Resume Assistance?
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I just purchased the premium annual plan where I get the practice tests and labs. I am looking around the web site and so far I haven't seen anything talking about resume assistance in hopes of securing an IT job. I'm curious to know if something like this exists or if it will be coming in the future?
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Hi Stephen,
Congratulations on your subscription. It is a great start to not only get you going but to continue to keep you updated with the trends and latest information in the IT space.
However, we currently do not have anything in the library to cover resume essentials. To be honest, that changes about as much as the IT industry. There are some great resources out there for resume writing and best practices.
Some steps that I would recommend:
Get a LinkedIn Profile going if you have not already.
Connect with as many professionals as you can and join some of the groups that are large and focused on IT or the industries you are interested in getting into. Connections help the algorithms display potential jobs for you.
LinkedIn also has many articles and resources for resumes as well.
Otherwise Google items such for "resume tips for 2023" and skip over the sponsored linked...they typically want to charge you money to review your resume. Not all of them, but many.
When it comes to your resume, unless you are handing it directly to the hiring manager, keep it simple with very basic formatting. Most places that you submit your resume, have an automated system that scans your resume. And if there is a lot of formatting and special characters then it will not scan properly and you will get rejected before anyone even sees your resume.And when it comes to applying for a job...don't be afraid of rejection, or even never hearing from a company, even after an interview. Do not talk yourself out of a job, if you feel you are remotely qualified, then apply. Let them say no. Because you never know, they may say yes, but if you said no and never applied...then you lost your chance.
I hope that helps out a little bit.
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Hi Stephen!
To add to what Gerald mentioned, also take a look at an AI service like ChatGPT. Input the job description you're interested in and put in your experience, training etc and ChatGPT will pop out a decent looking resume. Go through it and make adjustments as you see fit or even just use it as an example to draft your own. I've done this in the past and it gave me a great jumping off point for getting my resume spiffed up.
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OK Thanks everyone.
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You can easily search YouTube for resume essentials, and find some great content. Some tips for writing a solid resume include adding in any certifications (including date obtained) you've gotten, and when looking for jobs, be sure to include buzzwords from jobs you're looking for in your roles and responsibilities and also in your Skills section. One word of advice... BE HONEST with what you know, because, while some companies may not call you out on specific skills, I have seen it happen. You can say you know the basics, sure, but if you say you know Active Directory, be ready to validate that at some point during an interview.
Good luck!
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Hey @Stephen-Mol !
Some great advice here from the community. As someone who has had to use a resume in the past 5 years or so after being in the industry for 25 years, I'd add just two things:-
Make sure you read the job posting carefully and look for some key words that they use. You can "throw them back" at the application process by doing just some small tweaks to your CV/Resume. For instance, let's say they are looking for a service/help desk technician. Notice they say "technician". I would then change all my previous roles that are similar to service/help desk technician vs what your title might have actually been. This helps if they use screening software.
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Research the company that you are applying at. Look at their mission statements, recent press releases, etc. If you can use verbiage from those resources, do it!
Hope that helps along with everyone elses advice. The cool thing is that you have this community to come to if you have questions or just need some emotional support. Good luck Stephen!!
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If you're looking to put together a resume for a career in infosec/cybersecurity, a really good reference is Lesley Carhart's YouTube channel. She has an "Infosec resume no-no's" video that is filled with great tips. Check it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOA3-vP1JLw