Writing a Technical Resume

Writing a Technical Resume

The tech industry is one of the fastest-growing and most highly paid in the world. In general, Technical Resumes will include any jobs or experiences related to computer science/information technology. This can include anything from software development/engineering to data analysis and computer hardware experience.

When you are applying for a tech job, it can be nerve-wracking to think about all the other people who are applying who could potentially be more qualified than you.

To increase your chances of getting an interview (and then, hopefully, a job), you need to make sure your resume is flawless. If you have any doubt about what hiring managers in the tech industry are looking for, the best thing to do is look at sample resumes from people already working in tech.

You can find plenty of examples here on our IT Resume Samples section.

What is a Technical Resume & How is it different from a Standard Resume

A technical resume is similar to a standard resume, with a few key differences. The major difference is that a technical resume provides more detail about your technical background, such as computer programming languages, software you’ve worked with, and hardware you’ve used.

In most cases, you are going to be using a technical resume if you are applying for a job in which you will be using your technical knowledge or training. This can be any kind of job that requires specific technical skills such as programming, engineering, or even certain kinds of research positions.

A standard resume is used in most other settings, from office jobs to sales positions. These resumes are more general than technical ones. They show your work history and any relevant certifications or degrees you have, but they don’t go into the same level of detail about your technical skill set.

In this article, we will go over What is a Technical Resume and How to create a good technical resume, some tips for writing a technical resume that will get noticed and get you ahead of the competition for your desired job.

How to Build a Good Technical Resume

With diligence and attention to the specific details, you can create a technical resume that showcases your abilities. As you are a technical job seeker, your resume must draw the recruiter’s attention to your accomplishments instead of daily responsibilities. Include detail, but balance that with brevity. Present your resume information in a bullet-pointed way for increased readability.

1.) Make sure you use the right format.

A chronological format is best for most technical resumes because it emphasizes your work experience. The functional or combination formats are usually better at concealing gaps in your employment history, but they can also make it look like you’re less qualified than you really are since they don’t put as much emphasis on the work experience section.

2.) Use a simple design and layout.

Your resume should be easy to read and understand, which means using a clean design, simple formatting, and legible fonts (like Times New Roman or Georgia). Write in short paragraphs and use bullet points to make it easier for the recruiter to skim through your resume quickly. Use bold text sparingly—only for things like your name or headings—so that it stands out when needed but doesn’t overwhelm the reader.

3.) Summary

The most important part of your resume is the summary, it should leave an impression. It reflects everything, from your skills to your personality. It is your replication. You need to be creative enough to write an attractive crux of your technical experiences.

4.) Use bullet points.

Hiring managers tend to scan through resumes quickly, so it’s helpful to use bullet points to highlight your accomplishments and point out specific accomplishments that may be relevant to the job you’re applying for. And remember: don’t just list your responsibilities; highlight what you actually did at each job you held and how you accomplished it.

5.) Work History

If you have industry experience, then it is the first section which your hiring manager will be eager to skim. It should be presented in a way so that the recruiter gains the maximum information in just a glance. However, if you have just completed your education, you can place your skills section at the top. Employers want to know what you can do for them, so showcasing your expertise through experience is the best way to help them envision you at their company.

6.) List your Skills

Unless you’ve applied for an executive position, showcasing technical skillset is a must. Your experience reflects the skills you have gained all these years. However, that is a summary, under skillset, you can elaborate upon your abilities and highlight a few, depending upon the requirement of the organization.

7.) Organize your resume

So it’s easy to follow and includes all the information that hiring managers are looking for in your field. Start with your most recent job and work backwards from there. In some cases, it can also help to include an objective statement at the top of your resume to let the hiring manager know what kind of position you’re looking for and why they should consider interviewing you.

Tips for Writing a Technical Resume

Best resume tips could be utilized to put together an outstanding resume and showcase your technical abilities, you must tailor your resume by catching a few keywords and incorporate them in it. Make this a habit for each company where you appear for the interview. Many companies sift the resume through computer programs before selecting a few out of the heap. Refer to various resume samples over the internet, there are numerous for techies, you will get an idea about how to represent your pool of experience is hardly one or two pages.

  • Be clear and concise : Technical professionals are used to getting straight to the point—don’t mince words or beat around the bush with fluff, especially in your technical summaries or lists of responsibilities or accomplishments.
  • Use Keywords :  Read the job description closely, and make sure that you’re including any relevant keywords in your resume. Hiring managers often run resumes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that are programmed to look for these specific terms in order to evaluate a candidate’s suitability for a role. When possible, use the same language from the listing when describing your skills and experience.
  • Check Out Your Resume Design: Design your resume well for the sake of improving its readability. Cut off the irrelevant experiences, white spaces can make the resume more appealing. Make use of simple and elegant font face and regular font size to make your resume impressive. A geometrically formatted resume is catchier. You must try to format your resume with more empty spaces to make the content easily readable.
  • Favor Your Accomplishments Over Responsibilities:  While including the content in the resume, highlight your achievements moreover your responsibilities. Explain about your accomplishments and how you are better than your competitor candidate. It quantifies the results making it more concrete. Write more data rather than vague sentences. Think about what you have given to your company and how did it pay you back and recollect your past performances.
  • Include Certifications : List any industry certifications you have or make sure to mention that you graduated from a university with honors

Technical Resume Sample

Technical Resume Example

Technical Resume Example (Text Version)

Amy Hadens
2354, Palo Alto, CA
(222) 222-2222 | amy.hadens@gmail.com

Summary
Dedicated IT professional with 5 years of experience, seeking a position as the database developer in a technology-driven organization in an environment that encourages recognition and career progress. A diligent developer with work integrity and exemplary rated history of work in database development. Design high-integrity dimensional databases are supporting critical areas in business.

Professional Experience
2015 – Present
Bini Bans Technologies
Database Developer

Responsibilities
• Led completion of more than 45 ETL projects according to the client requirement with 100% positive feedback
• Completed projects saving the deadline by 15%
• Managed more than 60 SQL Server Databases (SRSS/SSIS) instances over 50 product lifecycle environments
• Excelled in Database Architecture coursework
• Created a member database for 40,000 charitable organization

Technical Skills
Database Development | MS SQL | DB2 | Visual Studio | NET (C#) | SAP ASE | Data Warehousing | Scripting | Coding and Documentation

Education
2010 – 2015
University of Texas
Bachelor of Sciences in Computer Science

Key Takeaways:

We hope this guide has helped you feel more confident in structuring your technical resume. Remember that your resume is a living, breathing document, and it should be tweaked and tailored to each job you apply for. Remember that in a technical resume, it’s an asset to use as much space as possible to describe your technical expertise and provide evidence of your skills.

If you want to be sure you’re presenting yourself in the best light, here are the keys to crafting a strong technical resume:

  • Use the right format to structure your information.
  • Highlight your skills and projects clearly and concisely.
  • List your experience in the right order and with the right details.
  • Showcase your knowledge of software and technologies in their proper formats.
  • Include all relevant soft skills that showcase how you’ll fit into a team.

You’ve made it to the end of this list, and we hope you feel like a technical resume expert now! If you’re looking for more help with your job search, check out our blog post on how to write cover letters that get interviews. Also check our Comprehensive IT Career Resource Guide.

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