Resume Format 1

[kHz]

Currently my resume is two full pages and contains:
Summary
Technologies
Education
Work History

It is said to never go over two pages for a resume, so I was thinking of redoing the resume that would still stay at two full pages, because of another job and experience. But I was thinking of adding another page that would contain only technologies, something like the following:
Technology Number of years used Last used
AIX 11 1 year ago
Solaris 4 Current
WebSphere 4 3 years ago
EMC 2 1 year ago
...
...
...

What are anyone's thoughts on this format? It would be its own page but sent with the two-page resume.

Thanks.

 

[dkediger]

I recently used a "Technologies" section that was basically a single 1.75" column along the left-hand side with a line divider between it and the main "body". Didn't list the years experience/last experience with the technology, but did say something like "Exchange Server: 5.5 to 2003".

 

[BocaBurger]

You need to include Exchange Server, versions: 5.5 to 2003, or the hR person you see first will think you don't understand what a calender is.

Most HR "examiners" are looking for buzz words. I wish you could have 2 resumes. one for HR and one for people who understand that you can't have six years of experience with Windows 2003. (Saw that in a job posting as a requirement).



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[LadySlinger]

I know I had about 3 different version of resumes that I kept on file. One for positions posted by recruiters, one where the posting would go to HR and the other where it was handed directly to the person hiring (if the posting didn't say, then I would just use the HR resume).

It's not a bad idea to indicate how long you've known your core technologies. Doesn't Monster.com include that format?
One recruiter I spoke with said to include a software summary at the end of each job listed on the resume and sum up the software/technologies used. I kept this for contracting jobs I applied to because buzz words like "Exchange Server" and "Windows 2003" could appear multiple times in a recruiters search for job applicants.

In the job market these days, limiting number of pages on a resume may hinder you. I know I was always told keep it to a one page minimum. I did this and didn't even get any calls back. When I got told to put in as much applicable information for the position thats when I would get 1-2 calls a week (which where I live is very good results).

 

[kHz]

Why do employers still insist on MS Word format when there are other formats, like html or pdf that work just as well. I suppose it is due to printing it out, but a pdf file will print just as good as .doc and every business has acrobat reader installed. And html would not limit somebody to 1 page or 2 pages.

I like to think of a resume as a marketing brochure. That is the approach I take. Use it to generate interest and buzz in a future employer. Everything is truthful in my resume, but I just don't think of it as just a list of information. You can't. It precedes your interview and must get callbacks. That is why I was thinking of altering it a bit and using another page with known technologies.

Also, I no longer list all of the training that I have attended because it doesn't fit. I list the pertinent classes in a paragraph in the cover letter. My education section only lists my college degrees.

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions, I appreciate them.

 

[MasterRacker]

I have a 2 page resume and I am working an a longer CV style version for those who may want more details.

I've been told that the resume is still pretty much a skills list and the real marketing document is the cover letter.

(Just for fun one day, I converted mine to 6pt font. I had tons of room to grow.....)

_____
Jeff
_{[purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day}

^{"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me}

 

[BocaBurger]

Wait until your version of Word is much later than theirs and they can't open your .doc.
Nothing like going to a high tech recruiter and seeing them running Windows 95 on their workstations.
Then, they have you fill out paper forms, so someone can type them into a file.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[LadySlinger]

Why do employers still insist on MS Word format when there are other formats, like html or pdf that work just as well. I suppose it is due to printing it out, but a pdf file will print just as good as .doc and every business has acrobat reader installed. And html would not limit somebody to 1 page or 2 pages."

I would vote that the majority of the population is still Word oriented and until a new company comes in and makes a tough competition for MS, resumes will still be asked for in Word. Plus, some people don't like to learn new technology. I've worked in some places where Office Managers react like I'm performing magic when I create a PDF. I agree that PDF is better compatible since you don't have the Microsoft compatibility issue between office suites, and HTML looks pretty handy.

 

[KornGeek]

Also, keep in mind that they want to use one format for all applicants. While technical applicants might be able to submit an html resume, people in other departments (sales, accounting, HR, management, etc.) may not even be able to handle converting to PDF format. Word is something that (nearly) anyone can do.

 

[MDXer]

As someone who now spends a lot of time reading resumes I can honestly say being able to find the information I am looking at easily and quickly will get me to spend more time reviewing a resume. The technologies list I think is a great idea and one I have used for over 5 years. However I have mine set up to be a multi-column something like:

*SQL (10 yrs)       *VB.Net (3yrs)      *ReportNet (1 yrs)
*PowerPlay (3 yrs)  *Proclarity (3 yrs) *Impromptu (3yrs)

I do this in a table and find that it allows me to list many more technologies while still maintaining the 2 page standard. THe technology list down the left side I feel detracts from the rest of the resume, I recently recieved 2 like this and couldn't stand it.

To me bullet points are key to highlighting the important points. Bulleting key resbonibilities and tasks at a company aids the person looking at the resume in finding the information they want. Yes a resume can be viewed as a marketing device but I think it needs to be designed more like a billboard or pamphlet allowing the reader to quickly get all of the needed information, rather then being like a catalog.

I recently read an article discussing resumes and the author pointed out that in his opinion the Objective was the most useless piece of a resume because obviously the objective it to get a job that allows you to utilize and grow your skills. So following that light any more than a 2 line objective is a waste of valuable real estate in my opinion.

Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!
- Daffy Duck

 

[dkediger]

Let me expand on the "minor" left hand column - it also contains my contact information and educational summary in addition to just a technical recap. This leaves the full length of the "major" right hand body for a summary career statement and work experience recaps.

You do have to be very careful with formatting and whitespace in order to keep the elements tied together within themselves and avoid "bleeding" from one column to the other. I've been pleased with its results in my last job search.

 

[langleymass]

Many resumes nowadays are examined by people in HR departments. For whatever reason, this is often where you can find the dumbest people in any company.

Computers are generally quite difficult and confusing for them. If HR people got resumes in many different formats, it would just confuse them even more.

By the way, I am a dedicated Word Perfect user. It has always been a superior product.

Many companies don't take the hiring process seriously at all nowadays. They actually use scanners to sort through resumes. If they got resumes in different formats, this would also complicate the process.

Essentially, the problem is that many people just don't take the hiring process seriously.

I do know of one company that specifically asks for resumes in PDF and will not take them in Word. It's a computer security company, which obviously understands that Word has been a source of viruses in the past.

 

[dkediger]

...one company that specifically asks for resumes in PDF and will not take them in Word. It's a computer security company...

A screening test perhaps? Who takes the time to disable edits in Acrobat?

 

[kHz]

MDXer, do you include your technologies list in the body of your resume, or do you include it as a separate page like I was thinking of doing?

My summary at the beginning of the resume is also a short paragraph of a few short sentences. I like your idea of a 2 line objective.

 

[kHz]

Another thing, I have used WebSphere quite a bit, but my last time was 2003. Should that still be listed on a resume in the technologies section? It is still an app even though it has changed from what it last was when I used it as version 5. But listing it would still show that I am knowledgable with java app servers. Same thing with DB2. I used it quite a bit but that was for 3 years that ended in 2003. And MQSeries...

Thanks for the thoughts and opinions.

 

[MDXer]

My Technologies is immediately after the 2 line objective. It takes up about 25% of the remaining space. My thinking on this is that the reviewer needs to immediatley if I work in the technologies they are looking for. If it is an app I haven't used in a year or 2 I list the versions I have worked in "SQL 7-2005 (10 years)" .

out of curiosity what type of job are you looking for.

Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!
- Daffy Duck

 

[kHz]

I am not currently looking for a job, however, I like to keep my resume current. And because of this job I have now, about 1 year, I need to update my resume which was at 2 full pages before this job. So adding this information would push it over 2 pages. My format presently looks like this (for 3 jobs, but I need to add a fourth job):

Summary
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

specailties in:
* xxxxxxxx * xxxxxxxxxxxx * xxxxxxxxx
* xxxxxxxx * xxxxxxxxxxxx * xxxxxxxxx
* xxxxxxx * xxxxxx * xxxxxxx

Technologies
OS xxx,xxx,xxx,xxx
Databases xxx,xxx,xxx
Languages xxx,xxx,xxx
Security xxx,xxx,xxx
etc

Education
BS
MSEd

Experience

Company A, my city, state 2004-Present
This company does this. (informational paragraph briefly describing the company's business)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(paragraph describing my duties and responsibilities)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

* bullet points of accomplished tasks
* usually 4 or 5 bullet points for each job

Company B, my city, state 2001-2004
This company does this. (informational paragraph briefly describing the company's business)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(paragraph describing my duties and responsibilities)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

* bullet points of accomplished tasks
* usually 4 or 5 bullet points for each job

Company C, my city, state 1995-2001
This company does this. (informational paragraph briefly describing the company's business)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(paragraph describing my duties and responsibilities)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

* bullet points of accomplished tasks
* usually 4 or 5 bullet points for each job

 

[MDXer]

that layout would keep my attention.

Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!
- Daffy Duck

 

[chiph]

I used to work at the largest hosted provider of applicant tracking software (if you've applied for a job at one of the Fortune 500, you've probably used my code), and what we found for online resume submission, the best results were achieved by job applicants who did the following:

1. Always use plain text. Always.
2. Had a technology section that contained trade names of software & systems, plus their common names, acronyms, abbreviations, etc. It's ugly, but the search engine didn't care how it looked.
3. Follow international standards so far as formatting phone numbers and email addresses. Don't be clever and do something like 800.555.1212, because the search engine will be looking for (800) 555-1212 (the ITU standard)
4. Unicode is usually OK, just make sure you include the byte-order marks if it's not UTF-8
5. Try and avoid using ampersands, single-quotes, double-quotes, and angle-brackets. Many systems now use XML as a data-transfer mechanism, and those characters can cause problems if the software wasn't coded correctly (and judging by the XML forum here, most isn't).

Hope this helps.
Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[kHz]

Thanks. I spent A LOT of time on it.

How do I add the new job since it will push it to 3 pages. I really do like the format.