Writing a resume for a lot of people can be a daunting task. In the beginning, I struggled with writing a resume but through the years I found a formula that worked. I have also been involved in the hiring process. So, I have seen what others have done and how it ultimately impacted my decision to schedule the interview. Let’s get started!
Do some research
You stumbled around to get to this site. So it’s likely you have already started this step already. Do some research on the internet. There is a lot of great content out there that provides tips and tricks on how to write a resume.
Search the internet for resumes by other IT professionals. You will see examples of how other IT professionals structure their resumes. It will give you some ideas on how to write yours. Now let’s get pen to paper!
Writing the header
This is pretty straightforward. You just need to add your first name, last name, home address, and email address. Make sure you use a professional-looking personal email address like your first name and last name.
If you have a blog and are actively posting content that showcases your expertise. Then I would add it. A Blog is a great way to show that you are an authority in your field. I would avoid adding social media unless it’s somehow relevant to your expertise or the position.
Writing a summary
The summary is one of the first things that a potential employer looks at before making the decision to read your resume. Without a summary, it becomes very difficult and very time-consuming to see if you have the qualifications for a job.
Most hiring managers and recruiters potentially look at dozens of resumes and which can be very time-consuming. That’s why a great summary stands out and allows recruiters and human resources to zero in on the top candidates.
Your summary should be brief and to the point. Keep to 3 or 4 sentences and have it outline the following:
What kind of position are you seeking?
How many years of experience do you have?
What kind of qualifications do you have?
List of key skills
A good skills list is a great way for hiring managers to easily identify your expertise and key areas of focus. Most recruiting firms and staffing agencies use tools that search for specific key skills for certain roles.
Don’t put the level of experience next to a particular skill like a beginner, intermediate, or advanced. I don’t think that level of detail is necessary. Any of those measurements are relative and are hard to quantify.
In addition, don’t make your skills list too long focus on your strengths. What are you known for professionally? What is your area of expertise? Avoid mentioning a product or technology you dabbled in or a legacy technology (unless the job specifically asked about it). Don’t make things redundant and try to be clear and to the point.
Work Experience
Depending on your level of experience this is arguably the most important section on your resume. It is really important to highlight what you are doing in your current role or what you did in your previous role. I typically go into the most detail here. You really want to stress not only what you did day-to-day but discuss projects and/or wins you had in that role.
I typically go leaner and leaner with my work experience the further back I go. This is because most hiring managers and recruiters typically focus on what you’re currently doing or what you did in your previous role. They aren’t as interested in what you did 5 or 10 years ago. Especially in information technology where things change so rapidly.
How far back should you go when listing work experience? It really comes down to the rule of not having a resume longer than 3 pages. Go as far back as it seems relevant.
For newbies this isn’t an issue, your issue is making your resume stand out without a lot of work experience under your belt. Your best option is to start with education or certifications first, then add work experience at the bottom. Especially, if the work experience isn’t relevant to your industry. It’s all about showing off your strengths as early as possible when they read the resume because it’s human nature not to read the entire resume.
Education and Certifications
This section is pretty straightforward. If you are the person with 20 IT certifications it may not make sense to list all of them. Stick with the ones that are relevant to your role and are very well known in the industry. I always place the top certification that you have first and in order of importance. If you are a CCIE don’t put the A+ certification as your first (may not need to mention it at all).
It’s always a safe bet to list your college degree on your resume, even if it’s not industry-specific. If you attended college but didn’t graduate then mention the college and what you majored in but don’t mention anything about a degree. If you didn’t finish you may want to list college under your IT Certifications. Likewise, If you just graduated with an MBA a year ago you might want to highlight that first.
References
I typically don’t place references on my resume. I’ll mention that they are available upon request and then make sure I have them lined up. I am cautious about sharing my references with just anyone.
Personal Interests or Awards
If you have any type of volunteer or community involvement that you want to share; I would add it. A lot of companies are getting more involved in their local communities and doing give-back programs. So I would highlight it because it will show that you are a cultural fit for the company.
Awards are something you can add as well. If you won something at school or work, then it’s all fair game in my opinion. Remember, you are selling yourself to your future employer.
Write a Cover Letter
A cover letter isn’t necessary but it can set you apart from the competition if done correctly. Your cover letter should be company and position-specific. You want to convey your personality and your level of enthusiasm about the company and the role. Do some research on the company, its culture, and its product or services. What makes you excited about the role? This is the one thing that can help you stand out. I am still surprised by the number of resumes that don’t have cover letters.
Review and proofread
Have a recruiter or some other objective person proofread your resume. This is one of those things that impact first impressions. A bunch of spelling errors or typos on your resume makes you look lazy and could hurt your chances of getting hired.
Final thoughts
Writing a resume is a good skill, but it won’t get you a job. A resume is an important tool to help you showcase you as a professional and your qualifications. The IT job market is very competitive and it’s important to do everything you can to stand out and be noticed. Hopefully, by reading this blog post you’ll get some good ideas on how to write and structure your resume.
