Main image of article Crafting an Impressive Tech Resume

A common mistake tech job candidates make is thinking their resume is a formality. They write a “standard” resume that details their skills and background in a very generalized way, and then submit that resume to a variety of jobs. After all, companies everywhere are desperate to hire tech talent, right?

But then… nothing happens. You’re a tech professional with all the right skills and experience for those jobs, and yet you never receive an email or a call asking when you might have 15-20 minutes to discuss the role further. It may be weeks or months before you get a rejection email—if you get a response at all.

Any rejection is confusing and hurtful, particularly when looking for a new job. There’s a good chance your resume was never even reviewed properly—and that’s not because you’re unqualified. If you don’t customize your resume to the position, the hiring manager or recruiter will have a difficult time seeing how your skills and background will help their company with its very specific goals and needs. (And as much as you might be tempted to use A.I. to write your resume, tailoring such a document to your career is something A.I. can’t do.) 

In addition to being highly customized, a good tech resume conveys your skillset with easily readable formatting and doesn’t get “in the weeds” on specificity. It’s a tough road to traverse, but we have some great tips to help you.

How to Write a Tech Resume

Here’s a tough pill to swallow: Most tech resumes list the same skills, and many applicants are just as accomplished as you are (at least on paper). You need to do everything possible to make your resume stand out.

Recruiters and hiring managers don’t always compare tech resumes on an apples-to-apples basis. Those in charge of hiring tech professionals often look for context, not just content. Because of that, tech pros must not only explain their proficiency and unique experience, but also how those apply to the specific role.

Here’s an example: You’re applying for a job that might ask for experience with a specific platform. Listing that platform in the “skills” section on your resume is excellent, but you must also provide context on what you’ve use the platform for, the results you’ve achieved with it, and more. Use the relevant part of your resume’s experience section to demonstrate those things:

Migrated on-premises infrastructure to AWS: Transitioned 30+ critical applications to AWS databases, achieving 30 percent cost reductions per year.

Your skills and proficiency should link to measurable results as much as possible. If you’re a back-end web developer and you’ve improved a website to load faster, that’s great—but what does that mean? If this enhanced loading speed means ads were served faster and revenue increased, you should note that on your resume!

Key Elements of a Technical Resume

Here are the sections every great tech resume should have:

  • Name and contact information. Your name, email, and phone are sufficient info in today’s jobs market. You can list your address if you like, but it’s unnecessary. Ensure your contact info is readable, mainly if your email address is complicated.

  • Brief summary. 1-3 sentences about your work and what you can offer as a potential teammate.

  • Relevant links to your work. This is a great place to link to your GitHub profile or personal blog where you work “in the open.” It offers your potential employer a good look at how you work through problems and if you document your work effectively. (If it’s not relevant, leave it off.)

  • Education and certifications. If you have a formal education, list it here. If not, rely on certifications and other methods for learning to build out this section.

  • Skills. This is where you should list the programming languages and platforms you’re proficient with. It doesn’t hurt to rank your experience for each skill, either. Beyond technical skills, list soft and interpersonal skills here, too.

  • Work experience. The meaty part of your resume! List each job you’ve held in reverse chronology, with your title and the dates you worked there. List accomplishments in bulleted lists to make them accessible for recruiters and hiring managers to read and understand.
     
  • Other interesting information. This is a great place to give your potential employer a bit more about you - and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through here. Just be mindful not to disclose things that might be too much information.

 

Related Resources:

Improve Your Objective Statement on Your Resume

Showcase Side Projects On Your Resume

 

How to Format a Tech Resume

Formatting a resume properly may be one of the more underrated tools for job seekers. Formatting is subjective, but there are some universal truths you should be mindful of when creating or updating your resume:

  • Keep it simple. There are a lot of flashy resume templates that look snappy, but keeping yours simple is the way to go. A suitably formatted tech resume must be easily readable by ATS programs and humans. Too many visual elements, background colors, and other “features” can render your resume unreadable. Moreover, always upload your resume in PDF format, which is universally readable.

  • Use backlinks. Did your work lead to increased revenue for your employer? Did the employer disclose earnings publicly? Linking to that news in your resume is a great way to tie efforts to results and shows your potential boss that you understand how your work affects the bottom line. You can also link to your online work (GitHub, as an example) if you’re discussing a skill you have expertise in.

  • Lean on your cover letter. Your cover letter should provide more context than your resume. When listing accomplishments on your resume, keep them straightforward and high-level. If there’s anything you’re particularly proud of, you should use your cover letter to get into more detail.

  • Bullet points matter. Whomever or whatever reads your resume will scan it - literally and figuratively. ATS programs are looking for keywords. Recruiters and hiring managers scan for the same info. The difference is people want a bit more context. Use bulleted lists to make your resume easily scannable, and list high-level context to ensure you’re underscoring your proficiency.

  • Provide context. Let’s look at our example of increasing page load speed on a website, which resulted in increased revenue. On your resume, you should list - at a high level - how you did that. Did you employ an edge cloud service to help increase speed? Your resume is a great place to quickly note the “how” for your accomplishments.

 

Related Resources:

Using the Right Resume Format for Job Applications

Resume Formats to Choose From

 

Tips for Crafting an Impressive Tech Resume

The tech jobs market is packed with applicants. Your first introduction to a potential new employer is your cover letter and resume, so make these shine bright.

Make sure both use the same base formatting. Use the same margins, layout scheme, font, and font size. You want the two to feel like they go together, not like you cobbled them together to meet the application requirements.

Your resume should be as long as it needs to be. Many job seekers try to condense their resume into a one-page document, but that doesn’t tell the whole story for many of us. Two to three pages are just fine, depending on the length of your career.

While crafting your resume for the job you’re applying for might be tedious, it’s crucial. This also comes down to the language you use. If the job asks for “[x] years of experience with [y]” and you have that level of experience, say so! Mimic the job posting language in your resume to engage those who created the job post on a different level.

 

Additional Resume Tips:

How To Optimize Your Resume for ATS Systems

Tips for Tweaking Your Resume

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you create your resume:

  • Don’t be wordy: Giant, paragraph-long explainers only make recruiters and hiring managers want to move on to the next applicant. Be concise, be direct, be informative, and be brief.

  • Don’t be a designer (unless you’re a designer): Designers should use their resume as a format to show their design skills. If that’s not you, keep your resume simple and easily readable. (And if you are a designer, resist the urge to get too splashy, because crazy designs can potentially interfere with automated resume scanners.)

  • Don’t explain: Your resume is not a place to list everything in great detail, even if you keep your bullet points brief. An overly long, overly detailed resume can be daunting to hiring managers. The goal of a resume is to show you have the expertise they need and to get hiring managers interested in speaking with you further.

  • Don’t leave off your soft skills: A tech-heavy resume can make you seem one-dimensional. Your resume should also show you’re a great communicator and listener and solve problems without lashing out. Let your cover letter and resume show potential employers who you are, not just what you can do.

 

Related Resources:

The Worst Resume Mistakes You Can Make

Simple Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Resume

Small Resumes Errors That Are Hard to Catch

Don't Include These Things On Your Resume

 

Tech Resume Examples

Curious about specific tech resumes? Take a look at the following:

Conclusion

Building a great resume isn’t easy, but the effort can pay off with the job of your dreams. Just remember, above all else, to tailor your details to the specific position—recruiters and hiring managers will notice and appreciate your effort.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

 

How can I quantify my skills and accomplishments on my resume?

Instead of simply stating you improved something, transform your experience into measurable achievements. Don't just say "increased website speed," instead, mention the percentage increase and its impact, like "increased website speed by 20%, leading to a 15% rise in conversions." Highlight the results of your work to showcase your skills. If your project boosted revenue, mention the percentage increase to demonstrate your contribution.

What are some specific keywords I should include in my resume for different tech roles?

Mimic the job posting language in your resume. If the job description mentions "5 years of experience with Java," include that. Additionally, list your skills and proficiency with measurable results. A back-end developer who improved website speed should note that, quantifying the results by mentioning the increase in speed or revenue.

How can I tailor my resume to a job description without being dishonest or misleading?

Tailor your resume to the specific job. Don't submit a generic resume; customize it to the company's needs. Use the same language from the job description. If it asks for experience with a specific program, mention that in your resume and elaborate on the results you achieved using that program. Honesty is crucial. Focus on genuine and relevant skills. Don't fabricate experience or exaggerate your qualifications.

What are some common formatting mistakes that I should avoid on my resume?

Avoid these common formatting mistakes: excessive visual elements, background colors, and distracting features, complicated fonts or font sizes, and uploading your resume in a format other than PDF.

How can I make my resume stand out from other applicants?

To grab the attention of hiring managers, tailor your resume to each specific position. Highlight the skills and experience that directly align with the job requirements mentioned in the description. Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments using numbers and percentages to showcase the tangible impact of your work. Additionally, integrate relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume to increase its visibility in applicant tracking systems (ATS) commonly used by companies. Finally, maintain a clear and concise format that is easy for both ATS and human reviewers to navigate, ensuring your qualifications shine through clearly.