I came up with the idea of revamping my resume such that major individual clients from my self-employed days are reflected more or less as if they were employers, allowing emphasis on what I did technically. An off the top of my head, incomplete, strictly preliminary, unedited list of things I did for the most major client, a law firm of about 50 people, looks like this:
- Transitioned for Novell to NT4
- Upgraded from 3.11 to 95, eventually to 2000 or XP all around
- Introduced and administered Exchange
- Supported, maintained and extended custom software
- Got the firm onto internet via T-1
- Added internet e-mail
- Created and maintained web site
- Helped evaluate new phone system
- Administered SQL Server
- Supported Juris and other law firm specific applications
- Evaluated, selected and supported voice recognition software
- Supported Microsoft Office applications
- Built and repaired computers
- Selected and initiated upgrade to Windows 2003 servers
- Evaluated and selected vendor to deploy 2003 server and upgrade networking infrastructure
- Evaluated and transitioned to replacement for custom document/case management software, including porting data and documents.
There were many apps, odd items like BlackBerry, cell phone integration, digital dictation devices, routine maintenance, everything hardware, archiving older documents, fighting spam and malware, you name it. The trick will be to compress this into a brief description/accomplishments of particular interest.
They were not alone, but others are tiny by comparison. Setting up Small Business Server 2003, for instance, and all the associated computer deployment for a new 5-person firm. Troubleshooting a failing Novell server. assisting in upgrades to Windows 2003 Server and XP workstations, and setting up a digital timeclock and associated software for a wholesale distributor.
Then what I did administratively for the business, or technically internally or as odds and ends can go under the name of the business itself. Might get complicated, but I suspect I did not do a good job of showcasing myself before. Though what little attention I got seemed to generate the problem of what I wanted to focus on, rather than whether I had skills. Generalists need not apply.
In any event, besides an increased “no fear” attitude I’ve developed, this little exercise really made me wonder how in the world I could still be underemployed and not in my traditional field.