Dear Certifiable:

Good question. I posed it to Jim Mellos, CEO of Ki-Tech Executive Search, who says you can't go wrong with Cisco certification--he's betting Cisco will maintain its market lead. But he also predicts that "intelligent networks" are going to make network setup simpler, and many large concerns will seek people with expertise in network security and other specialties.

In addition, Mellos suggests obtaining a master's in electrical engineering because "all serious networking candidates who want to stay viable long-term should consider an advanced degree."

Of course, nobody knows exactly what the future holds--except maybe Dionne Warwick and her pals at the Psychic Friends Network--so you may want to read "Certification Equation".



Dear Career Coach,

I've worked as a network engineering consultant for 15 years, and my resume lists all the hardware and software I've implemented for various clients. Now that I'm back in the job market (and who isn't?), I'm wondering how long my resume should be and what I should cut.

Brevity or Bust

Dear Brevity:

I'm pleased to see that even IT geeks (no offense) are concerned with proper résumé preparation. I asked contributing editor Jonathan Feldman, chief technical manager of the Chatham County Government in Savannah, Ga., who has interviewed "more than his fair share" of job candidates, for guidance:

"I'm always surprised when a senior candidate sends me a resume that's not two pages--how can you fit a 15-year career into a single page?" he says, adding, "But I would never take the time to read a three-pager, so don't overdo it!"

Feldman suggests you list formal education, professional certifications and experience on page 1, and save page 2 for hardware and software skills and special achievements that make you stand out from the crowd, like Nobel Prizes you've won (OK, if you've won a Nobel Prize, put that on page 1).

He also suggests you attach a sheet with contact information for at least three professional references. " 'References on request' just doesn't do the trick," he says.

One final note: Be sure to proofread your resume before you send it out. You'll find a helpful guide at "Proofreading for Common Surface Errors: Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar".

Game Plan: To find out what your skills and talents are worth to a potential employer, or to see how your current salary stacks up against salaries for comparable jobs, go to the results of Network Computing's most recent IT salary survey and a slew of related content. Also check out TechWeb's "Do the IT Bucks Stop Here?", and regional job boards like BostonWorks.