Expert Resume Examples

If you’re an experienced expert in the IT service management space, and you’re searching for a position as an ITIL pro, you can look forward to plenty of job opportunities in the current marketplace, but you’ll also face stiff competition. The same applies to excel pros and experienced database managers.

Regardless of your area of expertise, if you’re stepping into this field in the early or middle stages of your IT career, you’ll have two choices: you can create a competitive resume using pre-existing business-standard resume templates (available through the LiveCareer site), or you can create and edit your own resume from the ground up.

If you choose the second option, start by taking some time to review the ITIL expert resume samples presented here. These examples can serve as a model and help keep you on track as you create your own document one section at a time. They can also help you understand the kind of information your resume should contain, the format your employers will expect to see, and the common mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

In addition to this collection of IT expert resume samples, read through each of the sections of text below for more detailed instructions and recommendations.

As an excel or ITIL professional, what you include in your resume will vary widely depending on the level of your target position, the nature of your target employer, your experience and certifications, and your long-term career plans. You may choose to sign on with a large sprawling corporation with a vast network and extensive IT service management needs. Or you may be working for a smaller organization with back office management needs that require hard-to-find excel skills.

No two job searches are the same in this field, and there’s no single right way to create an application for this type of position. It makes sense then that as you review IT expert resume samples, you’ll notice vast differences between each one, but you’ll also likely catch on to a few similarities too. In almost every case, an effective IT expert resume will contain each of these subsections, at a minimum:

· Resume Summary

· Education Section

· Work Experience Section

· Skills Section

As you use these IT expert resume samples as a model and start drafting your own profile, you’ll notice that the education, summary, and skills sections are formatted in essentially similar ways, but when you reach the work experience section, you’ll have some choices to make.

This section can be formatted using the classic chronological layout, the more modern functional layout, or any hybrid or combination of the two. If you choose to present your information using the chronological layout, you’ll be highlighting your abilities by shining a spotlight on your past jobs and previous successes. You’ll list each of your relevant past job titles as a separate entry, and after each title, you’ll include the name of your employer and your start and end dates for that position. Then you’ll add a short list of your key responsibilities and the proudest achievements you accomplished in that role.

If you choose the functional format instead, you’ll shift the emphasis away from your past positions and toward the abilities and skills that can help you support your target employer. You’ll start by dividing the section into two subheadings instead of one. The first will be titled “core competencies” or “core capabilities”. Under this subheading, you’ll list the primary areas of expertise and the architectures, infrastructures, and engineering techniques that set you apart from your competitors. Under this subheading, you’ll create another section that quickly summarizes your previous job titles without additional supporting information like employment dates, responsibilities and special accomplishments.

The chronological format usually offers a better option for candidates with an uninterrupted work history and a steady increase in responsibilities during the progression from job to job. The functional format will typically work better for candidates with employment gaps, career transitions, or lateral moves between jobs at the same responsibility level. Take a close look at these expert resume samples and notice the different impressions created by each option.

You can also blend these two formats together if you choose, as long as you provide your employers with the information they need in order to make a decision.

• Professional master of ITIL V3 lifecycles searching for a position in application configuration and database reporting and management. Able to support programs and recommend improvements to ITIL systems and perform gap analysis on current infrastructure programs. Skilled communicator with both technical and non-technical audiences at all levels.
• Excel expert with financial management and fiscal reporting background. C++ developer with experience in Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Build Scripts, macros, and Excel add-ins. Able to analyze summary billings and generate complete and accurate reports to facilitate management decision making processes.

At a lower point in your document, either before or after your work experience section, you’ll create a subheading dedicated to your education and your accomplishments in the classroom. This section will begin with a list of your formal degrees, starting with the most recent. State the title of your degree (BS, Master of Systems Engineering, PhD, MBA, etc.), followed by the name of your institution. Add your course of study and any special honors or distinctions you achieved in association with this credential. You can also add you GPA (if it was above 3.0) and graduation dates if you choose.

After this list of formal degree credentials, you’ll want to clearly list your certifications and additional coursework related to IT systems and database management. Include every course you’ve taken, even if you haven’t completed it yet (share your expected completion dates). You can also include licensing credentials if the apply to any of your potential contributions.

As mentioned above and demonstrated by this collection of IT expert resume samples, your work experience section will vary based on the nature of your track record and the elements you’d like to show off to your target employers. If you choose to emphasize your track record of past jobs, you’ll probably use the chronological format. In this case, you’ll list each previous position title, followed by your employer, your start and end dates, your basic responsibilities, and the specific ways you went above and beyond your employer’s expectations while you held that role.

If you decide to downplay your past positions and turn the spotlight toward your future contributions and specific talents, you’ll use the functional format instead. In this case, you’ll create a separate section documenting your core competencies and areas of expertise. Then you’ll drop down by a line and offer a short list of past job titles with no additional responsibilities, accomplishments, dates, or supporting material.

No matter which formatting option you choose, present your details in an honest and comprehensive way; don’t overstate the truth and don’t miss any opportunities to show off what you can do. Again, take a close look at these IT expert resume samples and use them as a model and guide.

As an excel expert or IT services manager, your work history section will show off your core credentials, but you’ll get more mileage from this section if you use action verbs that are dynamic and precise. Consider these examples:

· Coordinated

· Developed

· Administered

· Monitored

· Built

· Maintained

· Reported

· Generated

· Advised

· Analyzed

· Created

· Supported

· Recommended

In addition to a section showcasing your experience and education, your employers will also expect to see a section that documents your special skill sets, specifically those that haven’t been mentioned already at this point. Use your skills section to share your IT and non-technical capabilities that can support your performance on the job and the growth and success of your target company. These may include software skills outside the realm of Excel and IT systems management, and they may also include leadership skills, team building skills, spoken and written communication skills, language skills, and any other skill sets that may interest your employer.

Include mention of your open source projects and any other outside interests that may prove your dedication to self-guided learning and skill acquisition.

And always remember that you should take your cues for inclusion from the job description. If you have a skill that the employer is seeking, be sure to include this and give it priority by listing it higher up in the skills section.

While some resume sections (like the ones described here) are a standard expectation in a professional resume, other sections are optional, and your decision to include them will depend on your own personal preference and your employer’s instructions.

One of these optional sections will include a list of references. While there’s nothing off-putting or wrong about including a list of personal contacts in the text of your resume, most employers don’t require this. Your reviewers will typically ask for your list at a later point in the selection process, after they’ve had a chance to review the initial pool of resumes at least once. But check the application instructions carefully, just in case. Then create a list of the names, phone numbers and email addresses of at least three people who can provide personal testimony regarding your work ethic and personality. Get ready to send this list to your employers as a separate document whenever they ask for it.

As you create and edit your resume, review these expert resume samples and keep a close eye out for these common mistakes:

Missed opportunities: Don’t let a single critical detail or credential fall through the cracks or disappear in an avalanche of less-essential information. Use clear organization and formatting principles that are easy to understand, and employers will be more likely to spot and remember your most important claims.

A lack of tailoring: Before you submit your resume, customize every section to meet the needs of your specific target employer. Address the skill areas and requirements that are likely to matter most to the hiring manager behind this staffing decision.

Keyword problems: Resumes are often filtered and sorted using relevant search terms, so think about these search terms carefully before you apply and make sure they appear in your document.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT systems managers and IT project managers can expect a rapid increase in available positions between 2014 and 2024. Opportunities in this field are expected to grow by about 15 percent (representing an increase of about 53,700 jobs). This growth rate exceeds the average across all industries over the next decade.