IT Job Applications (1st Line) - Will you review my CV?
Discussion
Hi all,
Need to try and get really set into this career. Have been faffing around with ages with stupid retail jobs but I've always wanted to get involved in IT as its always been my passion. From reading threads all over the net I need to start in a 1st line support position and have been applying but not really getting much response.
Wondered if anybody involved in IT would have a look at my CV for me and tell me whats going wrong, if anything!
https://viewer.zoho.com/docs/cPhzd
This should work as a way to view it!
Any other advice about how to help myself would also be much appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
Sam
EDIT
After all the advice given tonight I have tried to create a V2 of my CV
uploaded it here: https://viewer.zoho.com/docs/qduuca
Thanks again for all your advice!
Any more critique very much appreciated
Need to try and get really set into this career. Have been faffing around with ages with stupid retail jobs but I've always wanted to get involved in IT as its always been my passion. From reading threads all over the net I need to start in a 1st line support position and have been applying but not really getting much response.
Wondered if anybody involved in IT would have a look at my CV for me and tell me whats going wrong, if anything!
https://viewer.zoho.com/docs/cPhzd
This should work as a way to view it!
Any other advice about how to help myself would also be much appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
Sam
EDIT
After all the advice given tonight I have tried to create a V2 of my CV
uploaded it here: https://viewer.zoho.com/docs/qduuca
Thanks again for all your advice!
Any more critique very much appreciated
Edited by barney2k on Monday 16th January 21:30
Impressive CV Simon!
Just basic technical support with Windows to begin with. I really just need to try and find a foot into the industry!
My lack of experience is obviously the main problem, I am trying to find somewhere to do some work experience at the moment as I am willing to work for free and evening shifts in my current job give me a few free mornings a week.
Should I be bullet pointing the main responsibilities for each role? Do the long paragraphs look "waffly"?
Thanks for your advice!
Just basic technical support with Windows to begin with. I really just need to try and find a foot into the industry!
My lack of experience is obviously the main problem, I am trying to find somewhere to do some work experience at the moment as I am willing to work for free and evening shifts in my current job give me a few free mornings a week.
Should I be bullet pointing the main responsibilities for each role? Do the long paragraphs look "waffly"?
Thanks for your advice!
barney2k said:
Impressive CV Simon!
Just basic technical support with Windows to begin with. I really just need to try and find a foot into the industry!
My lack of experience is obviously the main problem, I am trying to find somewhere to do some work experience at the moment as I am willing to work for free and evening shifts in my current job give me a few free mornings a week.
Should I be bullet pointing the main responsibilities for each role? Do the long paragraphs look "waffly"?
Thanks for your advice!
You will still need to set out what technical aspects you know from the courses as most IT support is simply split down into what you know, so just having the cert from MS will only be picked up by someone looking for that cert... adding the individual aspects of the course mean that 1 cert can now turn into a bullet point of technical knowledge that the HR monkey can quickly see.Just basic technical support with Windows to begin with. I really just need to try and find a foot into the industry!
My lack of experience is obviously the main problem, I am trying to find somewhere to do some work experience at the moment as I am willing to work for free and evening shifts in my current job give me a few free mornings a week.
Should I be bullet pointing the main responsibilities for each role? Do the long paragraphs look "waffly"?
Thanks for your advice!
Bullet pointing what you done at the previous jobs means its easy to read and catches the eye.
As someone who's hired a few 1st line guys in my time i gotta ask "where's the IT?" Since you don't have any job experience you've got to focus on why you want to change careers and how your passion for IT will make you a good employee.
So put together a career/personal statement at the top detailing why you want a job in IT, how you're doing the MCITP yourself and how you've done IT related things as a hobby.
Additionally make sure to highlight duties in your previous employment that a helpdesk would look for. Such as good customer service skills, dealing with awkward people and ability to work to SLA's.
So put together a career/personal statement at the top detailing why you want a job in IT, how you're doing the MCITP yourself and how you've done IT related things as a hobby.
Additionally make sure to highlight duties in your previous employment that a helpdesk would look for. Such as good customer service skills, dealing with awkward people and ability to work to SLA's.
I am an IT director....
Your CV needs to tell me in 30 seconds why you are suitable for the job, it doesn’t at the moment.
As you have little direct IT support experience (yet) you need to highlight the appropriate skills you do have i.e.
• Customer facing skills
• Admin
• Interest in computing/studying for a MS certificate
• Good education
• Try and demonstrate trouble shooting and logical following of process/procedures
• List what apps/hardware you know (can support) e.g. MS office, Oracle HR, desktop, printers, laptops, EPOS
Bullet points all the way (IMHO)
Download some ads for support staff jobs from job serve and try and write your CV to match them closely. Recruitment agents can receive 200 plus CVs for IT jobs at this level, yours has to be high impact enough for them to want to meet you, not tell them everything they want to know (sometimes less is more).
Sometimes lazy agents/ HR departments short list CVs by just doing keyword searches so make sure the “key words” are in your CV.
Remember it is not the individual that gets the interview it is the CV !!
GOOD LUCK !!!!!
Your CV needs to tell me in 30 seconds why you are suitable for the job, it doesn’t at the moment.
As you have little direct IT support experience (yet) you need to highlight the appropriate skills you do have i.e.
• Customer facing skills
• Admin
• Interest in computing/studying for a MS certificate
• Good education
• Try and demonstrate trouble shooting and logical following of process/procedures
• List what apps/hardware you know (can support) e.g. MS office, Oracle HR, desktop, printers, laptops, EPOS
Bullet points all the way (IMHO)
Download some ads for support staff jobs from job serve and try and write your CV to match them closely. Recruitment agents can receive 200 plus CVs for IT jobs at this level, yours has to be high impact enough for them to want to meet you, not tell them everything they want to know (sometimes less is more).
Sometimes lazy agents/ HR departments short list CVs by just doing keyword searches so make sure the “key words” are in your CV.
Remember it is not the individual that gets the interview it is the CV !!
GOOD LUCK !!!!!
Thanks everybody for your brilliant advice!
Amazing response from a great community!
Right now we have version 2 uploaded with hopefully all of your advice implemented!
https://viewer.zoho.com/docs/qduuca
Any more advice would be great!
Thanks for all your help!
Sam
Amazing response from a great community!
Right now we have version 2 uploaded with hopefully all of your advice implemented!
https://viewer.zoho.com/docs/qduuca
Any more advice would be great!
Thanks for all your help!
Sam
CoopR said:
Much better mate!
I think the best way is to get a first foot in the door is via someone you know. So use your network, parents or their friends or your friends, old teachers, etc!
Currently looking all over Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn to do exactly that! Have a few contacts down in London through some family but unfortunately I'm looking for work in Newcastle. I think the best way is to get a first foot in the door is via someone you know. So use your network, parents or their friends or your friends, old teachers, etc!
I think I will eventually end up back that way but for now I would rather stay up here if at all possible! I know I shouldn't be picky and all, sorry!
Remove CV from top (it's obvious it's a CV so you're wasting space)
Remove DOB (ageism laws now in place; you're going to be hired based upon your competencies, not how old you are)
Convert work experience list in to an outcomes list (what did you achieve for that employer?)
Needs more numbers (convert text in to impact on bottom lines/targets/efficiencies)
Hope that helps a little
Good luck!
Remove DOB (ageism laws now in place; you're going to be hired based upon your competencies, not how old you are)
Convert work experience list in to an outcomes list (what did you achieve for that employer?)
Needs more numbers (convert text in to impact on bottom lines/targets/efficiencies)
Hope that helps a little
Good luck!
Hello mate, firstly, good luck with your search.
If you're going for a position in 1st line, you should add some statements in around Service Delivery, showing that you appreciate the ITIL processes, to compliment the techy stuff. Have a little read into ITIL v3. However, that all depends on where you want to be in the future, if you start this stuff now, it'll help you in the future.
If I were you, I would use up a little more white space on your page, i.e. instead of just going down the page, you should go across too, use a bit more space to reduce your page count. I work on the rule that a CV should be no more than 2 pages. If the employer needs to know more info, then they can ask.
You personal statement should be just that; a statement. Not bullet points. Dont seem too keen though.
Key skills for 1st line are (in my opinion):
(Business)
- managing your own workload
- multi tasking and the ability to prioritise, based on a risk based approach
- communication and stakeholder management skills (keeping customers informed on progress of tickets)
- not afraid to escalate if necessary
(Techy)
All your techy expertise, but format it like below:
- CMS; Joomla, Drupal, Wordpress
- (dont say "home") Networking; Static IP, WEP, Mac Filtering
etc
Add dates for your employment history, get rid of Yates and the Internet Cafe one, they provide no value.
Ok first effort, but fiddle around with layouts and have another crack.
If you're going for a position in 1st line, you should add some statements in around Service Delivery, showing that you appreciate the ITIL processes, to compliment the techy stuff. Have a little read into ITIL v3. However, that all depends on where you want to be in the future, if you start this stuff now, it'll help you in the future.
If I were you, I would use up a little more white space on your page, i.e. instead of just going down the page, you should go across too, use a bit more space to reduce your page count. I work on the rule that a CV should be no more than 2 pages. If the employer needs to know more info, then they can ask.
You personal statement should be just that; a statement. Not bullet points. Dont seem too keen though.
Key skills for 1st line are (in my opinion):
(Business)
- managing your own workload
- multi tasking and the ability to prioritise, based on a risk based approach
- communication and stakeholder management skills (keeping customers informed on progress of tickets)
- not afraid to escalate if necessary
(Techy)
All your techy expertise, but format it like below:
- CMS; Joomla, Drupal, Wordpress
- (dont say "home") Networking; Static IP, WEP, Mac Filtering
etc
Add dates for your employment history, get rid of Yates and the Internet Cafe one, they provide no value.
Ok first effort, but fiddle around with layouts and have another crack.
Something that as a recruiter (I'm head of support services for a software company - so I do a bit of that) i'd want to see is something thats in your OP but not in your CV
" I've always wanted to get involved in IT as its always been my passion"
Cv is very sterile, don't go crazy but a short comment about your passions and interest is going to count for a lot.
You don't really have the experience to actually apply on the basis of your technical knowledge so what you need to do is convince anyone reviewing your CV that you want to build on what you've learn't at home and will be worth training.
Entry level jobs do appear from time to time and a willingness to learn and a passion for the role might make the difference between getting an interview or not.
" I've always wanted to get involved in IT as its always been my passion"
Cv is very sterile, don't go crazy but a short comment about your passions and interest is going to count for a lot.
You don't really have the experience to actually apply on the basis of your technical knowledge so what you need to do is convince anyone reviewing your CV that you want to build on what you've learn't at home and will be worth training.
Entry level jobs do appear from time to time and a willingness to learn and a passion for the role might make the difference between getting an interview or not.
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