It is true that an information technology resume should highlight expertise in certain software programs, systems and hardware. The extent to which these elements are emphasized depends on the job that is being sought and the level of experience a job seeker has.

For example, a computer programmer should focus on the types of software that they developed, covering all phases of development, from planning and testing through execution. If the computer programmer works as part of a team and does not manage others, the focus of their resume should be about the software, the purpose of the application, what phases they worked on and what the result was.

Going into detail is a good idea, and changing the first word of each sentence is preferable so the resume is not loaded with the words wrote and tested. Too much redundancy can be boring to the reader, and may fail to set the job seeker apart from other candidates.

However, if the IT professional is a project leader with extensive experience working with major clients, it is important to show what the project implementations have involved beyond the actual technical requirements. This could include interfacing with stakeholders, third-party software companies, traveling to other states, working with outsourced teams, and even managing vendors and budgets.

If the job is mostly technical, the computer skills section should be at the top of the resume above the Professional Experience category. If the position is more about management, that very section should be minimized and listed at the end of the resume before the Education section.

Keywords are really important when it comes to an IT resume. You can create a section after the summary or profile section that is three columns across and four rows down. A few good keyword phrases to consider include project oriented, solutions focused, project lifecycle management, project team leadership, beta testing, system architecture, applications development, database management, data migration and system conversion.

Including certification at the top of the resume, whether in the profile or using logos is a really good idea. IT certifications are an important credential to have in the field, and have as much weight as a degree in some cases, especially if highly specialized, such as a PMP.

A resume’s design is very important. It is not a wise idea to use templates provided by popular word processing programs. These types of templates are very simple and look too standard. You will want to take the necessary steps to have an eye-catching layout that will stand out in a pile of resumes. For example, using gray shading in a left panel that lists credentials would certainly be effective. Even capitalizing and boldfacing headings can draw the reader’s eyes to something important.

Beyond the technical information and the project explanations, it is always powerful to list selected achievements. This does not have to be about money. It can be about working on a project that went on the market and was successfully rolled out to mobile applications, improving security levels on all of the computers in the company, or training employees on a system after a new implementation or a company merger.

If you were in an interview and were asked, “Why should I hire you over the other seven candidates with similar experience?” What would you tell them specifically? If you were in your boss’s office asking for a raise, what would you say to convince him or her that you deserve it? Whatever your answers are, that is the information that needs to be highlighted in your resume.

Your boss and the hiring manager both know what you do, generally speaking. If you were to verbalize what you do, a hiring manager may tell you something like, “Yes, of course, you are expected to do that. That is what you get paid for. That is what we listed in the job posting. What I want to know is how you do it better than anyone else and what difference you have made to your employers.”

Giving serious thought to these questions will help you to add more value to your resume and will prepare you for the interview.

Categories: Features, Information Technology, bcapapers
Tags: Information Technology, IT Resume