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IIt is safe to say that all of us in the technology sector enjoyed the boundless opportunities – and financial reward - available to us during the 1990’s. Top candidates with skills in leading edge technologies chose from dozens of tempting positions, complete with enormous signing bonuses, stock options, and excellent salaries – often without even having to submit a resume to be considered. For those of us in the technology sector, those “good old days” ended in 2000. After our recent 5-year period of impressive growth, we again face the challenges of an economic downturn. As layoffs continue, and as thousands of people apply for a limited number of positions, we can draw on what we learned during the “IT Nuclear Winter” of 2000 – 2003.
When recruiters and hiring managers sift through hundreds of resumes for any one position, the content quality of your resume is critical. The resume should, within 15 seconds of reading and within about one half of a page, communicate the following information
~ What you are…
~The types of products or services you sell, develop, implement, or distribute.
~The vertical markets/customers these products address.
~Your history of reaching or exceeding objectives and the awards or promotions you received in recognition of your excellence.
~Your specific technical abilities (if yours is a technical resume).
Download Sample Resumes:
Sample
Resume1 (pdf)
Sample
Resume2 (doc)
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I recommend using an “Executive Summary” or a “Professional Summary” rather than an “Objective.” This summary should be no more than 1/2 of a page, and it should bring to the front of your resume the most important points from the subsequent page(s), thereby encouraging readers to thoroughly explore your qualifications.
When listing your past and present employers, don’t assume that all readers of your resume will know about the products and services of those employers; therefore, you should include a brief one or two line description of each company.
Be sure to keep resumes to two pages, if at all possible. With the ever-changing technological advances in today’s hi tech arena, only list information about your positions within the past 10 years.
Finally, remember that many recruiters use software programs that scan your resume for keywords. Be sure to include in your resume as many industry-specific keywords and acronyms as possible.
Although job boards list many exciting positions, I have found that networking either with recruiters or with former business associates is the most effective way to secure a position. Additionally, many cities have very good networking groups which recruiters, like myself, utilize to access resumes. The best networking opportunities, however, are within the circle of individuals with whom you have worked in the past. LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) is another valuable networking tool.
Even if you have faced numerous rejections, always remain positive and upbeat about your job search. Companies do not like to hire candidates who seem “desperate”. Even though the market is becoming extremely tight for jobs, know that the market will improve and that work is available if you are flexible and if you conduct diligent research. If you are unemployed, remember that your job search IS a full-time job.
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