The job market is one of the most volatile in the world. A slight change in other sectors causes drastic changes in the short and long-term plans of enterprises to hire or fire people. That’s why professionals are always on the lookout for the right opportunities to pop up.
Information Technology has taken the world by storm. It has become a necessity for every business, small or big, to incorporate IT-related solutions in their systems for streamlining their processes and operations. That’s why we are experiencing a constant rise in the demand for IT professionals.
But, an experienced IT professional resume can showcase their abilities and ensure that they are the right person for the job. The need for a well-researched and superbly-crafted resume is in order!
Resume For IT Professionals
A resume is a compact document that strategically highlights the work experience, academic qualifications, and skills of a professional for a given position. It makes a case to the recruiter or hiring manager on the behalf of the professional that he is the right person for the job.
Even with the rise and immense popularity of online professional portals, such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and so on, the old-fashioned resume is still retaining its power as many people in the hiring business rely on it for initial screenings.
The resume of an IT professional will start with a header that contains all the contact details. Then, the resume summary and work experience will make the case, along with academic records and skills. In the end, professionals can showcase hobbies and interests that can appeal to recruiters.
Writing The Resume For IT Professionals
Say, you have seen a great opportunity in a world-class firm and you are certain you are the right person for the job. The head hunter has asked for resumes and cover letters from prospective candidates and you are set to get one for yourself.
There are two clear paths for you – either you can create a resume yourself or you can hire a professional resume company to do the job for you.
In the first case, you can save money upfront, albeit a little, but you will never know whether you hit the mark or not. On the other side, professional resume writing companies, such as Resume That Works provide a money-back guarantee on interview calls and engagement from hiring managers or recruiters.
No matter which way you want to go, you need to understand the risks and rewards of both choices before moving on to creating your resume. Now, if you are determined to write your resume, let’s get started!
Right IT Professional Resume Template
A solid IT professional resume format can hit the recruiter before he would even read a single word on the document. It is the overall look and theme of the resume, the way all the relevant information is displayed on the paper.
Following are some of the important points in this regard:
- Margins – the margins on both sides of the document should be standard, which is 1” on either side.
- Font size and style – there is no need to use fancy, illegible font style. The Time New Roman or Arial are good enough with standard 12 pt size for text and 14 pt for headings.
- Theme – the evergreen resume template is based on simple blocks of text paragraphs. However, infographics with elaborate tables and stars rise from time to time. Depending on the current wave, you should pick the theme. However, simple text blocks are the best for all times.
After choosing the right format, it is time to put the plans into action.
Open With A Solid Header
The IT professional resume headline is the topmost section of the resume, as it is where the resume starts. It contains the contact information of the aspirant that the recruiters can use to contact him. Mostly, email, phone, LinkedIn profile, and other online handles are shared. For positions that are area-specific, it is standard for all aspirants to write down their street address or show in the header that they are in the desired area.
Since this comes at the top, recruiters will have a look at this before anything else. If it is well-crafted and checks all the boxes, they will decide to move forward.
Excellent IT Professional Resume Summary
Right under the header, there is a short paragraph, not more than two to three short sentences, that highlights the overall professional and academic journey of the aspirant. This is another determining thing for recruiters to shortlist the candidates for the interview round.
Whether you write a resume summary or an IT professional resume objective depends on your career trajectory. If you do not have enough experience, you need to write the objectives summary. However, if you already have enough experience, it is best to compose a compelling resume summary.
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Acing Work Experience With Achievements
The next section in the IT professional resume is work experience or industry exposure. For mid-level and higher positions, this is the most important section. Companies are always looking for well-trained and experienced people; people who do not require too much of a grace period to start giving their best. That’s why this section comes in handy for them.
Many IT professionals make the mistake of simply explaining the job responsibilities. Instead, they should highlight their achievements while discharging those responsibilities.
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Highlighting Relevant Academic Qualifications
The academic qualifications section is the most important for those who have yet to amass relevant experience and exposure. When graduates are applying for an entry-level position, they need to put this section under the summary.
The best practices in writing this section for an IT professional resume for freshers involve writing the program name, followed by the alma mater, and then the period of degree. Grades or GPAs are often considered secondary metrics, but if anyone has secured a scholarship or a distinction, there is no harm in mentioning that.
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Showcasing Core & Soft Skills
As an IT professional, there are many core and soft skills that you need to cover in your industry journey. This section provides you the opportunity to tell the recruiters not only what you can do, such as programming, and coding, but how you do it, such as a team member and easy-going person.
Objectively speaking, there are no right and wrong answers to this as people often customize their resumes based on the company culture they are applying to or the larger trend brewing and exploding in the industry.
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Covering Hobbies & Special Skills
There was a period when hobbies and skills were considered as fillers in the resume. This is true to some extent as it was because of the corporate culture back then. Now, companies are more interested in not only who you are as a professional, but also as a person.
That’s why hobbies and special skills in this section of the IT professional resume can help you cement your position as a prime candidate for the job. Keep in mind that only adding the relevant hobbies and special skills can improve your chances of getting the interview call.
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Optimizing Your Resume According to The Job Description
When it comes to resumes and CVs of IT professionals, or any professional for that matter, there is no concept of one size fits all. Resumes should always be tailored around specific job positions. Still, there is no harm in keeping a general template handy and then optimizing it according to the job description of the vacancy.
This not only shows the effort of the recruiters but also helps them in looking at the professional in a better light. That’s why professional recruiters and hiring managers appreciate the effort and provide opportunities to dedicated persons.
Compose A Compelling Cover Letter
A cover letter is another important document that companies seek to adjudge the candidature of an aspirant. It is a document that starts with a compelling introduction, followed by professional experience and skills, and then concludes with prospects and a call to action. Many believe that a cover letter is a paraphrased version of the resume, but it is more than that as it can shed light on those dimensions that are usually left out in the resume due to space restrictions. Essentially, you can expand on IT professional resume summary examples to make your case.
Even if a recruiter does not ask for one, there is no harm in composing one yourself and attaching it to the resume. This will show the recruiters that you are not afraid to go the extra mile, no matter what.
Proofread & Edit Your Resume Before Submission
After writing the resume, it is time to take a step back and relax for a while. After some time, approach the resume as an editor or a recruiter and try to find flaws and errors in it. There are bound to be inconsistencies and errors in it, no matter how cautious you were during the writing phase. Even when there are no obvious mistakes, there is always room for improvement, as you can learn from numerous IT professional resume examples.
Once this is done, your resume is ready to be shipped to recruiters and hiring managers. Still, if you want to be sure of the success and effectiveness of your resume, it is best to have a dedicated resume writing service in your corner.
Key Takeaways
Resume writing is a specialized skill that can take some time to master. For IT professionals looking for a resume guide, we have highlighted the main ideas and covered all the steps in the process. If you are fine with doing all the heavy lifting on your own, there is still the risk of being left out because of a poor-quality resume. However, you can improve the odds in your favor by hiring a professional resume writing company.
Resume That Works takes its reputation and clientele very seriously. Since its inception, we have helped thousands of IT professionals with world-class resumes leading to world-class careers. Take your career to a new height by placing your order now!
