How do you list your skills after Comptia certs/Personal Profile on a CV?

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I'm in a bit of a muddle over this.

Now I've already got the A+ and Network+ and I've been doing some work towards 70-270 (can't afford MCDST before its retirement and by the way I'm NOT going for the entire MCSA).

The A+ in particular does cover quite a range of skills.

And I don't want to just put 'skills in PC support and networking' because it just sounds a tad vague and well a bit crap.

Also should it be a list of my skills in a section on my CV after a personal profile or a combo?

Oh, and thanks in advance for any replies!

 

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Mines are just listed under education

EDUCATION:

Itil V3 Foundation(Passed Jun 10)

Comptia A+ Operating System Technologies (passed Jun 07)

Comptia A+ Core Hardware (passed Jun 07)

Comptia Network+ (currently studying with an expected completion date of Dec 2010)

and thats it. If they arent sure what they are then they will ask and can be a good point in an interview if the hr person ask you to explain to er what it is.

 

The thing is (until now!), I would've thought that just listing your certs wasn't enough?

I mean how many IT job ads do you see on the general job websites (e.g Jobsite, Reed) that actually mention the Comptia certs by name?

 

I just pile them at the end of my resume, no descriptions, no dates.

 

I put mine under a section called certifications from highest to lowest with no pass dates. If employers want to know the dates I will show them my candidate profile pages.

So it will go

Certifications

MCDST
compTIA Security +
compTIA Network+
compTIA A+

Education

HND Business Computing
Advanced GNVQ IT
NVQ level 1 & 2 IT
9 GCSE's

 

But, with respect to my original post, do you also have a section that lists your specific IT skills that those certs have 'covered' in addition to what you've said above?

My original point is that I'm unsure how to list my IT skills (too much or too little detail), not how I list my certs.

 

im having the same problem as i have no certifications and what i would call little IT experience (plenty of employment experience) that makes my CV very bare

 

yes I have a skills section which is below my profile and goes something like this although can't remember exactly

.Windows 2000, XP, 7
.Fault resolution
.Setting up FTP server
.Backup procedures
.Fail over procedures
.Operating system cusomization
.VMware & Virtual PC
.Building PCs to clients specifications
.Networking support
.Training staff
.Customer relations

blah blah blah

 

I put a small intro on my cv taliored to the job I am going for saying what i have worked on and so forth and then it is under my descriptions of each job. I only do this with expierence thought and not stuff i have study as i dont think it is a true reflection something you have read in a book to actual hands on expierence.

 

Aha. That's what I was after.

You mentioned Virtual PC, is that something you've used in a job? I started a thread a while back asking whether I should put such a skill on a CV but having used it at home.

http://www.certforums.co.uk/forums/lastpostinthread354267.html

 

Some people do use virtualization software in their jobs for doing things like testing new security patches or service packs before the dish them out to the entire network. Some people use virtualization software for testing new apps or for testing changes to the network by replicating the network with the changes introduced and then using test setup as if it were the real setup to see if the proposed changes cause issues.

So thats why I have it on my cv as I have setup my own network at home with vmware and virtual pc and done all sorts to it so I can find resolutions to issues and things like that.

 

That's another thing, as I lack experience, should I mention setting up my own home (virtual) network?

 

just put virtualization software then if you get an interview tell them you set up your own lab if you are asked about it.

 

Would it be worth slapping on my CV, my skills/knowledge in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access)?

I also have some knowledge of SQL from a current OU course.

 

I have a separate section for 'Formal education' and 'Professional certifications/accreditations' and have a list of my certifications and the dates these were achieved. my CV has not been updated to show my new achievements although it looks like this:

Comptia A+ (IT Technician), March 2009
MCP, (Microsoft Certified Professional), June 2009
MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician), July 2009
MCTS: Vista (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist), September 2009
MCITP: Enterprise support technician, September 2009
MCSA (Microsoft Certified System Administrator: 2003), March 2010
Comptia Network+, October 2010
Comptia Security+, December 2010

 

But do you have a specific section listing your IT skills such as 'knowledge of TCP/IP suite of protocols' or 'upgrading PC components'?

 

I tend to keep things seperate.
Education and Professional Qualifications are two different things and potential employers may care more about one than the other.
When I list my certs I give them their full title rather than the abbreviation. MCDST may not mean anything to some people, but if they see the words 'Desktop Support' they can at least have a good guess.

In terms of what you are actually capable of doing, this should probably be listed under 'Key Skills' and highlighted in your previous employment. That is to say, make sure you mention in your employment section that you deployed this and configured that. If you have any specific skills such as configuring active directory, mention them right at the front of the CV under 'Skills' - particularly if they are things that the job description is looking for.

 

Which is what I lack.

 

well, you need to work with what you've got rather than worry about what you haven't.
If you haven't got relevant work experience, make the most of any tinkering you've done - any times you've helped out family and friends, any labs or simulations you've done while studying.

It is tough starting out - in any field. You won't have lots to call on in terms of experience, but you need to make up for this with commitment and enthusiasm. Focus on non-IT stuff to make yourself look like a well rounded person. Milk your hobbies and interests. Show that you have transferrable skills such as communication or leadership.

It's all good.

 

Yes but you can still list a bunch of skills as you must have some. Can you use windows? have you used any previous versions of windows? if yes to either then put it down.
can you build a computer? if so put it down
are you competent in MS office> if so put it down

i.e .Windows 7, windows XP, Windows 2000
.Building PCs and maintaining hardware
.MS Office 2003
.basic networking

You can list skills that you have that actually do not relate to the job your applying for and you can list any general skills too.