Organizations are looking for the best and the brightest tech talent, and a well-crafted resume and cover letter is your ticket to catching the eye of hiring managers and securing the all-important interview on the way to your career goals.
With organizations now broadly using application tracking system (ATS) technology, which are used to make data-driven hiring decisions, it's important to ensure formatting and keywords meet those rubrics.
"Everything's getting filtered down through these software systems, so you want to make sure your formatting is consistent," advises Blythe Girnus, Vice president of training delivery for CompTIA. "These tools can also help you make your resume straightforward and concise—two characteristics I can't emphasize enough."
She points out there are multiple resources available online to help aspiring IT professionals put together a relevant and standout resume to optimize your chances for success.
Tech Resume Resources
These online resources include multiple tools and services including some free services, all designed to support job seekers at every stage of the resume writing process. From online guides and templates to professional resume writing services, these resources offer valuable assistance in formatting, content optimization, and tailoring resumes to specific tech roles. They provide insights into industry-specific keywords, trends, and best practices, empowering job seekers to showcase their skills and experiences effectively.
Dice Resume Resources
Dice offers a wealth of resume resources, including a collection of articles and guides covering topics including resume formatting, keyword optimization, and ATS compatibility.
The Dice Resume Center: This comprehensive and constantly updated selection of sample resumes is listed alphabetically and broken down by IT role—everything from access developer to wireless network engineer—with nearly 100 individual positions listed. It is a great first step towards helping you determine how to structure your own resume.
Resume Terms for Web Developers: Aimed at web developers, Java specialists and data pros, this resource helps you determine the essential keywords and terms to include. This will ensure your resume highlights the core skills and technical proficiency companies are looking for.
Power Verbs: Power verbs and action verbs breathe life into your resume, enhancing your impact and impressing hiring managers. However, it's crucial to choose them wisely, especially in concise sections like your mission statement. This list of power verbs will ensure your resume aligns with the job posting by tailoring it to each specific position you apply for.
Keeping Current: Tech is a fast-paced, constantly evolving industry, so staying updated with evolving skills is crucial. This guide to listing current skills helps ensure your resume reflects your latest abilities, and shows how you can update your technical skills and emphasize relevant ones for each job application.
Results-Driven Resume Tips: This guide to building a results-based resume uses the "problem, solution, results" methodology. This approach highlights your ability to tackle challenges, implement solutions, and achieve tangible outcomes, demonstrating to employers your value and potential impact on their organization.
What NOT to Do: From excessive boasting to common spelling errors and formatting mistakes, there are more than a few things you want to strenuously avoid—this guide on resume mistakes to avoid help you spot and fix missteps before you send out your resume.
Online Resume Resources
LinkedIn: In addition to its chief role as the leading professional networking platform, LinkedIn offers tools for creating and managing resumes through its Resume Builder feature. Users can customize their resumes based on their LinkedIn profiles and download them as PDFs.
Indeed Resume: Online job search platform Indeed offers platform for job seekers to create and upload their resumes, making them visible to employers who use Indeed for hiring. The site also offers templates and advice for creating effective resumes tailored to specific job roles.
Resume.com: Offering customizable resume templates and cover letter options, Resume.com users can either upload existing resumes or create new ones, with prompts and examples provided for guidance. The platform allows for easy customization of templates and real-time previewing, and final resumes can be downloaded in various formats or shared directly to Indeed for job applications.
TopResume: The site offers professional resume writing services that optimize resumes to pass through ATS, as well as a free resume review. Users can upload their resume or start from scratch. Tech professionals on Dice can access TopResume from their profile.
Best Resume Services to Help You with Your Tech Resume
VMock: This online platform provides automated resume review and feedback services to job seekers, using AI algorithms to analyze resumes based on various criteria such as formatting, content, and keywords. The site also provides users with personalized feedback and suggestions for improving their resumes to make them more effective and impactful in the job application process.
Rezi: Designed to streamline the resume creation process, Rezi provides templates, formatting options, and content suggestions tailored to specific industries and job roles. A keyword optimization feature helps ensure resumes are compatible with ATS, while resume analysis and feedback help users further improve their resumes.
Zety: Zety helps simplify the resume-building process through various templates, resume builders, and formatting options, along with guidance on writing content for resumes and cover letters. A career blog offers additional advice on resumes and cover letters.
Jobscan: This online tool helps job seekers optimize their resumes and LinkedIn profiles for ATS. It compares a user's resume or LinkedIn profile against a job description, identifying keywords and skills sought by the employer. Jobscan also offers personalized suggestions for improving the resume or profile to increase the chances of passing through ATS and getting noticed by recruiters.
Conclusion
These resources will help you craft an outstanding resume and focus your attention on the details that matter, as well as helping you structure your overall strategic approach.
Among the most important ways these resources can help is by optimizing it for ATS and by highlighting your skills effectively, all of which enhance your chances of standing out to hiring managers.
Practical pointers on basic writing and editing tips and storytelling can help you spot any potential red flags before submission, while resources for proofreading, design enhancement, and expert feedback can further elevate the quality of your resume.
Leveraging these tools and techniques at your disposal, will put you in the best possibility position to create a resume that not only impresses but helps you hit your career goals and land the job you desire.