It took a long time for me to finally figure out that the title that encompasses my 20 years of experience was called a Solution Architect. Not knowing where I fit has held me back, feeling like I had to apologize for not matching some requirements when the box they were trying to put me in didnt work.
Now that I feel I have a good place to work from. I have updated my resume and refocused my efforts to find a company that can leverage by background. Im just now putting this new title and resume into circulation but Im always tweaking and looking for new ways to showcase myself. If you have any useful thoughts and ideas about my resume, please feel free to share.
Please note that as a long term 'web guy' I decided to showcase my graphic eye by creating a resume that has some visual flair. This is not always recommended by the articles I've found but it has gotten some great comments from recruiters and interviewers as it stands out in the pile.
You can view the PDF here https://www.dropbox.com/s/tzkxrm74dk08xrh/MarkChristianson-ISA_Resume.pdf?dl=0
Answers
Mark, if you will send me a Word document of your resume, I would be happy to provide feedback. I worked for over a year as an Outplacement Career Consultant, working on resumes, interview skills, etc. I also have my Master's in HR, although I haven't worked directly in the field for quite some time.
You can forward the resume to me at gbaccetti@hotmail.com. I should be able to get back to you fairly quickly.
Gail Baccetti
What is your geographical preference? You have experience in a very hot field now. I will call you to discuss further.
Hello Mark,
With all due respect, I agree with Ronald's observation that you seem to be a little stuck on titles, and you might be missing out on opportunities because of how you're perceiving the jobs presented to you or that you're finding in searches. As an example, you mentioned "feeling like I had to apologize for not matching some requirements when the box they were trying to put me in didn't (fixed a typo here) work." No employer is attempting to place you into a box when seeking candidates for a position, they are simply attempting to fill their present needs and it's up to you to decide whether it's a fit for you. If not, you can feel free to let it pass by, but you don't need to be negative and perceive it as a means of placing you into a box.
I've been successful in the IT industry since 1987 and have served in a variety of roles such as programmer, programmer/analyst, team lead, senior developer, technical architect, director of technology, and I've also worn hats such as DBA, network specialist, etc., but the title really isn't very significant in many companies these days since they only care about what you can bring "to the table" in terms of professionalism, business know-how and technical expertise. As long as you're flexible and willing to do whatever is necessary to successfully complete projects regardless of title (and I've worked in key roles for several Fortune 500 corporations on major projects), you can remain marketable and have the type of salary which you desire.
Another observation that I made is that you have some grandiose phrases such as "act as a visionary" on your resume. I understand what the phrase means, but I believe it's a little overkill for a resume and you might want to consider toning it down a bit as well as fine-tuning your resume to match the opportunity that you're pursuing.
Finally, a company might have to deal with hundreds or thousands of incoming resumes, so as someone who has had to review them and interview candidates, I recommend relocating your technical skills beneath your objective section so that it can be quickly scanned. As a matter of fact, we typically don't find objectives of much significance since our focus is on whether you have the skills that we desire for the opportunity. I totally dropped that section from my resume years ago and I've been highly successful in securing interviews and jobs after being in the industry for over five years.
Good luck with your search!
Brian
Thank you for the feedback. In regards to the typo's are you referring to my post or my resume?
Mark,
You seem to be hung up on a title for yourself. Recommend you study the job description of positions that attract you (regardless of the title) and make sure your resume addresses the key aspects of the position. As a hiring manager, I was most interested in candidates that had the ability to sell me on what they brought to the position, and not what they wanted out of the position. You have life experiences and a maturity level that a recent grad does not have, suggest you use these in selling yourself. You also have typo's in your posting, suggest you double check your work to insure there are no typo's.
Ron Carvalho
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