7 mistakes to avoid when applying for that tech job

Iria · Feb 21, 2009, 03:49 AM

My eyes are blurry from reviewing over 40 résumés for a network administrator position, and for good reason. More than half of the résumés did not make it past my initial review. While I had to reject some candidates because of lack of experience (or, rather, lack of clearly demonstrated required experience), others had errors in their application packages that lowered their ranking -- errors that could have been easily corrected.
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Source: Computerworld

Tipstaff · Feb 21, 2009, 07:41 AM

Mistake #2. Up until a few years ago I always did this on my resume, that was until a prospective employer pointed it out, and funny enough, the person explained it to me the exact same way that the author here did. I thought I was being thorough, which was fine, but it doesn't need to be in the initial resume. Relevance to the "current" job was the key, as was putting in skills that THAT employer was looking for. What else you can do can be told later during the interview, or later in another section of the resume.

ET3D · Feb 21, 2009, 10:14 AM

I think that my main problem is that my skill set isn't relevant for most jobs. My CV is apparently good enough to get responses, but they're mostly "we don't have a suitable position right now, but will keep you in the database".

A pity about the economic slump, but at least I'm enjoying being at home with my wife and 6 month old daughter.

comp_ali · Feb 21, 2009, 10:45 AM

Many complaints about job opportunities man all over the world . let's hope things be better.

Judas · Feb 21, 2009, 03:42 PM

what i find sad is typically i see people that may not be able to write a resume up very well at all.... but are the best people for the job.... getting sluffed off...

and then

those who are excellent at either bullshitting thier way through a resume... being able to sell themselves like the perfect candidate, getting hired due to this, and then bieng one of the worst morons for the job.

Resumes.... pointless and useless... They are about as accurate as my ability to piss into a cup a mile away.

The best resumes are actually the true trial runs.... throw them into the work and see what happens, if the work appears to be doing well, then good deal, keep em on board.

This approach seems cumbersum, specially if there are dozens of applicants... or hundreds... or thousands...... pretty much impossible to work with.... obviously using a resume to narrow down ... but it's just such a inefficient method.

swimtech · Feb 21, 2009, 09:18 PM

That's a great guide - very practical.

A great resume lets your prospective employer know that you understand what they need or want, that you want that too, that you can fill the need, and can communicate those concepts easily. The key word is "communicate". Communicating to others, especially in IT - as interdependent as the technical skills needing to be managed together for a solid result in organizations have become - is a very important asset.

After the resume, you can interview from the pool of technically proficient individuals who are also adept communicators! The chaff has been separated from the wheat, and two prerequisite job skills have been demonstrated - saving interview time.

ET3D · Feb 22, 2009, 02:19 PM

The person who can communicate best is not necessarily the one who's best for the job. Sometimes lack of communication skills hide great work skills. There was someone at the last job that I recommended not to hire because of his communication skills, but he turned out to be valuable to the company.

Feb 21, 2009, 03:49 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	7 mistakes to avoid when applying for that tech job My eyes are blurry from reviewing over 40 résumés for a network administrator position, and for good reason. More than half of the résumés did not make it past my initial review. While I had to reject some candidates because of lack of experience (or, rather, lack of clearly demonstrated required experience), others had errors in their application packages that lowered their ranking -- errors that could have been easily corrected. ______________ Source: Computerworld

Feb 21, 2009, 10:14 AM	#3
ET3D Hopeless Dreamer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dreamland, near the pool of infinite graphics cards Posts: 3,057 Rep Power: 105 System Specs	Re: 7 mistakes to avoid when applying for that tech job I think that my main problem is that my skill set isn't relevant for most jobs. My CV is apparently good enough to get responses, but they're mostly "we don't have a suitable position right now, but will keep you in the database". A pity about the economic slump, but at least I'm enjoying being at home with my wife and 6 month old daughter.

Feb 21, 2009, 10:45 AM	#4
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: 7 mistakes to avoid when applying for that tech job Many complaints about job opportunities man all over the world . let's hope things be better. __________________

Feb 21, 2009, 09:18 PM	#6
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Re: 7 mistakes to avoid when applying for that tech job That's a great guide - very practical. A great resume lets your prospective employer know that you understand what they need or want, that you want that too, that you can fill the need, and can communicate those concepts easily. The key word is "communicate". Communicating to others, especially in IT - as interdependent as the technical skills needing to be managed together for a solid result in organizations have become - is a very important asset. After the resume, you can interview from the pool of technically proficient individuals who are also adept communicators! The chaff has been separated from the wheat, and two prerequisite job skills have been demonstrated - saving interview time. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Feb 22, 2009, 02:19 PM	#7
ET3D Hopeless Dreamer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dreamland, near the pool of infinite graphics cards Posts: 3,057 Rep Power: 105 System Specs	Re: 7 mistakes to avoid when applying for that tech job The person who can communicate best is not necessarily the one who's best for the job. Sometimes lack of communication skills hide great work skills. There was someone at the last job that I recommended not to hire because of his communication skills, but he turned out to be valuable to the company.

Feb 21, 2009, 07:41 AM	#2
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	Re: 7 mistakes to avoid when applying for that tech job Mistake #2. Up until a few years ago I always did this on my resume, that was until a prospective employer pointed it out, and funny enough, the person explained it to me the exact same way that the author here did. I thought I was being thorough, which was fine, but it doesn't need to be in the initial resume. Relevance to the "current" job was the key, as was putting in skills that THAT employer was looking for. What else you can do can be told later during the interview, or later in another section of the resume. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.