Want a Job in IT? Here’s How You Make Your Resume Stand Out – Techbytes

Ever since the rise of technology working in IT (Information Technology) has been in high demand. This is why it is not a surprise that a career in IT has risen to be among the highest-paid careers globally. Whether you are interested in computer science, cybersecurity, computer game design, web design, software engineering, or networking, there is a place for you in the IT world. Due to these jobs being in high demand, the first step to beginning your career in IT is by making your resume stand out. 

If you are fresh out of university or new to the IT world, chances are you will be looking for an entry-level job. Once you’ve selected a template you like you are ready to begin.

The Basics

Firstly, some basics. These resume-building strategies are not specifically IT-related, but every good resume should follow them.

Make sure you have your name, contact information (phone number and email address), and the location at the top of your resume. The basic outline for most entry-level resumes is as follows:

• Introduction: name, contact info, location, social media such as LinkedIn or Twitter (if you want to add it)
• Education: University
• Experience: (if you have any) internships and/or previous jobs 
• Skills: strengths 

One of the best resume-building advice you will ever hear is this: Keep it to one page! There is no need to go over one page, the first reason is that most employers have hundreds of applications coming in and will not spend time reading through multiple pages. For that same reason, try your best to keep it in a bullet-point style. There is no need to over articulate every single point on your resume. It should be straightforward and self-explanatory. 

In addition, don’t feel like you have to put everything on your resume. Do not write down your entire life history, every school project you may have worked on, or any minor babysitting job you might have had as a teenager. Make sure you compile a list of your greatest hits. The idea is to showcase your best, most important, and impressive achievements. 

A quick tip is to try and fit the most impressive points as far on top of your list as possible. A good rule of thumb is, if you are able to see the most important information before you scroll down, you’ve got it right. 

Formatting

When we are talking about making something “stand out”, it usually has to do with visual presentation, such as making something “pop”; however,  you do not want to have bright colors, pictures, or any sort of big, distracting design. A resume is a professional document, you want it to look that way.

The basic formatting goes something like this:

• Font Size: between 12 - 14, the only exception being your name and perhaps the heading for each of your sections
• Font Style: basic, modern font such as Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman
• To focus attention, you can boldface the section headings and your top 2 or 3 most important or impressive points.
• Line Spacing: try to avoid single spacing
• Color: some resumes have one other font color other than black (usually for the section headings), but it should be a professional cool tone (blue or green) 
• Spell Check: it is absolutely crucial that there are no spelling or grammar errors 

Do not overcrowd your resume. Make sure you keep the word count low, in bullet-point style, and make sure it is “skimmable”. It should look clean and fresh. Now that we have the basics out of the way, it’s time to focus on what you need in your resume specifically for a job in IT. We will focus on three main sections.   

Section 1: Education

Unfortunately, without some kind of degree, it is unlikely that you will get far, so you want to start with a shining education section. Make sure to include:

• The name and location of the university you graduated from (bonus points if it is a tech school)
• Your major, preferably IT-related however, if it's not don’t worry, you can express you’re qualified through the “skills” section or if you took any IT-related courses during your degree
• Amount of years you studied
• Any minors you might have 
• Bonus: relevant clubs you were a part of, any honors course you might have taken  

This section should be very straightforward and in a bullet-point or “list” style. 

Section 2: Skills

Next is the section where you emphasize your IT skills. 

This may sound obvious, but it is crucial: Make sure you articulate that you have a lot of experience and proficient skills needed to navigate, support, and create the numerous aspects of modern society’s high-tech world. Simply put, make it clear that you understand computers.

This is where you highlight any special or transferable skills you may have. Whether it’s app design, coding, programming, or even something as simple as MS Office expertise. Add if you have ever volunteered anywhere, got a legitimate award for a project or an achievement, or have any sort of IT-related certificate.  

One helpful tip is to emphasize any transferable skills you have. People have a tendency to forget about this, but employers specifically look for transferable skills in their employees.

This is the only section in your resume where you can go into a little bit of detail (but only if something truly needs to be further explained). Do not explain anything in more than one short sentence.

Section 3: About You

Lastly, you want to tell your potential employers more about yourself through your strengths and hobbies. 

Employers are eager to hire people who have good communication skills, are organized, have good time management, are good collaborators, and have a good work ethic. Include hobbies that are IT-related such as coding, app design, video game design, running a website or social media account, or even debugging your family members’ computers. If you know more than one language, definitely put that in your resume, the more languages you know the better. 

This section is usually in actual bullet points. You are using meaningful buzzwords that let your potential employer know a little more about who you are. 

When your resume is complete, it could be helpful to get it checked by someone you know who works in IT or anyone who deals with hiring people to absolutely make sure everything looks good.

Personas are simple and clear definitions of the roles and responsibilities for a given job. Each Persona is a fictional character that helps you understand....

• The tasks and daily activities in a given role.
• The training required to help you excel in that role.
• The precise courses available on the Starweaver platform.

Through our Personas, you can self-assess if that role is right for you, and create a personalized training Journey to ace your career.