How will your IT or Tech resume set you apart from other candidates? Do you have an impressive list of technical skills? Perhaps you’ve worked with high profile clients and companies? Or is it your ability to communicate well with stakeholders, explaining complex ideas and systems to them? Here’s our advice: Ensure these exemplary and relevant parts of your career are included in your IT resume. Here’s how to do it best.
IT and Tech resume do's
Do be succinct. Aim for a document that is between two and three pages.
Do use professional titles in your resume.
Do customise your resume for each IT role you apply for.
Do ensure your technical skills or proficiency with relevant software and systems experience i.e. HTML, CSS, JavaScript are cited clearly in your IT resume.
Do show that you’re constantly learning, improving and updating your skills.
Do detail any side projects or start-up work you’re doing.
Do include links to your personal website, or those you’ve worked to build and maintain.
Do show your passion for the work you do and for the industry.
Do always run a thorough spelling and grammar check before submitting your resume.
IT and Tech resume don'ts
Don’t use out-dated or unprofessional contact details.
Don’t use company-specific language or terminology. Avoid buzzwords. Stick to what is known and understood at an industry level.
Don’t neglect the communication and people-based skills to highlight only the technical. Consider the other qualities that are useful in IT roles, and desirable from an employer’s perspective.
Don’t exaggerate about your level of experience or competency. Refined technical skill is a critical part of IT roles, so it’s important you’re honest about what you can do, and what you can’t in your IT resume.
IT resume sample
This IT resume example is strong because it employs modern, results-driven writing techniques. The formatting and style are neat and easy to navigate, with key technical skills called out right at the top of the document, followed by current and previous roles presented chronologically. The sample is concise, the contact details are professional, and the candidate has strategically included their New Zealand work status right at the top.
The key skills list at the top of this IT resume example cites not only core programming languages like Python and JavaScript, but also cloud platforms and DevOps tools. These are qualities that will show this candidate as technically comprehensive and capable, giving them a competitive edge.
This resume also exhibits the John Doe as highly efficient and data-driven by attaching clear metrics to their achievements, such as improving system performance by 30% and leading a team of 5 engineers. Furthermore, highlighting highly regarded industry certifications like AWS and Kubernetes directly beneath their education proves to employers that they are committed to continuous professional development.
Writing an IT or Tech resume that impresses employers is within reach for all candidates, no matter where they are in their career journey. Just follow the above tips and use our IT resume template as a guide and you’ll be on track to success. Take a look at our resume tips page for more advice on how to write a resume.
