actively.

When you look passively, you post a resume to a web-siteordatabaseandwaitforpeopletocometo you. Theres nothing inherently wrong with this strategy.Youhavetorecognize,though,thatmanyhiring managers are so overwhelmed with candidates actively applying that there is little need (or inclination) to farm the databases.

When someone is staring at a list of four hundred resumes, the last thing they often want is more.

Abetterjobsearchstrategyistoaggressivelyseekoutandapplytopostings.Peopleplacejobadsinallsorts of venues: college career centers, local or universityjobfairs,companyweb-sites,socialnetworks, and trade publications among them.

Themostcommonwaytofindjobpostings,though,is to troll the online databases. In addition to massive,full-servicejobportalslikeMonsterorCareerBuilder,trysitesthatfocusonITjobsspecifically,likethefollowing:

www.dice.comwww.computerjobs.comwww.itjobs.comwww.justtechjobs.comwww.devbistro.comwww.icrunchdata.comwww.prgjobs.com

DONT APPLY FOR EVERY JOB THAT CROSSES YOUR PATH

DO SEEK OUT THE JOBS THAT ARE A CLEAR FIT WITH YOUR SKILLS, BACKGROUND AND INTERESTS.

P7

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

4. CRITICALLY READING A JOB POSTING

Thefirststeptocriticallyreadingajobposting,naturally,isactuallyreadingajobposting.Dontjustdashthroughtheheadlinesinyourenthusiasm;examine the desired and necessary traits, minimumexperience,andrequiredcertificationsorGPAstandards. If a company is serious enough to mention those criteria, they probably mean them. If you see something that would reasonably disqualify you, its best to move on to another posting.

Ifyoufindsomethingthatseemslikeagoodmatch,give it a closer look. Weve already covered the basic skillsetsthatcompaniesoftenemphasize.Whileallof them are important to some extent, their relative degree of importance will be a function of the job in question.Toassesswhattraitsaremostspecificallyin play, you need to learn how to critically read a job posting.

Start by carefully examining what is being requested. Dontjustlookatthetraitsdescribedconsidertheirorganizationandemphasis.Itisareasonableassumption that the most important traits will be addressedfirst,orbegiventhemostfocusedattention. Sometimes, a welldeveloped job posting willemphasizespecificduties,makingabigdealabout security or problem solving. Sometimes the most important traits are mentioned more than once. If any of the above occurs, make sure that your resumefollowssuit,andreflectstherelativeemphasisof the job posting itself.

You can also look carefully at how a company describesitselfinthis,theirfirstimpression.Acompany assumption that the most important traits willbeaddressedfirst,orbegiventhemostfocusedattention. Sometimes, a well developed job posting willemphasizespecificduties,makingabigdealabout security or problem solving. Sometimes the

CREATE A TIERED SYSTEM WITH THE LEAST VALUABLE PERK ON THE BOTTOM AND WORK YOUR WAY TO THE TOP.

DONT SKIM A JOB POSTING AND ASSUME IT WILL BE A GOOD MATCH.

DO LOOK CRITICALLY AT THE POSTING. SEE WHERE YOUR SKILLS LINE UP WITH THE SPECIFIC SKILLS THE EMPLOYER IS SEEKING.

most important traits are mentioned more than once. If any of the aboveoccurs, make sure that your resume followssuit,andreflectstherelativeemphasis of the job posting itself.

You can also look carefully at how a company describes itself in this, their firstimpression.Acompanythatleadsbycallingitselfadaringinnovatorwill

P8

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

Such details are not arbitrary preferencestheyre actually part of the screening process, designed to weed out anyone who (a) doesnt follow instructions,or(b)iscarpet-bombingthe industry by sending a resume to anyone willing to read it. In either case, such resumes rarely make it out of the initial stages of candidate selection.

Iftheymakeaspecificrequest,besureyou oblige.

For some insight into how inappropriate responses to a posting are typically received (hint: not well) checkout this article by TrainSignals CEO Scott Skinger, which discusses some of these tips from a businessowners perspective: IT Job Tips: How to get into the YES Folder.

probablyrespondtoyouremphasizingaccountsofany revised processes or fresh technologies, or how they might be used. If they describe themselves as adynamicandfastpaceddevelopmentteamtheyvealready communicated three ideas: constant change,and the importance of deadlines and group goals. Companiesonlygetafiniteamountofspacetopitchthemselves,sowhattheyemphasizeisfrequentlyimportant.

When you incorporate these dimensions, by the way, makesureandbackupyourclaimswithspecificexamples, in addition to dropping in key words Parrotingthecompanyslanguagebacktothem,andleavingitatthat,oftencomesacrossasflimsy.

Caution: it isnt at all uncommon for employers to get a little sneaky when they write their job postings. Manyemployerswillspecifyacertainpersonto whom applications should be addressed, for example,orrequestaspecificresumesectionorpieceofcontent.Otherswillrequestthatapplicantsincludespecifickeywordsortagsfortheirsearchabledatabase.

P9

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

Look at Mission or Vision StatementsEverycompany,largeorsmall,triesto craft an identity for themselves, abrand.Acorporateidentitycanoften provide clues into what kind of employeetheyrelookingfor.Manycompanies post mission statements on their website. Showing familiarity with these corporate ideals can help you craft your own persona, and determine howyourindividualjobfitsintothecompanyslargerpicture.Forasamplemission statement, take a look at ShareSquared.

Research the Companys Place in the IndustryJust like its important to know how yourpotentialpositionfitsintothecompany, its important to understand howthecompanyitselffitsintotheindustryculture.Aretheyamajorplayer with elite status, or are they a respectablestart-up?Dotheyaspireto marketplace dominance, or are they contentwithservingasmall-scalemarket and doing so well?

5. Researching a target company

Nowthatyouvegotsomeideaaboutyourbackground as a candidate, know the jobs available to you, and know how to evaluate a job posting, the next step is to research your target company. In addition to looking for cue words in the job posting, here are some ways you can learn who youre talking to:

Review Your FamiliarityUnlessyoureapplyingforeveryjobthatcomesalong, theres probably a reason you picked one companyoveranother.Whendidyoufirsthearaboutthem? Jogging your memory can help you determine how to tactfully approach the company, blending their interests with yours.

DONT ASSUME YOU KNOW ABOUT A COMPANY WITHOUT DOING RESEARCH ON THEM.

DO RESEARCH THE COMPANY TO LEARN ABOUT ITS VISION, SIZE, GROWTH, CULTURE AND THE TYPE OF WORK THEY PROVIDE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

P10

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

This kind of research is especially important if youre applyingforajobatacompanythatisntITspecificlike, say, a company that makes diving equipment whoneedsanITperson.Mostsuchcompanieswanta techie, yes, but they also want someone who can understandtheirlargerindustry--oratminimumshowtheyre willing to understand it.

Asyouresearch,herearethingstolookfor: Talksorpresentationsatconferences or webinars. Interviewswithemployees/owners. Companyprofiles,whetherself-produced, third-party,orsocialnetwork(i.e.LinkedIn profiles). PressReleases,whichwilltellyouabout recent innovations Productorservicereviews

Mostofthisinformationwillbeavailableonline.Formore focused research, try running an internet search with any of the above keywords plus the company name. You can also research major players in thecompany, like whoever calls the bigger picture shots, so who you know youll be working with. It isnt necessarytobecomeafull-fledgedexpertattheresume stagethough if youre especially interested in the position, or have advanced to the interview process, I wouldnt discourage it. The only essential step is that you show any familiarity at all.

When you work this information into your cover letter or resume, by the way, try to do so with some tact.Connectthethingsthatyoudiscoverwithyourownidentity as a candidate, or design the bullet points onyour resume to implicitly match areas of repeated company interest. Try to be more subtle than simply dropping in key words or phrases, though.

Ifyoudothiswell,thebenefitscanbeimmense.Mostapplicantswriteaone-size-fits-allcoverletterthatdoeslittletoincorporatespecifics;theseapplicationsarefrequentlyignored.Putmorepositively,showingthe kind of familiarity described above is a great way

to get noticed for positive reasons. In an age of information and networking, most companies work hard at telling people about themselvesmake sure they know that youre listening.

6. pulling it all together

Afteryouvegonethroughthesesteps,youll have a much better sense of who youre talking to, and what you have tosay.Nowapplytheinsightsyouvedevelopedtoyourresumes.Notice,by the way, the use of the plural in that last sentence: resumes. There is suchmagnificentdiversityofpositions,backgrounds, companies, and needs that it is almost impossible for one resume to capture them all fully.

Formoreinformationaboutpresentingyour resume (now that you have afirmergriponyourmaterialandobjectives) we invite you to check out the following pages, from TrainSignals IT Resumes 101 series:

IT Resume BasicsLearnaboutthedifferent sections of an IT resume and how you can avoid getting bumped from the pile during your job search.

P11

ULTIMATE GUIDE RESUME WRITING FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

About the author Alan Ackmann teaches Business and Technical Writing at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. His creative work has appeared in a variety of literary journals, including Ontario Review and McSweeneys. In addition to teaching and writing, he edits resumes on a freelance basis.

About Train Signal TrainSignal, Inc (www.TrainSignal.com) is the leader in video training for IT Professionals. Their training products cover Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, Citrix and VMware. Courses are available via online streaming and in offline viewing for training on the go. With videos that cover both real-world and certification topics, TrainSignal has something for everyone.

Crafting Your Education Section See what should (andshouldnt)gointotheEducationsectionofyourresume,howtoincorporateyourITcertifications,andwhereyourEducationsectionshouldliveonyourresume.

Tips for a Perfect Technical Skills SectionOptimizethe Technical section of your resume with these 4 tips that cover accuracy, formatting, and more.

How to Optimize Your Work History Section Want to set yourself apart from the competition?SeehowspecificdetailsaddedtoyourWorkHistorysection can help tell a story and show off your expertise.

Language Skills, Volunteer Experience, Publications...Gettheinfoonhowtoincorporateadditional sections and valuable information to your IT resume including language skills, volunteer experience, publications, presentations, professional affiliationsandmore.

DONTTHINK ABOUT YOUR JOB SEARCH FROM JUST YOUR OWN NEEDS AND WANTS. DONT SEND THE SAME RESUME TO ALL EMPLOYERS.

DOAPPROACH YOUR JOB SEEKING FROM THE EMPLOYERS POINT OF VIEW. ASK YOURSELF, WHAT VALUE CAN I BRING TO THIS COMPANY TO HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR MISSION? CUSTOMIZE YOUR RESUME TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIFC QUALITITES AND SKILLS THEYRE SEEKING

Andforevenmoreinformation,asitbecomesavailable,youcanalwaysvisitourITCareerHelpSectionatwww.trainsignaltraining.com/it-career-help, which updates frequently with content about resumes, cover letters, interview techniques, and job search strategiesas well as all manner of other IT related information. We hope to see you regularly.

In the meantime, we wish you the best of luck with your job search!