How to Write a Powerful Information Technology Resume

A resume is the best opportunity to create a powerful first impression.

A resume is a one- to two-page summary of your experience, skills and education. It is an informational and marketing document combined into one. A powerful resume stands out from the dozens of resumes that stream into human resources in response to job ads. Information technology jobs usually require specific technical skills and work experience. Design your resume to show potential employers how your background fits their requirements.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Review the job advertisement if you are preparing a resume for a specific ad. If not, review information technology job ads on Dice.com, Monster, LinkedIn, Indeed.com and on the careers sections of IT companies.

2. Gather the relevant information for your resume. Request two to three of your former supervisors to be your references. List and prioritize your career objectives, key accomplishments, graduation dates, volunteering activities and other details.

3. Choose between the chronological and functional resume formats. A chronological resume lists education and work history in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent degree and the current employer. A functional or skills resume organizes experience around specific skills. If you are a recent IT graduate, use the functional format; otherwise, use the chronological format.

4. Write the heading, which includes your name, contact information and career objectives. This section should not exceed three to four lines.

5. Prepare the body of your resume. If you are an experienced IT professional, start with your most recent employer. For a powerful impact, show how you have made a difference to your employers. For example, instead of saying, "Involved in Java programming of client-server interface modules," say something like "Involved in the design and development of Java client-server modules for two of the company's major clients. Assisted in end-user training. Team received commendation for on-time and on-budget completion." This additional detail can help hiring managers determine how you might contribute to their projects and how steep the learning curve could be.

6. Tailor your resume for different jobs. For example, if you are applying for a programming job, highlight the software languages and tools that you have used. If you are applying for a business analyst position, emphasize your experience in user analysis and requirements specification.

7. Provide examples to demonstrate leadership, interpersonal skills and reliability. For example, write about your participation in company efforts to train disadvantaged youth in using computers. Mention your involvement in community groups, such as the Boys and Girls Club. These details speak to your character and could have a powerful effect on a hiring manager.

8. Edit your resume for clarity, conciseness and accuracy. Run the word processor's spelling and grammar checker. Sentences should start with action verbs, such as assisted, developed and prepared. Use bold face, italics and underline for emphasis, but sparingly. Ask a friend or career counselor to review the resume before transmitting it to an employer.

Tips & Warnings

• Optimize your resume for scanning software. Insert career-specific keywords, such as software design, systems analyst and product research.

• Send a cover letter with your resume and highlight one or two accomplishments relevant to the job.

References

• MIT Career Development Center; Resume Tips; March 2011
• University of California at Irvine: How to Write a Resume

Resources

• Berkeley Career Center: Resume and Letter Writing
• Berkeley Alumni Association; The Seven Deadly Sins of Resume Writing; Peter Newfield