When writing a resume for a high-tech position such as Computer Information, Network Administration, PC Tech Support or Systems Administrator be sure to include a full range of your technical skills. Strengthen and support your technical skills with transferable skills such as departmental coordination, project management, staff or user training experience.
Many high tech job seekers become too focused on marketing only their technical skills. Or, if they do try to market their transferable skills they use job titles that don’t convey how past experience matches the computer positions they want.
We’ll use an example from my booklet, 6 Easy Steps to Create Resumes and Cover Letters for Computer Information Students. Here’s an abbreviated section from Valerie’s resume:
Networking
Management
Pioneered user groups, supervisors and granted their rights.
Administered and maintained Microsoft NT and Novel Network.
PC Support
Teamwork
Analyzed computer problems on campus.
Installed hard drives, floppy drives, monitor cards and CD-ROMS.
Upgraded 486 PC lab to Pentium system.
NETWORKING TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Network Administration
Assigned trustee rights, created users and login scripts, installed operating systems, work stations and print server, and administered security right.
System Troubleshooting
Consulted with Program Managers to troubleshoot systems in 4 departments.
User Training - Computer Applications
Designed Access software package for Computer Department tracking 100 clients annually.
Management
Managed computer troubleshooting teams.
Managed departmental night shift.
Trained service oriented employees.
Since Valerie’s work experience had been with a company making auto glass
windows she listed her "transferable skills" in the left hand column of her
before resume without stating that she had worked for the auto glass
manufacturer. While Valerie’s before resume hits upon some of the skills best
suited for a Technical Support or Networking position it did not show the depth
of her skills. Take a moment and read an abbreviated section (only about
one-fifth of the resume is provided below) from Valerie’s after resume which she
created by using 6 Easy Steps to Create Resumes and Cover Letters for
Computer Information Students.
EMPLOYMENT, Holmes Manufacturing 1990 - Present
Departmental Management
Managed departmental operations and staff of 15 for branch with sales of $1.2 million.
Customer Service Administration
Oversaw customer service and administration to serve up to 200 customers per shift.
Which resume creates the strongest image of Valerie’s skills? Knowing that network administrators often have to coordinate with a variety of departments, service internal customers, train users and troubleshoot systems -- who would you call for an interview when comparing the before and after resume?
Using subheads like those shown below the heading of Networking Technical Support, provide depth to your resume and sell your top skills at a glance. Valerie was able to create her after resume by using the resume examples, skill headings, sample sentences and easy to follow worksheets provided in my booklet. Click here if you would like to read a detailed description of 6 Easy Steps to Create Resumes and Cover Letters for Computer Information Students ($5.59 download and $8.95 paper copy). I recommend this booklet for those job seekers who are recent graduates and need to learn how to market their Computer Information training and combine it with past work experience to land positions in the $12 to $18 range. If you have extensive experience in the Computer Information or related fields and are seeking positions in the $30,000 to $70,000+ range, then I recommend my newest booklet, Proven Resumes: Strategies That Increase Salaries. It is written for a higher income and experience levels and includes over 2,000 skills and skill lists for 40 industries including Computer System Administration, Technical Support, Computer Equipment and Programs, Project and General Management. It is also described below.
