Career Action Center at Edmonds Community College
Creating Your Technical Résumé (CIS STUDENTS)
- Technical résumés may be one or two pages long. Employers
want to see details about what you learned and how you applied the skills.
They also want information about your work history, even if it was in a non-technical
field.
- Objective statements are optional. They can help the employer determine
which type of technical position(s) you seek. For the same reason, an objective
statement can limit you. If you use an objective, keep it simple and straightforward.
Example: Objective: Help Desk position or Objective: Entry-level Network Technician
or Help Desk position
- Technical résumés always contain a section listing information
technology skills (hardware, software, networking, Web, programming, etc.)
For current students and recent graduates, it works well to place this first
on the résumé.
- If you’ve done an internship, include it on the résumé,
either in its own “Technical Internship”
section or under your work history. Provide a detailed explanation of what
you did. Your internship, even if unpaid, constitutes work experience.
- Include seven to ten years of your work history, even if it is unrelated.
If you currently work in a technical field, put your work history near the
beginning of the résumé. Otherwise, place it at the end after
education and class projects. Emphasize skills that will transfer into your
new position (i.e. communication skills, customer service, teamwork experience,
writing, leadership).
- In the education section, describe your class projects (see page 10 for
examples). Use verbs to start each phrase and give enough detail so the potential
employer can picture what you accomplished. Since teamwork is an important
part of today’s workplace, show your teamwork experience on class projects.
Examples: Member of a Systems Analysis team that worked with a representative
from the Maple Valley Clinic to outline system requirements for building a
custom database. Or you can say, As part of a three-person team…or Served
as team leader for….
- Show all of your technical experience, including such things as building
or repairing computers for friends/relatives or creating Websites for friends
or non-profit organizations. Unless you already have professional experience,
it’s essential to demonstrate your skills through class projects and
volunteer work.
- Ask yourself, How can I prove that I do good work? What evidence can I provide
on my résumé? An example from a class might be: Received 4.0
in Visual Basic 6.0; coded final project in team atmosphere (60 hours a week
for two weeks); one of three out of 30 students excused from taking the final
due to extremely high point total.
- You can also demonstrate strengths by creating a “Testimonials”
section at the end of the résumé and quoting one or two comments
from instructors or past supervisors. Example: Sally has
a knack for working with databases. She asks the right questions to get the
information needed and then works hard to bring about results.
John Jasper, Internship Supervisor
- When applying for a Help Desk position, emphasize your interpersonal skills.
If you have a customer service background, consider creating a separate section
(after Technical Skills) to highlight your experience and talent for working
with people.
Give the ASCII version of your résumé more visual appeal by creative use of capital letters, white space, asterisks, lines, and dashes.
EXAMPLES OF TECHNICAL SKILLS SECTIONS
| Example: #1 |
SKILLS SUMMARY |
| Database |
Software/OS |
Networking |
| Oracle Administration |
DOS |
CCNA Certification |
| OCP Certification |
Windows 95/98/2000 |
CISCO Networking |
| Pl/SQL 2000 |
Office 2000 |
LAN Administration |
| Access 2000 |
Web Development |
Basic UNIX |
| Vision 2000 |
HTML |
Troubleshooting |
| Database Theory and Design |
Visual Basic 6.0 Quick Books |
Hardware upgradesInstallation of Software |
|
|
| Example #2 |
COMPUTER SKILLS
Networking: Certified in RJ-45, Category 5 installation;
designed and set-up cost database for LAN (2 segments of 25 &
29 workstations); familiar with hubs, routers, bridges, servers,
punch-down blocks, switches, patch panels, topologies, and all cabling.
Programming: Visual Basic 6.0
Hardware: Build PCs from parts; install peripherals
and devices; familiar with oscilloscope, function generator, multimeter,
and ammeter; Certified in Plated Through Hole and Surface Mount
soldering; skilled at Logic Gates and IC technology; familiar with
CMOS and Device Manager.
Software: Windows 95/98/2000; MS-DOS; Office 97
& 2000; Internet.
|
|
| Example: #3 |
Computer Software & Operating
Systems
Courses included: Litigation Practice, Real Estate and Property
Law, Commercial Transactions, Evidence, Law Office Management, Interviewing
and Investigation Techniques, Advanced Legal Writing and Research.
| Microsoft Visual C/C++ 6.0 |
Cisco IOS 11.0 |
| Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 |
Windows NT 4.0, NetWare 5.0 |
| Red Linus 6.1 |
MS Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint |
| Kernel 2.2.12 |
DOS Windows 9X Visio 2000 |
| Cisco Config Maker 2.4 |
|
|
|
EXAMPLES OF CLASS PROJECTS
| Example: #1 |
Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood,
WA
Visual Basic/C/C++ Certificate 3.9 GPA
- VB Projects: Mortgage Loan Calculator, “Craps” Dice
Game, GPA Calculator
- C/C++ projects: Multiple Tuition Calculator using Input and
Output Dababase Files
- Java Projects: Computer Science Department Web Pages, Multiple
Table/Frame Home Site
- JavaScript Projects: DHTML Page with Image Rollover
- Technical Communication Project: As part of a two-person team,
wrote 47-page employee manual for Entry Services Department at
college. Information gathered through interviews with staff.
|
|
| Example: #2 |
Edmonds Community College, Associate or
Technical Arts, December 2001
Computer Information Systems, Networking Specialization
Three quarters of Cisco courses with hands-on experience including:
|
|
- Installing Windows NT 4.0
|
- Installing Novell NetWare 5.0
|
- Configuring Cisco 1601, 2500 routers, subnetting a class B network
- Simulating LAN and WAN environment with 5 routers and two 1500 series switches
- Installing, configuring Linux 2.2, adding users, changing permissions
|
|
| Example: #3 |
Associate of Technical Arts, Computer Information
Systems, August 2001
Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, WA
- Working in teams, planned and executed several database systems
and hardware requirements from the beginning to the SDLC to the
final stages
- Setup, configured, and maintained a networked environment containing
five routers and switches
- Team leader on the basic design of LAN – designed LAN
for two campus buildings
- Team member for a Help Desk Staff of five students – provided
technical support for 40+ computers and users, simulating real-world
operational problems
|
|
Click Here for an example of a Technical Resume
