Don't:

Avoid being redundant.
Redundancy is the main culprit in making a résumé longer than it needs to be.

Listing the same bullet points under each of your last positions gives the appearance that you have not challenged yourself. Be sure to accentuate your most current accomplishments in any position. Reinforce your skills, but avoid overkill. Always point out promotions you have earned, and technical and non-technical skills that you have developed.

				We've all got to start somewhere
				We asked some security pros to share their first jobs, proving that even the biggest of fish was little once. "It was the height of disco when I graduated high school. I went to work for my dad's construction company that summer as a common laborer. That September, I joined the U.S. Navy with advanced training in electronics, specializing in ship-borne radar." –Tom Bowers, Information Security technical editor "My first real job was delivering the daily Sacramento Bee when the only early morning paper was on Sunday. I learned a lot about compromise, marketing (soliciting people to take the paper) and setting priorities to business first, play time later." –Kevin D. Dickey, deputy CIO and CISO, Contra Costa County "My first job was at an ice cream shop. I was hired as a 'trainee,' which allowed them to pay me below minimum wage until I reached 'sales staff' status." –Desiree A. Beck, technical lead, CME initiative, Mitre "I was 14 and waitressing at a coffee shop. I watched people in business suits and wondered what kind of exciting lives they had, and why they never tipped more than a dime." –Terri Curran, director, corporate information security services, Bose "My first job was helping test the efficiency of compressors used in air conditioners and heat pumps. Although not related to infosecurity, this was a complex system of measuring devices, data collectors and computers to run the tests and view reports." –Ron Gula, CEO and CTO, Tenable Network Security

For example, if you authored an information security policy at your last three companies, list the accomplishment. However, as you advance in your career, this skill should become a smaller component of your overall job function.

Appear overqualified.
Many people like to embellish their roles and importance in their current and past positions because they believe that it will enhance their chances of being considered for a position. Aside from possibly being dishonest, this is often counterproductive: Hiring managers do not want to give a job to someone who'd be bored with it and quickly leave the company.

Downplay technical skills.
It is common for candidates to put together a résumé that de-emphasizes their technical background to appear more business-focused and managerial. Information security professionals should embrace their technical roots; this is often a differentiating factor when employers make their choices. Include a list of your technical and information security skills as the last page of your résumé.

For the record, I have never been told that one of our candidates would not be offered a position because his technical skills were too strong.

Go crazy with buzzwords.
Be careful how you choose to illustrate your strengths, especially when they relate to different technologies, solutions concepts and regulatory standards. As a rule, do not list anything that you cannot back up with a level of work experience or that you would not be able to have an informed discussion on with someone who has expertise in the area. Chances are that person will eventually interview you.

Appear to be an expert in everything.
One of the best things about information security is that it comprises so many sub-segments that it has created different areas of subject matter expertise. Be careful about claiming to be an "expert" on more than one topic--it may cause some doubts about your level of proficiency. Also, when you claim to be an expert, interviewers will often choose to challenge you during an interview to validate your claim.

Overemphasize extracurricular industry activities.
Being selected to write or invited speak about particular industry topics can make you stand out from the pack. Mention the speeches you delivered at various conferences, or the books you contributed to, during the interview itself; on your résumé, be selective in what you include.

				More information from SearchSecurity.com Learn how to apply social engineering and other hacking skills to your job search. Project management skills give applicants an edge over the competition.

Employers want their employees focused on their position, not on external interests. Make sure a potential employer views these activities as an enhancement to your job, not as a competition.

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