Move to cloud prompts GSA to rethink hiring practices The rise of cloud computing is placing pressure on federal agencies to recruit IT workers with more varied and nuanced skill sets. Megan Schmith of the General Services Administration says this means looking beyond technical skills to find candidates who can manage data but also understand its place in overall department strategy.
Companies get a lot of resumes, and you want to stand out as much as possible. Take advantage of the fact that a reader's eyes go to the first half of the resume first, and that readers are more likely to remember the first and last line of every paragraph. Your 'elevator pitch' --- the company is your customer and you're selling yourself to the job, so make sure your opening statement is powerful and aimed right at the position. Relegate references to a separate page that's only sent if employers specifically ask for it, If they want references, they will request them; there is no need for you to waste space saying, 'References available upon request,' either. Newer folks in the workforce should have a strong educational portion of their resume where they highlight skills, classes, projects, etc. that are relevant to the role they want. Even if you don't have a lot of work experience, laying out the skills, roles and responsibilities you had and the outcome of those projects is also important to show you're adept at teamwork and have leadership skills. Make sure you are highlighting your individual role on the team and how you contributed to the project or program's success. Remember, the company is hiring you, not the group you worked with. Include an overview of tasks and duties during the duration of your time in each job, without going into the mundane, tedious tasks that are a given, like filing, copying and other administrative duties. However, you should provide information that shows results, says Sampson, and prove that you are able to work as a team, multitask, assume leadership responsibility and any other relevant information by using examples. You should always be looking for ways to improve your abilities and gain new skills and knowledge, says Sampson, and add these to your resume. Taking courses and learning new skills can help you to stay current and have a competitive edge over others in the job market. Finally, one of the most important steps is to proofread. A few missed commas or misspelled words may not seem like a big deal, but to a hiring manager or employer, these details can make a huge difference. If you're not certain, have a someone else review it and make sure to accept and incorporate their feedback.
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