Creating or revising your resume

This can appear to be a difficult task, especially if you've been out of the workforce for some time or are looking for your first IT or tech job.

You undoubtedly have a lot to contribute to a technology employer, but you'll need a well-written resume to demonstrate your abilities, knowledge, and potential to make sure you're shortlisted for an interview. 

Creating an effective CV may be critical in distinguishing yourself from the competition.

Employers and hiring managers tend to be selective about the technical skills and experience required for each position.

As a result, your resume should be tailored to each job you seek to apply for, emphasising the abilities and experience you possess that are most relevant to it. 

You should also ensure your IT resume is optimised to withstand screening algorithms and applicant tracking systems (ATS) that seek relevant keywords to identify qualified prospects. 

So, if you're looking for a way to construct a winning IT CV, we've got the ideal IT resume template.

Plus read our advice on how to use it to your advantage in securing an interview.

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6 steps to creating the perfect resume

IT resume vs CV - how do they differ when applying for tech jobs?

Employers tend to use the terms 'CV' and 'resume' interchangeably. This may make it tough to determine the proper resume style because you'll see phrases like "IT CV template" or "tech resume example" in the same context when you're researching advice on how to prepare one or the other. 

So, what's the difference? A CV is a comprehensive document (up to six pages) that covers your entire professional career. In contrast, a resume is a one- or two-page summary of your education, skills, and work experience. Luckily for you, the lengthy, traditional type of CV has become obsolete in today's professional environment. 

Even if a tech employer or hiring manager requests a CV in the job description, they only want a shorter style resume (summary). So, whether you send them an attachment labelled "CV" or "resume," it will not affect your chances of being invited to an interview. 

Why it's crucial to have a well-crafted IT resume

As the IT and technology sector becomes more competitive, it's increasingly essential to have a resume that stands out from the pack. It's not enough to simply list your technical abilities or project experience; you must also show how they translate into real advantages for the employer and demonstrate why you are worth hiring.
 

Your IT job resume must deliver the following:

  1. Why you're applying for this specific job, within this company, and within this industry
  2. What value you'll provide to the company if you're hired
  3. Based on the job description, evidence you have what it takes to succeed (relevant technical skills, experience etc.)
When an employer goes through your resume, they will be seeking answers to the above. But just providing the answers isn't enough - you need to do so clearly and concisely, so it's easy for the person reading to learn why you're a suitable candidate for an interview.

Read on to learn how to write a tech resume that maximises your chances of securing an interview. Alternatively, you can download and use our IT resume template for your next tech job application.

What's the purpose of an IT resume?

Your IT resume's goal is to highlight your talents, experience, credentials, and accomplishments so that an employer or recruiter may determine whether you are a good fit for the position. Because a recruiter or hiring manager will only read through your CV for a few minutes before deciding to interview you, you must ensure that all relevant information is conveyed clearly and succinctly. 

If they feel you're a good prospect after reading your resume, they'll transfer you to the interview stage. At this point, your tech CV has fulfilled its primary purpose. 

What's a suitable length for an IT resume?

Every resume is different, and therefore each one must be tailored to the specific position for which you're applying. As a rule of thumb, your IT resume should not exceed two pages. If your CV's first draft goes past two pages, you'll need to trim it down. Look at the job description's highlighted skills and experience. Have you spent time describing skills and responsibilities in other IT jobs that aren't relevant to the one you're applying for? Consider eliminating excess words, or at the very least, simplify your explanations so that they don't take up so much room on the page. 

When it comes to the sophistication of many IT and technology roles, a one-page resume is unlikely to properly express your suitability. However, if you can communicate everything needed within a single page, then don't feel compelled to add a second page for its own sake. 

What you SHOULD NOT include in your IT resume

Your IT resume should only include relevant experience, whether past or present. This implies getting rid of irrelevant jobs and responsibilities that don't represent the skills needed for the position you're applying to. Working as a cashier in high school, for example, is not important if you're applying to a software engineering position. 

When it comes to listing accomplishments, there's no need to include things like high school grades if you have a higher level of education. Only training directly linked to the position you're applying for should be included in your IT CV. 

Also, you should avoid describing your hobbies and interests unless the employer asks for them or you're applying for an entry-level technology job with little experience. It's good to display your individuality through hobbies you engage in outside of work, but only if they demonstrate job-related abilities like collaboration and leadership. Make sure you don't include anything that might raise an eyebrow, such as your political viewpoints and beliefs (this information would never be helpful in getting you a tech job). 

Don't stuff your resume with tech industry buzzwords or terms unless they make sense contextually. Using relevant keywords is very important in optimising your technology CV. However, if you include too many technical terms and acronyms, some recruiters may not understand their meaning. If you're going to employ industry lingo, make sure it matches the job description and don't throw in unnecessary complexity to try to impress. 

Finally, it's unlikely that a tech employer will be concerned with your tech resume’s attractiveness, so don't go crazy with the design. While a purely technical resume shouldn't be ugly, you should avoid using any typefaces or style templates that may appear obnoxious. Keep things straightforward, professional, and to the point. 

The best layout for an IT job resume

It's quite typical for IT companies, recruiters, and hiring managers to assess hundreds if not thousands of CVs for each position. Considering this, make sure your CV is well-structured, looks clean, and isn't so overstuffed with information that it becomes difficult to comprehend. Use a simple font such as Arial or Calibri with a 10 or 12 point and keep any special formatting like underlines and italics to an absolute minimum. 

Bullet points are the most popular way to communicate a lot of information succinctly and keep a document from seeming like an essay, and they're used in almost every IT resume template you see. Make sure each bullet point begins with an action verb like 'created,' 'led,' or 'improved' rather than with 'I.' 

While your writing abilities may not be required for the technology job you're going after, you should still check your CV for basic spelling and grammar mistakes. Make sure to double-check it after writing and give it to a friend to read to see if they notice anything you've overlooked. 

To ensure that your IT resume follows the acceptable format, many employers will upload it to an ATS. As a result, we recommend sending a neatly formatted PDF or Microsoft Word document without any graphics, images, fonts, or unusual formatting that may be difficult for a computer to read. 

7 sections to include in your tech CV

Follow the standard structure below while adhering to clear formatting and concise wording to begin creating your IT CV. 

1. Contact information

Include your entire name, email address, phone number, and any relevant links to your professional profile or website (such as your LinkedIn profile or portfolio of work). Ensure you include the email address and phone number you'll have the easiest access to so you don't miss any correspondence. Similarly, be sure to search your junk email folder if the employer's response goes there by mistake (it does happen!).

2. Professional summary

Outline your most relevant skills and experience in 50-150 words for the IT job you're applying to. Recruiters will read this first line or two of your IT CV quickly, so make it brief yet eye-catching to entice them to continue reading. Make sure you're tailoring this aspect of your resume to the advertised position and including your USP (unique selling point). 

This is a fantastic location to include keywords that appear in the job description so that the ATS can spot them early on. For example, having 'Data Scientist' appear in your professional summary will be extremely helpful if the job description is for a Data Scientist. 

3. Systems, skills and competencies

This part should use bullet points to list the systems, skills, and competencies you have that are most relevant to the position. This is one of the key areas to incorporate keywords from the job description so that you're examined favourably by the ATS. 

For example, if we followed a Software Engineer resume template, this section might look like this: 

Systems:

  • SQL
  • JavaScript

Skills: 

  • Design pattern analysis
  • Code refactoring
  • Agile methodologies 

Competencies:

  • Analytical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Attention to detail 

4. Achievements

This is where you should list your significant professional accomplishments and back them up with evidence (organisation/client name, statistics, figures, links etc.). Action-oriented bullet points will help you succinctly communicate what you've achieved for other businesses in the past, allowing the reader to see the tangible value you can provide their company. 

For example, if you were following a Software Developer resume template, your achievements might include: 

  • Developed two public web platforms for local charities, increasing their online donations by approximately 20% 
  • Spearheaded software upgrades to the company e-commerce system, reducing delivery and order management time by 70% 

As with other sections of your IT resume, make sure the accomplishments you list are relevant to the position. If the job description is calling for someone who can increase efficiency, then this section is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have done this in a previous role. 

5. Work experience

This section should include all your relevant work experience in a reverse chronological sequence, beginning with your most recent or present position and working back to your first.

For each position, give the company's name and some context about what it does, such as the organisation’s size and how your team contributed. Following that, list your job title and what you were responsible for. It's fine to change an unconventional job title to something more mainstream if it is truly reflective of your responsibilities.

With each role, outline a few of your specific achievements with the same bullet points you've used previously. Make sure you have evidence to back up each claim and ensure that what you include is relevant to the role you're applying for.

Make sure you don't leave gaps in your employment history. Employers may be concerned about lengthy periods without work experience, so ensure that you do not have any blanks. Even if you took an extended vacation, it's better than letting the employer believe you did nothing between jobs.

It's also helpful to include the month and year you began and ended your time with an organisation. For example, simply stating 2020 - 2022 might allow the employer to believe you started in December 2020 and departed in January 2022 when in truth, you stayed longer.

6. Education, qualifications & certifications

This section is straightforward; just summarise your academic accomplishments and credentials, including the year of completion, the institution name, and a short description. 

7. References

It's now quite common to state "references available upon request" in lieu of specific information about your references. This preserves the anonymity of your references, ensuring that they are only contacted by employers who are seriously interested in you for the position. 

However, you should consider what references you would include here and make sure they are appropriate to the position you're applying for, just like the rest of your resume. You should strive to have at least two references, preferably past employers, but a lecturer or mentor will suffice if you don't have prior work experience. 

How often do I need to update my IT resume?

Regularly updating your CV is an excellent habit to get into, no matter what career you're in. However, it's particularly important in the tech sector where technologies and the skills required to leverage them are constantly changing. Even after a year of working in a role, you might find that when you look for a new position, your skills are outdated compared to other job seekers. It's always worth looking at new job descriptions for positions similar to what you're doing now and identifying any skills gaps. 

Even if you aren't actively seeking a new job, keep an eye on the condition of your IT CV and update it as soon as you acquire a new skill or accomplish something noteworthy at work. It's always easier to add to your CV as you go rather than trying to recall everything you've done and document it after you've left a previous job.

Final considerations for writing your IT resume

Before a potential employer has finished reading your CV, they've most likely decided whether to shortlist you for an interview. Here are a few final bits of advice to keep in mind when crafting your tech resume: 

Take the time to customise your technology resume for each application. While it's simple to utilise the same resume for similar jobs, you'll have a better chance of success if you put some effort into customising it according to their job description. Although many technical abilities will be shared across jobs, one company’s job requirements may be very distinct from another's. Because a lot of tech skills overlap, it's tempting to assume that the same resume will work for both jobs. There's no way around it: producing a fantastic IT resume necessitates that you tailor it for each specific job. 

Second, make every effort to provide measurable proof supporting any assertions you make regarding your work history and accomplishments. While it may be tough to quantify success in some sectors, the data-driven nature of IT jobs makes it easier to do so. There's no excuse not to back up your claims! 

Lastly, make sure you double-check everything. Applying for a complex tech job typically requires you to go into a lot of detail, making it easier to miss mistakes. Even seemingly minor typos can leave a bad impression. Beyond spelling and grammar mistakes, incorrect statistics could give the impression you're trying to fabricate or embellish your achievements. 

Now that you have a good idea of how to construct a great IT CV, you should consider downloading our tech resume template.

We also have tips on writing an IT cover letter to pair with your resume when you apply for your next position, and we've got plenty of other advice and insights to assist your job search.