Looking for an IT job? We’ve got a resume template for you.
No matter what types of technology jobs you’re looking for or your IT career level—entry, mid-level, or experienced—we have nearly three dozen free technology resume samples that can help guide you when you’re writing or updating your IT resume.
Check them out here:
IT Developer Resume Samples
Computer Programmer Resume Samples
Software Engineer Resume Samples
IT Project Manager Resume Samples
System Administrator Resume Samples
Technology Help Desk Resume Samples
Quality/QA Resume Samples
Other Technology Resume Samples
Technical and career summaries
Effective technology resumes clearly show the candidate’s technical skills—a hiring manager shouldn’t have to go fishing for this information. An excellent way to include technical knowledge is to add a Technical Summary or Technical Expertise section to your resume. Break the section into subcategories so the reader can quickly scan through your knowledge of programs and applications. Possible categories include technical certifications, hardware, operating systems, networking/protocols, office productivity, programming/languages, web applications, and database applications. List only those programs/applications that you could confidently discuss in an interview.
The reader shouldn’t be impressed only by your technical qualifications, but should also find you to be likeable and well-suited for the team. Soft skills such as interpersonal communications, ability to work collaboratively, and commitment to achieving corporate goals are just as desirable as your computer skills. In other words, your resume needs a personality. You can highlight some of these skills in a career summary section of your resume.
Focus on technical results
Technology job candidates usually make one of two critical errors on their resumes—either the document is excessively long with excruciating detail on every assignment ever completed, or too short with hardly any descriptions at all. There needs to be some middle ground—your resume should be succinct yet effectively showcase your achievements.
For each position you’ve held, give a brief synopsis of the scope of your responsibility. Then show how your performance benefited the company. Give examples of how past initiatives led to positive outcomes such as enhanced efficiency, faster time-to-market, monetary savings, etc. Accomplishments are most powerful when they are measurable, so include actual performance figures whenever possible. Focus on your most impressive technical projects/accomplishments. What types of challenges did you face? What did you do to overcome the challenges? How did your performance improve the organization’s bottom line?
For contract work in technology, provide a bulleted list of your top projects, indicating the company (or type of company if confidential), reason for hiring you, scope of your project, your specific approach to the project, challenges/obstacles faced, work performed, and benefits to the company.
If you are new to the technology field and concerned about a lack of experience, consider offering free or low-cost technical services to charitable organizations, friends, family, or local businesses. Doing so allows you to hone your craft and show related work or volunteer experience on your resume. Also, pursue as much training as possible to get up to speed. Entry-level candidates should focus on their potential in the field, ability to learn challenging concepts quickly and motivation to succeed in the industry.
Don’t forget keywords
The best keywords for your resume depend on your job target and experience. Specific programs and applications are often used as keywords, which is another reason a technical summary is a good idea. To determine the best keywords for your industry, examine technology jobs posted on Monster to see which credentials and skills are used frequently; these are potential keywords that should be incorporated into your resume.
Troubleshoot your resume
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and IT jobs are expected to grow a whopping 13% in the next eight years. Want to know how to reap the benefits and not be left behind? It starts with a resume that highlights not only your skills and experience, but also the value you’d bring to a team. Not sure your resume is optimized? Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts at Monster’s Resume Writing Service. You’ll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review of your resume’s appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiter’s first impression. Power up your job search!
