How To Write A Resume For Applying To IT Jobs

The demand for information technology (IT) professionals has grown considerably, given the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of tech jobs are available as more and more traditional businesses and industries acknowledge the need to digitize their services and create a stable online presence to survive in the new normal. 

Though there are many opportunities available, you will want to land the best offers. Make sure you catch the attention of the recruiting team of the companies you are eyeing by creating a resume that stands out from the competition. To help you out with this, here are several tips on how you can write an impressive resume for IT jobs:

Make Your Resume Readable

While IT jobs are in demand, keep in mind that hundreds or even thousands of tech graduates and professionals are looking for IT positions. That means recruitment officers receive numerous applications every day. As such, they merely skim through resumes instead of reading them one by one. If yours looks like a block of unbroken text that is difficult to understand, your application will probably be discarded without the hiring officer ever reading it. 

Be sure to capture recruiters' interest by making your resume visually enticing and the information easy to digest. Dividing your resume into specific categories, such as education, work experiences, and technical skills, is one way to help the reader scan through your resume quickly. It is also prudent to break your tech experiences into subcategories, such as technical certifications, hardware, operating systems, and programming languages, among others, for easy reading. 

You may also want to use bullet points to help draw attention to essential information. More importantly, limit the length of your resume to a maximum of two pages. Remember that your resume is a marketing piece. Keep it brief yet concise to maintain the interest of the hiring manager.

Keep It Relevant

Unless your experiences, accomplishments, and skills are directly related to the IT position you are applying for, it is best to leave them out in your resume. And since the IT industry is constantly advancing, you may also want to skip outdated and irrelevant knowledge and skills. For instance, if you worked as an operating systems administrator in the past, it may be better not to mention this information in your application if the operating system is now obsolete.  

It is best to include your level of expertise with different technologies to save yourself and the recruitment officer precious time and energy. Perhaps you are an expert in Java but only have basic knowledge of C++. When you include your skills level in your resume, the hiring manager can better assess if you have the right skill level for their requirements. 

Focus On Accomplishments

Filling your resume with a list of tasks, such as "created databases" or "updated department software," will hardly set you apart from the competition. Give the hiring manager a clear idea of what you can bring to the table by creating a resume that highlights your accomplishments and showcases your skills. Have you created programs or apps that helped streamline the processes in your past job? If so, mention them in your resume proudly. Better yet, try to quantify your achievements. Accomplishments are so much more impactful when they are measurable. For example, you can state how much money or resources your past company saved because of your program. 

If you are a newbie in the industry and worried about your lack of experience, try volunteering your services to non-profit organizations. Maybe you can create a program to help them manage donor information or monitor donations. You can also develop systems for local businesses or friends. You can improve your skills and acquire relevant tech experience that you can include in your resume. 

Tailor Your Resume to Fit the Position

The hiring manager assesses your suitability for the role solely based on what the job description demands. It is your job to help them realize—at a glance—that you have what it takes to move forward in the application process. That said, you should tailor your resume in a way that shows how your education, work experiences, and technical skills match the requirements in the job posting. 

To do this, read the job description carefully to take note of keywords and phrases. For example, if the job advertisement mentioned specific skills or experiences needed for the position, be sure to incorporate these skills in your resume if you have them. By focusing on applicable skills and relevant accomplishments, the recruitment officer can readily see that you are qualified for the position. 

Writing a resume for applying to IT jobs is not easy. You need to understand what recruitment officers are looking for and what qualities you need to highlight to set yourself apart from the rest of the candidates. Follow the pointers discussed above, and you will be one step closer to landing that tech job you have always wanted. 

Also, if you are a tech professional looking to find the best IT-related jobs in Cebu or other prominent areas in the country, now is a good time.