1) I've read numerous times in resume-writing articles that Career 
Objectives are not needed and should be omitted.  Anyone in a hiring 
capacity reading your resume will know this is simply fluff and ignore it 
anyway.

2) As everyone already mentioned, omit the Patient entry.  If they ask 
about the gap, I would try to avoid mentioning your were recovering from 
surgery.  Employers generally do not want to hire people with (what they 
perceive as) health problems.  It's sad, but a reality to be dealt 
with.  If asked I'd say I was on sabbatical.  Don't lie, though, it'll come 
back and bite you.

3) Create a unique cover letter for each position the outlines why your the 
best candidate for this job and what you did at previous jobs to increase 
productivity or revenues for the company.  I've read in several career 
sites that now most hiring managers are only reading the cover letter and 
turning to the resume for detailed information if the cover letter sparks 
interest for them.  So, a great deal of effort should be put into a cover 
letter.

4) I think someone else mentioned making the resume a skills based resume 
and have chronological work experience at the end.  To expand on this:
a) Employers like to see what you did to help improve productivity or 
revenue for the company.  For example, "I reduced software licensing costs 
by 50% by converting our web servers from IIS to Apache" instead of 
"Converted from IIS to Apache".
b) Don't worry that your resume is more than one page (mine is 4).  This is 
no longer a concern.   Anyone in the tech industry with several years 
experience will have a lengthy resume to detail various projects.  Your 
resume should provide the details of what you outlined in your cover letter.

5) Don't use a spell checker.  Spell checkers are notorious for giving you 
the correct spelling of a word but not the correct context.
Manually proof your resume at least 3 times.  Have someone else proof it as 
well.  Your resume must have ZERO spelling and grammar mistakes.


Hope this helps.
Peter

At 6/11/2004 12:18 AM , you wrote:


>This is a very cool thing ladies and guys. I just got a message from someone
>who will be hiring for his companies help desk soon and he asked for me to
>send him a resume.
>
>Well, you guys know what a good technical resume looks like so I am asking you
>all what you think of it. Any advice is desired.
>--
><:-)Mike(-:>
>
>Michael Havens
>xxxx West Southern 
>#82 
>480.xxx-xxxx
>Mesa, Arizona 85210
>
>Career Objective:
>
>To serve in a capacity in which I can utilize my interpersonal skills and 
>my eagerness to learn in order to enhance and contribute to the growth of 
>the firm, while assisting it in achievement of excellence.
>
>Experience:
>
>2002 - present  Patient                Spent additional time recovering 
>from a brain
>                                                injury sustained in 1984.
>
>2001 - 2002     Administrative Support  Award-winning experience in many 
>aspects of the
>                                                office environment 
> including copying, filing, use
>                                                of microfiche, facsimiles, 
> and resizing and
>                                                reproduction of documents.
>
>2000 - 2001       Manufacturing               Machine operations for a 
>manufacturing firm
>                                               specializing in shaping 
> sheet metal and cutting
>                                               precision designed parts.
>                                               Operated forklift as needed 
> and delivered end-user
>                                               goods to clients.
>
>1996 - 2000       Hospitality Services        Extensive experience in the 
>hospitality industry,
>                                               including banquets, 
> security, maintenance, and
>                                               guest services
>
>Skills:
>
>Proficiency in- Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Powerpoint; Corell Word 
>Perfect,
>                         AutoCAD X, and Auto CAM
>
>Education:
>2000    Certificate of completion               Computer Networking Plus 
>(pending)         Phoenix, Arizona
>
>1995    Associates of Applied Sciences  Manufacturing 
>Machining                            Mesa, Arizona
>Other Certificates and awards available if pertinent.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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