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Memorable IT Resumes

Author: Robert Smith
by Robert Smith
Posted: Jun 19, 2015
volatile illusive

One of the keys to a successful job search is starting with a memorable resume. In today’s competitive job market, hiring managers will read through hundreds of resumes and, at some point, the resumes will just become a blur. Beyond reflecting relevant skills and a solid work history, being memorable is what will cause a resume to be lifted from the pile and added to the call list. You’ll want to do everything possible to ensure that the resume getting noticed is yours.

One of my recommendations is to create carefully crafted phrases that are designed to capture a reader’s attention and stick in their mind by connecting with the individual through shared experiences or shared values.

Just about everyone has worked on a project where the requirements were difficult to understand and rapidly changed throughout the project life-cycle. We can understand those frustrations and it enables us to quickly connect with a person’s struggles and move the project forward. The simple phrase ‘volatile and illusive requirements’ will resonate with many and create a very memorable message.

  • Within an environment of volatile and illusive requirements, rejuvenated a Business Analytics project struggling to move past Phase 1, even after 3 years.
  • Provided leadership and guidance in structured workshops to understand the true underlying business needs.
  • Utilized an influential communications style to gain buy-in on the requirements from key business stakeholders.

These 3 words deliver a powerful message – repositioned, re-strategized, and reinvented – and directly speak to the challenges of supporting rapidly growing organizations. Succinctly, it tells the story of a technology leader who understands the company’s needs for IT agility.

  • As a business partner within the executive team, repositioned, re-strategized, and reinvented the IT organization for a manufacturer with an aggressive growth strategy; enabled the business to profitably grow 10X to ~$500M.

When you work in IT, you’ll probably take on expanded responsibilities, far beyond your actual job title. When you write your resume, don’t assume that readers will be able to easily surmise this. You’ll only have about 15 seconds to make an impact during an initial resume scan so be direct.

  • Served as Chief of Security during a time of heightened security awareness in the Pacific Theatre, performing flawlessly in a position typically staffed at a much higher level.

Taking over a failing project or team and successfully turning them around is always a great story for a resume. To enable the reader to fully understand what you’ve achieved, you’ll need to provide the business and technical context without being disrespectful.

  • Promoted to a hands-on technology director position to revitalize and restructure an under-performing IT department that was ill-prepared for business growth.
  • Defined and executed a 3-year modernization plan to address each of the strategic findings and recommendations as outlined in an enterprise assessment.
  • Assessed team members to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Defined and executed professional development plans to quickly engage the team and improve productivity.

When writing your resume, think about the challenges you’ve faced. By integrating this information into your resume, you provide the real context for understanding the problems you will face within the business and the IT department. You never want to be disreputable, but you can certainly describe the situation and how you were able to deliver a beneficial solution despite the problems.

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Author: Robert Smith
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Robert Smith

Member since: Mar 26, 2014
Published articles: 313

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