How to Write an Information Technology Resumé

You’ve dreamed of this moment your whole life. You’re sharp and smart, and you’ve always been a whiz with gadgets and computers. You knew early on that you wanted to put your aptitude to good use and find a rewarding and fulfilling job somewhere in the information technology (IT) field, and you’ve spent your energy on learning the skills you’ll need to succeed. Now, it’s time to sit down and polish up your resumé to give yourself the best chance at getting hired. Whatever your area of expertise might be, a resume for information technology jobs should include some specific items to make you competitive.

In this guide, we look at the features you should include in your IT resume. Hiring managers will look for these or similar aspects in your resume, and having them will put you in a top tier for job consideration. We examine ideal resume length and what information you should include, and we discuss some details common to all resumes, as well. Your first IT interview can be harrowing enough without having to also worry about your resumé, so let us help you find peace of mind!

Be Technical, But Not Too Technical

As an IT specialist, you’ll find yourself walking somewhat of a tightrope, particularly when you deal with managers or other folks who might interact with IT without understanding the nuts and bolts of what you’re doing. It can be difficult to find the proper balance between choosing language and terminology that IT novices can grasp but still convey the intricacies of your duties and responsibilities. A good information technology resumé will manage to straddle the line between clear and confusing and allow both IT experts and IT newbies to understand your skills and qualifications.

Don’t skimp on details, and make sure to provide brief explanations for confusing acronyms or terms. The best IT resumes will feature bullet points that include accomplishments and skills, but also include clear general information to convey your qualifications in words that anyone can understand. Don’t add inside stuff, like programs and acronyms specific to your last employer; instead, translate that into standard skills and tasks for general consumption.

General Resumé Rules Still Apply

Yes, you’re going for an IT job, but that doesn’t mean you should follow different rules than you would follow to write any other sort of resumé. You still need to keep to the same formatting and readability rules that you use to write any other resumé when applying for an IT job, and that includes length and appearance.

Humans aren’t much different than crows; we love compelling visuals that keep us entertained and draw our eye. The crows of the ape world, that’s us humans. Keep our crowish nature in mind when you format your resumé, and make sure that you include lots of engaging visual flourishes to occupy our big, crowy brains. Don’t fill your resumé with walls of text; break up the entries into bullet points for added appeal. Watch your length, both for individual entries and for the document as a whole.

And there you go. An IT interview can seem intimidating on its own, so you don’t need your resumé to add to your anxiety. Our guide to information technology resumés will get your resumé in the shape it needs to be and will allow you to focus on getting hired and beginning your career. With our help, you’ll go far!