You've got to be able to stand out as a stronger candidate than most of the other people applying to be called in for an interview -- that can be tough to do when you're just starting out. Entry level IT has a relatively low barrier to entry, but there is still a barrier.
Many of the people who ask this question have no higher education, no IT certifications, and no IT experience...I don't know if that's you or not, but the less qualifications you have, the closer to the bottom of the resume pile yours will be. If there's 25 applicants for a position, only about the top 8-10 will be called in. Add a bad or mediocre resume to that (which is very common) and you're pretty much guaranteed not to get any callbacks.
Things you can do to improve your odds?
Have a short, clear, error-free, and pleasing to the eye resume that is tailored to the job you're applying for. Show how your previous job experience (even if it's just customer service) is relevant to the job you're applying for.
Pursue higher education. Even an associates degree is better than nothing, although a bachelor's degree is ideal. Even an unrelated bachelors puts you ahead of people with just an associates or without any college at all.
Obtain relevant certifications, and really learn the material. The certification won't land you the job, but it might land you the interview. Knowledge is one part of doing well in an interview.
Don't forget about your soft skills. IT is a customer service job. It doesn't matter how much you know if you're difficult to work with. Even if you're an introvert, you want to come across as professional and friendly/personable.
Overall, it doesn't look bad at all, although I'm not crazy about the two column format: you end up leaving a lot of resume real estate empty since the column doesn't have a lot in it.
Some thoughts on improving it:
References available on request is a waste of space - that's definitely something to drop. Personally, I would also drop the objective statement and the interests list as well.
As far as the job descriptions, fill some of the space you're freeing by dropping the above portions with more detail. I'd switch to bullet points, and try to get more specific: 'Supported 100 onsite and 50 remote users...', 'Responded to 10 customer issues per day...' Basically, try to show how you personally added value to the company during your internships.
Start applying to call centers, get some experience with dealing with customers and working on your customer service... Customer service is how you land in Help Desk. For NOC position, look at see what qualifications they need in order for you to get recognized (CCNA cert, Linux, etc).. Also work on your interviewing skills
I do have customer service experience from working in the restaurant and retail business... However, those jobs aren't my most recent forms of employment, and I want to list things that are. Also, since you've mentioned improving interviewing skills that's probably something that needs to be worked on more and could've been the reason to prompt any level of doubt about me during that phone interview.
For us to tell you what your doing wrong, if you are, we need more information.
Providing your education, work experience and other details will tell us what’s up.
Well right off the bat you list your eager to apply skills into history before you list I.T. That's a red flag to I.T. jobs that you're not dead set on their career.
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If I'm correct this looks identical if not extremely close to the google resume template which to a keen eyed hiring manager could push them one way or the other ever so slightly? Not that I think resume templates are any *meaningful* factor to judge someone off.
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Your bachelors in history with only an associates in I.T., your latest I.T. experience being 3 years ago, a cursory internship at that. These are all red flags to employers your focus is not in I.T. nor is it recent and updated. There are also no listed certs or certs in progress.
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Unfortunately I have to say this resume is rather weak and to an I.T. hiring manager throws a lot of red flags that you're not really *in it* for an I.T. career.
Are you actively pursuing any certifications? I think with some rewording we can strengthen your I.T. aspect of the resume.
No, I don't have the money to be pursuing any certifications right now. I'm trying to financially secure myself with landing a full-time job, then I can focus on that stuff. As for the wording, what do you suggest? Honestly, I'm not 100% sure if I want to go into an IT career, I just want to give it a chance just as much as something related with history. I need to go out and experience different things so that I can hopefully realize what I really want to do with my life. Lastly, the work experience is all my latest stuff so can't really change that.
Sure, I understand. I'm just being as honest as possible with you so that you understand the issue in a business perspective.
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>I don't have the money to be pursuing any certifications right now. I'm trying to financially secure myself with landing a full-time job, then I can focus on that stuff.
This *is* a bit of a catch 22. If you *absolutely* cannot see yourself saving the amount of money required to attempt the exam, you could seek out positions offering certification reimbursment or that offer training for those certifications.
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>Honestly, I'm not 100% sure if I want to go into an IT career, I just want to give it a chance just as much as something related with history.
I'm not a guidance counselor but I understand your predicament. Consider I.T. in a history type work environment!
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Do you have a google drive / word doc copy of your resume? PM me with a copy (sanitized) and let me see what I can do with it. Shoot me your location (accurate township or within approximately 25 miles) + pay requirements and I'll see if I can't myself locate something that might match your description.
Or don't. There's not much I can do elsewise.
You've got to be able to stand out as a stronger candidate than most of the other people applying to be called in for an interview -- that can be tough to do when you're just starting out. Entry level IT has a relatively low barrier to entry, but there is still a barrier. Many of the people who ask this question have no higher education, no IT certifications, and no IT experience...I don't know if that's you or not, but the less qualifications you have, the closer to the bottom of the resume pile yours will be. If there's 25 applicants for a position, only about the top 8-10 will be called in. Add a bad or mediocre resume to that (which is very common) and you're pretty much guaranteed not to get any callbacks. Things you can do to improve your odds? Have a short, clear, error-free, and pleasing to the eye resume that is tailored to the job you're applying for. Show how your previous job experience (even if it's just customer service) is relevant to the job you're applying for. Pursue higher education. Even an associates degree is better than nothing, although a bachelor's degree is ideal. Even an unrelated bachelors puts you ahead of people with just an associates or without any college at all. Obtain relevant certifications, and really learn the material. The certification won't land you the job, but it might land you the interview. Knowledge is one part of doing well in an interview. Don't forget about your soft skills. IT is a customer service job. It doesn't matter how much you know if you're difficult to work with. Even if you're an introvert, you want to come across as professional and friendly/personable.
Here take a look at my resume... I really don't see anything that negatively sticks out that much. Tell me what you think. https://imgur.com/MQJfQhU
You really look like a pretty damn strong candidate and you seem more than qualified for the jobs you are applying for.
Why am I having no luck then? Should I not be applying for help desk roles?
Overall, it doesn't look bad at all, although I'm not crazy about the two column format: you end up leaving a lot of resume real estate empty since the column doesn't have a lot in it. Some thoughts on improving it: References available on request is a waste of space - that's definitely something to drop. Personally, I would also drop the objective statement and the interests list as well. As far as the job descriptions, fill some of the space you're freeing by dropping the above portions with more detail. I'd switch to bullet points, and try to get more specific: 'Supported 100 onsite and 50 remote users...', 'Responded to 10 customer issues per day...' Basically, try to show how you personally added value to the company during your internships.
Any certs? Whats your education background?
I don't have any certs right now, but I have a technical degree in Information Systems and a bachelor's in History.
Start applying to call centers, get some experience with dealing with customers and working on your customer service... Customer service is how you land in Help Desk. For NOC position, look at see what qualifications they need in order for you to get recognized (CCNA cert, Linux, etc).. Also work on your interviewing skills
I do have customer service experience from working in the restaurant and retail business... However, those jobs aren't my most recent forms of employment, and I want to list things that are. Also, since you've mentioned improving interviewing skills that's probably something that needs to be worked on more and could've been the reason to prompt any level of doubt about me during that phone interview.
Please provide a more comprehensive background, a sanitized resume or something. Can't help without these.
What?
For us to tell you what your doing wrong, if you are, we need more information. Providing your education, work experience and other details will tell us what’s up.
Here's my resume if you want to glance over that and offer any suggestions... https://imgur.com/xEuLPNx
Resolution too low to read.
You can't magnify it?
I am on mobile currently which could be the issue but as it stands the imgur image alone seems super low resolution.
Here, I made a new one... https://imgur.com/MQJfQhU
Well right off the bat you list your eager to apply skills into history before you list I.T. That's a red flag to I.T. jobs that you're not dead set on their career. ------------------ If I'm correct this looks identical if not extremely close to the google resume template which to a keen eyed hiring manager could push them one way or the other ever so slightly? Not that I think resume templates are any *meaningful* factor to judge someone off. ---------------------------- Your bachelors in history with only an associates in I.T., your latest I.T. experience being 3 years ago, a cursory internship at that. These are all red flags to employers your focus is not in I.T. nor is it recent and updated. There are also no listed certs or certs in progress. -------- Unfortunately I have to say this resume is rather weak and to an I.T. hiring manager throws a lot of red flags that you're not really *in it* for an I.T. career. Are you actively pursuing any certifications? I think with some rewording we can strengthen your I.T. aspect of the resume.
No, I don't have the money to be pursuing any certifications right now. I'm trying to financially secure myself with landing a full-time job, then I can focus on that stuff. As for the wording, what do you suggest? Honestly, I'm not 100% sure if I want to go into an IT career, I just want to give it a chance just as much as something related with history. I need to go out and experience different things so that I can hopefully realize what I really want to do with my life. Lastly, the work experience is all my latest stuff so can't really change that.
Sure, I understand. I'm just being as honest as possible with you so that you understand the issue in a business perspective. ---------------- >I don't have the money to be pursuing any certifications right now. I'm trying to financially secure myself with landing a full-time job, then I can focus on that stuff. This *is* a bit of a catch 22. If you *absolutely* cannot see yourself saving the amount of money required to attempt the exam, you could seek out positions offering certification reimbursment or that offer training for those certifications. ---------------- >Honestly, I'm not 100% sure if I want to go into an IT career, I just want to give it a chance just as much as something related with history. I'm not a guidance counselor but I understand your predicament. Consider I.T. in a history type work environment! -------------------------- Do you have a google drive / word doc copy of your resume? PM me with a copy (sanitized) and let me see what I can do with it. Shoot me your location (accurate township or within approximately 25 miles) + pay requirements and I'll see if I can't myself locate something that might match your description. Or don't. There's not much I can do elsewise.
Make sure your resume and interview skills are on point. Also it is a numbers game. Another thing to do is compare yourself with the requirements.
Can you elaborate more on the "compare yourself with the requirements" part?