Table of Contents
Introduction
In addition to the support resume samples in this collection, you can review the content below for more detail and guidelines.
What to Include in a Technical Support Resume
The information you decide to include in your resume will vary widely based on the title and level of the job you’re applying for, your credentials and experience, and your long-term career plans. So there’s no one right way to create a resume, especially in a complex and varied field like tech support. But with that in mind, almost every employer in this industry will expect to see a basic set of subheadings in your application. You can add additional headings if you choose, but at a minimum, these four should appear somewhere in your profile:
· Resume Summary
· Education Section
· Work Experience Section
· Skills Section
Take a close look at these technical support resume samples, and you’ll notice that they address each of these four areas.
You may also notice that the basic layout of each section remains more or less the same for the summary, education and skills section of each of these support resume samples, but the work experience section varies widely from one applicant to the next. When you reach this section, you’ll have a decision to make: You can format your information using the classic chronological style, the more modern functional style, or a hybrid combination of these two options.
If you choose the chronological style, you’ll create a separate entry for each of your previous positions, and you’ll be emphasizing your readiness for the job by showing of your past victories.
By contrast, the functional style focuses the reader’s attention on key abilities, not past roles. If you choose this option, you’ll draw attention away from your work history and toward your core competencies.
The functional style typically works better for applicants with complicated work histories that may include career changes, lateral moves, or gaps of time spent away from the work force. The chronological style might be better choice if you can demonstrate a smooth unbroken progression from one job to the next with steadily increasing levels of responsibility.
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How to Write the Technical Support Resume Summary Statement
As you can see while reviewing these technical support resume samples, almost every profile begins with a short summary of the candidate’s experience and strongest credentials. This section will be located close to the top of the page, just under your heading and contact information, and it should consist of about three to four lines of text. In addition to those summaries included in the support resume samples in this collection, here are a few more examples:
- Field support engineer with five years of call center experience and a strong track record of positive customer relationship management. Outstanding trouble shooting and problem solving skills and frequent commendations for patient and respectful customer interactions. Proven ability to configure, test and install software on customer systems.
- MCDST and CompTIA certified help desk manager with high-volume, high pressure call center experience. Able to diagnose and address client issues while also motivating a team and training new employees. Extensive networking and hardware proficiencies.
How to Write the Technical Support Resume Education Section
At some point below your summary section, you’ll create a subheading dedicated to showing off your academic credentials, plus your certifications and any additional formal training you may have under your belt. Use this section to your best advantage and don’t miss a single opportunity or detail that might help you stand out from the crowd.
Start by listing each of your degrees or diplomas, beginning with the most recent. For each entry, list your degree/diploma title, your course of study, and you institution. You can also list your GPA if it’s above 3.0, and you can include your graduation dates; though, these last two items are now considered optional. It’s also worth noting that if you have a formal college degree, you do not need to include your high school diploma.
Below you official degrees, you’ll want to list your certifications and licenses, if they might be relevant to your goals. You can also create a separate subheading for these details in order to help set them apart.
How to Write the Work Experience Section
As mentioned above and demonstrated by these technical support resume samples, your work experience section can take a variety of forms, depending on the aspects of your background you’d like to highlight. You can format this section using the chronological style, the functional style, or any blend of the two that meets your specific needs.
The chronological style will showcase each of your past positions one by one. You’ll create a separate entry for each role, and in each entry you’ll share your job title, your employer, your dates of hire and departure, and your basic responsibilities and most important accomplishments. This last bit of information should be in bullet point form and should be quantifiable if possible.
If you choose the functional style instead, you’ll use these support resume samples as a guide and you’ll break this section down into two distinct subheadings. The first will provide a list of your core competencies or most important skill areas. The second will offer an abbreviated list of your past job titles with no supporting information like your tenure dates, accomplishments, or responsibilities.
Again, the format you choose will depend on your specific work history and the kinds of details you’d like your potential employers to focus on. If you’d like, you can blend these two styles into a hybrid of your own.
Action Verbs to Include in Your Technical Support Resume Work Experience Section
Just like these technical support resume samples, your resume will rely on strong action verbs and you’ll use these verbs to make your case and explain your background and experience. Here are a few examples:
· Diagnosed
· Analyzed
· Resolved
· Repaired
· Addressed
· Maintained
· Examined
· Participated
· Achieved
· Closed
· Implemented
· Guided
· Received
· Demonstrated
How to Write the Technical Support Resume Skills Section
As you’ll notice while reviewing these support resume samples, the skills section is an essential aspect of every profile, but this section usually appears at a lower point on the page. Though other sections may take a higher priority, your resume won’t be complete without a bulleted list dedicated to the skill sets that haven’t been adequately mentioned in the earlier sections of your document.
Create a list or briefly summarize the skills sets that may interest your employers but that haven’t been covered up until this point. These may include leadership, speaking, communication, organization, budgeting, technical or management skills. They can also include language skills, art or design, or even your personal hobbies if you think these might bear relevance to your chances of landing this job.
Just remember that this section, like all the others, should reflect the needs of the employer.
Should I Include References in my Technical Support Resume
Unless your employers specifically request otherwise, list your professional references in a separate document, not within the text of your resume. And hold onto this list; don’t send it before you’ve been asked to do so. You’ll want to be protective of the names and contact information of your references, and you’ll also want to provide these details to your future employers on their own schedule. Every company has its own unique process when it comes to reference checks. Just have your list ready and hand it over when the time comes.
Technical Support Resume Fails: Mistakes to Avoid
As you assemble your own document, using these support resume samples as you guide, you’ll want to keep a close eye out for a few common mistakes.
Length problems: Keep your resume limited to one page, or two at the most. A few employers may have the patience to read through a long resume, but even if they do, they may not remember the most important details.
Small clerical errors: The smallest error can create an impression of sloppiness and poor attention to detail. Make sure you proofread your resume and even pass it on to others to look over again.
Missing information: Missing details and missed opportunities can keep you from setting yourself apart from the crowd. Gather your notes before you write so you don’t forget anything important.
Job Prospects in the Tech Support Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and technical support professionals will experience relatively high job growth during the next few years. Position availability will increase by 12 percent between 2014 and 2024, which exceeds the average of 7 percent across all industries.