How to Write a Resume for IT

Here are some tips on how to write a resume for information technology jobs.

By Sarah White, Monster contributor

IT professionals are lucky to have a lot of technology job opportunities, but you still want to ensure your resume stands out among other applicants. Here are some tips on how to write a resume to land your next job in the field of information technology.

Up-to-Date Skill Set

It’s great if in the past you worked as a Windows XP admin, but that isn’t going to do much to help you land a job now that Windows XP is defunct. Instead, try to remove outdated skills from your resume or at least figure out how your past skills can apply to up-to-date software and technology. Resumes need to be concise and short, so if you waste precious space with skills that aren't relevant to an employer's needs, your resume might not find it's way onto the call list. If you can’t make an outdated skill relevant, leave it off your resume.

Lists

Using lists to demonstrate your skills is a great tactic when writing an IT resume. Oftentimes, technology professionals have a long laundry list of programs, computer languages, and hardware they are experienced with. It’s a smart idea to categorize these skills so that employers can quickly scan through your qualifications. For example, group all your computer language, tool, and operating system experience into separate lists along with your years of experience.

Skill level

You've probably seen job openings that ask for applicants with a basic knowledge of one skill but that might want someone who is well versed in another. You can save yourself and employers time by listing out your experience level with different technologies. Maybe you are an expert at Java but just a novice with C++. If you list that out on your resume, you won’t be called in for a job that requires you to know C++ inside and out, saving your time and the employer’s time. On the flip side, if the job only requires a basic knowledge of XML, and you list that you are a novice, you have a good chance of making it into the list of applicants they want to interview.

Results

Rather than a run down of every project you've ever completed, try focusing in on projects that benefitted your previous or current employer. Demonstrate, as succinctly as possible, the scope of your responsibilities and how you delivered measurable results. Focusing on tangible results will help you sort through all the projects you've worked on and highlight the most successful and impressive endeavors in your career. And remember, you will still have the interview as an opportunity to give a more in depth description of your past success.

Education vs Experience

If you've recently graduated and most of your experience is limited to the classroom, internships, and summer jobs then you will want to make sure you emphasize any skills gained along the way. However, if you are a seasoned IT professional, you will want to emphasize your previous jobs and skills gained in those roles, rather than your education or GPA. If you are going out for a management role, the hiring manager won’t care as much about the internship you completed 10 years ago, but they will want to hear more about your last tech position. But if you are fresh out in the field your internships, jobs, and classwork will help give you a leg up against other recent grads.

Need some help with your job search? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of tech jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads.