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Can you take a look at my skills and tell me what's wrong?

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  • Science
  • Systems
  • Business Computing
Last response: in Business Computing
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July 31, 2014 1:10:13 PM



Thanks for your interest in helping. I am a senior and about to graduate with an Information Systems bachelor's of science. I live in DC/Baltimore area where there are loads of opportunity in IT but somehow I can't seem to get my foot on the door. I keep getting rejected, every single time. Haven't landed not one interview FOR AN INTERNSHIP. It's not a job where I'll be there for years. I literally can't get an intern position of 10 weeks for some reason. Since it is my first internship, I am looking for anything, from help desk, to data analyst, to social media management and website management. I know it is competitive out there but I don't see where I am so worthless that I can't even get an internship. Below is some information copied from my resume, please let me know what you think. Thanks for your time!!!


Education:

BS Information Systems (Senior) 2.9 GPA
Web Development Certificate (ongoing)
Business Administration Associate's (completed) 3.3 GPA

Java, SQL, Android, HTML, CSS, XML (baaaasic stuff)

Projects:

- Database: Build database data and queries for bike shop using SQL and applying database principles (ER diagrams, data normalization, etc)
- GUI Java - Build Android app (To-do list) that creates, deletes, and saves different tasks. (to be honest I didn't do the coding but I did the documentation)

Work experience:

- Freelance computer repair (2.5 years)- Win and Mac, replace components, reinstall OS, remove virus, set up wifi, etc.
- Office assistant (5 months) - administrative tasks - create invoices, employee checks, organize documents, etc. Small construction company
- Tutor/Childcare (7 years) - Babysitting, driving and helping with HW.

Additional skills:

- Fluent in Portuguese (Brazilian) and Spanish

Also added some academic courses I took, volunteering experience, and honors awards that I've got in school.


More about : skills wrong

July 31, 2014 1:25:30 PM

Is that how your resume looks? I don't want to make assumptions.

You should write your resume to include the pertinent content related to the job that you want. You don't need to include items like babysitting that is not important. It would be more helpful if you list if you have any experience with Help Desk, Data Analysis, etc. Even related fields to those.

But just reading that, I would say a few things:
1. GPA is okay, not great.
2. Don't say "baaaasic stuff". Too childish and not descriptive. Are you looking for a programming job?
3. The GUI Java part is misleading. You started off sounding like you built it and then dropped the bomb by saying you only did the documentation.
4. You don't need to say "reinstall OS". Most people know how to do that without a degree.
5. You didn't do anything in the removal of viruses. You most likely used a program. And that is not 100% guaranteed so it's not a skill.
6. Office assistant skills seem a bit not relevant for IT jobs unless you plan to be a secretary.
7. Tutor is meh unless you're looking for a job to teach people how to use computers, which is not technical.
8. Childcare is not relevant.
9. Spoken language is also usually irrelevant.


The main point is, I don't know what you can bring to the company. You listed a bunch of stuff, but most of it are not related to the job position.
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July 31, 2014 1:36:30 PM

Remove the GPAs, since both are not above 3.0. Remove the (baaaasic stuff) comment. As a new graduate, you will not be expected to have extensive experience.
Change the GUI Java to "Documented Android app (To-do list) that creates, deletes, and saves different tasks." Indicate what you did, not what you didn't do.
Since it isn't relevant, I'd remove the Tutor/Childcare. That can come out in an interview.
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July 31, 2014 2:36:52 PM

Thanks for taking the time to answer. No, I typed this up simplifying purposes. This is NOT how my resume looks. It is more descriptive.

@ksham

1. I am aware. One bad grade caused this (used to be 3.2) , retaking it this Fall.
2. Programming is not my forte. I'd like to work on a project in a business setting to see how it fits for me. Out of all languages, I work best with HTML and Java. Working on learning Javascript at the moment.
3. I contributed to the project as a whole, but had more experienced programmers to actually make it work. I can understand it, I just have trouble creating it from scratch.
4. That's absolutely not how I have it on my resume. And believe me, people don't always even know what OS means, let alone re-install it.
5. True.
6. So in IT you need 0 management skills to be successful ? hmm.
7. Not looking to teach anyone, but I need to be able to explain technical terms in "human" language. Is it really that meaningless?
8. True. I don't like putting it. There are behavioral skills benefits related to it though. Leadership, time management, etc. Also, been doing it for 7 years. Is that not a plus at all by any means ?
9. So I am trilingual and can communicate with south american and european countries, who cares?

@Onus

One GPA is 3.3. And I have a degree with it. Remove anyway ?
That comment is not on there. And yes I understand, no experience, that's my problem!
Again, not how I have it on the resume. That was for simplifying the information for you guys
I guess tutoring is worthless in IT, my problem is that's what I've been doing for 7 years, have great references (my boss is a millionaire-CEO/politician/very important person ), and it is my current job.


Thanks again for your help guys
I guess I have basic skills spread accross and no specialty. I understand. But that's the fact and what I am working with. I am looking for internship, they will train me. I have a degree, and I am a senior. I can provide computer support and work with customers. I still don't see how this isn't enough for an interview... for an internship!



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August 1, 2014 7:40:45 AM

ks09 said:
Thanks for taking the time to answer. No, I typed this up simplifying purposes. This is NOT how my resume looks. It is more descriptive.

Post up your resume. There's nothing to base off on if you just post up random stuff.


ks09 said:
3. I contributed to the project as a whole, but had more experienced programmers to actually make it work. I can understand it, I just have trouble creating it from scratch.

Mention what you contributed, not what other people did. You need to showcase your skills.


ks09 said:
4. That's absolutely not how I have it on my resume. And believe me, people don't always even know what OS means, let alone re-install it.

Not everyone, but people in the tech field will know. It's not a worthy mention unless you're planning in working in a non-technical job position.


ks09 said:
6. So in IT you need 0 management skills to be successful ? hmm.

Common sense! Unless you're applying for a manager position, which you are not, it's not a worthy mention. You can always bring it up in an interview. It's not a skill set. Each company will have different management skills. It's not a standard.


ks09 said:
7. Not looking to teach anyone, but I need to be able to explain technical terms in "human" language. Is it really that meaningless?

It is useful in day-to-day. But depending on the position that you are applying for, it may not be useful. Again, you have not demonstrated what you are applying for. Please post up a resume. You can remove your name, phone numbers, email, residential address. I will not waste my time going back and forth with you with responses like "that is not how I have it in my resume".


ks09 said:
8. True. I don't like putting it. There are behavioral skills benefits related to it though. Leadership, time management, etc. Also, been doing it for 7 years. Is that not a plus at all by any means ?

There are a lot of candidates out there, and more qualified ones. If you think employers reading "tutor" and "child care" and thinking "leadership", "time management", etc. you are sorely mistaken. Employers go for first impression. They aren't going to sit there thinking for hours pondering over your intent. Either say it or your resume is going on the discard pile after a glance. And don't say leadership and time management without going into specifically what you've done.


ks09 said:
9. So I am trilingual and can communicate with south american and european countries, who cares?

Again, what position are you looking for? If you don't have a clue, please think about it first. Do you need to know those languages for the job? If not, it's pointless. You're just wasting space on the paper. If I am the employer and I am looking at your resume, and I cannot figure out what you have to offer because you clutter it with skills that are not related to the position that you are applying for, I'm not going to email or call you about them. No chance. Your resume is going on the discard pile. I'm not wasting my time with that. I have more important stuff to do.


ks09 said:
I guess I have basic skills spread accross and no specialty. I understand. But that's the fact and what I am working with. I am looking for internship, they will train me. I have a degree, and I am a senior. I can provide computer support and work with customers. I still don't see how this isn't enough for an interview... for an internship!

Although you want an internship, and perhaps a unpaid internship, you need to think from a company's perspective. If all they are doing is teaching you stuff and you have nothing to offer, then they don't want you. Unless you are paying for their time to teach you stuff, they aren't going to do that. You are just wasting their time. They have more important stuff to do than teach you stuff. And mostly, those are company-related stuff. So they are just throwing out their system at you. And I don't think they will hire you and teach you AND allow you to work with their customers off the bat. That is a lot of time and money invested into one person. You better have good potential for them to do that.

You just need to figure out the position that you want to apply for.
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