How to make my resume more attractive to employers

[Amit Batra]

Hi All,
I have a few years experince as a J2EE developer but would now like to maybe move into the server administration side or a relevant SAP role.

How should I indicate this in the 'job objective' in my resume and what should I write in my resume title to solicit more offers from the job sites like monster?



Any input is welcome.
Thanks.

[Marcel Wentink]

Oh goodness. I once had the same problem when I worked first as a developer, then as a support engineer (but then support of developer products like IDE compiler builders hence giving support to developers) and then wanted to be a developer again.

All the job agencies will try to push you back in the role of your latest experience. They can get cash for that. They do not care what you want. They have no clue what the tec. content of any job is anyhow. Well, I think job agencies are irritating, and human resource managers have no idea what programming is.

Just deny your experience in the role you do not want. Otherwise you will get dozens of emails that will offer you a job in your old role. You can almost better say that you were unemployed or something.

[arulk pillai]

-- clearly outline your intention of changinging careers in the "Objective" section. For example

"Changing careers from being a developer in JEE based systems to a challenging entry level developer role in SAP based software development, and it is my passion in SAP sustains me to gain SAP certification and hands on experience through self-taught and open source projects."

better say that you were unemployed or something.

Don't do that.

-- You can still emphasize your achievements in hard skills and especially soft skills, but be a bit liberal in the usage of the term "Java/J2EE". Don't splash the term Java/J2EE every where.

-- Try to emphasize a bit more on your SAP. Good luck.
[ November 25, 2008: Message edited by: arulk pillai ]

[Dave Swift]

Hi,

Traditionally the objective section is used to specify the type of role you are looking. I would recommend however using this section to summarize your key skills, abilities and experience with bullet points. Maybe calling it a "Profile Summary".

Use it as an opportunity to provide a �big picture� view of who you are. You can really sell yourself in this section. You resume is also more flexible because if you specify a specific position in your objective you are limiting yourself to that position.

[arulk pillai]

Originally posted by Dave Swift:
Hi,

Traditionally the objective section is used to specify the type of role you are looking. I would recommend however using this section to summarize your key skills, abilities and experience with bullet points. Maybe calling it a "Profile Summary".

Use it as an opportunity to provide a �big picture� view of who you are. You can really sell yourself in this section. You resume is also more flexible because if you specify a specific position in your objective you are limiting yourself to that position.

Yes, professional summary & achievements sections are pretty important to highlight your experience and accomplishments. One should write targeted resumes and should stay away from one-size fits all resume. Especially, your Objective section should be targeted to the specific position you are applying for and so should be your other sections like "Professional Summary", Achievements, etc.
[ November 26, 2008: Message edited by: arulk pillai ]

[Amit Batra]

Thankyou everyone for your helpful inputs. and happy Thanksgiving!

[Arvind Mahendra]

Originally posted by Dave Swift:
Hi,

Traditionally the objective section is used to specify the type of role you are looking. I would recommend however using this section to summarize your key skills, abilities and experience with bullet points. Maybe calling it a "Profile Summary".

Use it as an opportunity to provide a �big picture� view of who you are. You can really sell yourself in this section. You resume is also more flexible because if you specify a specific position in your objective you are limiting yourself to that position.

But if he does do away with the 'job objective' and instead uses that space to summarize his key skills, abilities and experince, he'll be right back to where he was earlier with his dilemma of how to make the resume more appealing to an alternate audience. You can try to provide a 'big picture' of yourself as I'm sure is the goal but that does not accomplish anything as far as indicating to employers looking to hire for a role that deviates from what his past experince is all about?