InformationWeek

October 20, 1998

I have been sending out resumés for positions as a PC support specialist or computer analyst. I have been unable to get an IT job interview in three months. I suspect it has to do with my bachelor's degree in agricultural science, which I earned before I knew anything about computers and which may be turning off any serious interest in my desire to cross over in the IT world. I have four years of professional PC repair and support experience and eight months of year 2000 work under my belt and I very much desire an opportunity to continue doing IT work. I'm too poor to spend the money and time to earn a second degree in a more suitable IT oriented discipline. I feel I already have all the skills necessary to learn anything else required quickly on the job. What is your advice to get companies and personnel managers more interested in my qualifications?

Something's wrong with your resumé, or with how you're presenting yourself, not to be generating activity with your level of experience. Let me suggest on the resumé front that you structure your resumé in paragraph form, identifying your last three or four successful projects. Make sure the paragraphs include the initiative you took, the role you played, and the underlying technologies involved. In addition, include your technology skill set at the very top of the resumé to draw attention to the breadth of experiences you have with these technologies.

More Questions:
I spent the last six months of my three-year tenure as a systems analyst. But because of a departmental layoff, I wasn't in the position of systems analyst very long. What steps do I need to take to remain in this field?

I want to cross over to IT as a functional consultant, but I'm finding it difficult to find my niche. What road should I take next?