Résumé Requirements for Technical Staff

After working with thousands of high-tech clients, I’ve noticed some universal résumé strategies that most techies don’t get. If you can master these strategies, you will make an excellent first impression and your interview request rate will be on the rise!  

Show Skills Relevant to Your Target Job

In your technical skills section, list the skills that are most relevant to your target job.  This should not be a listing of every skill you know.  Take time to review each job posting to determine what is relevant.

Limit the Functional Details

For the most part, a hiring manager will have a good understanding of your basic job functions when they see your title.  A short summary of your major functions and the scope of your responsibility are appropriate. When showing scope, include numbers, such as the size of a database, project budgets, the number of users, or the number of locations. Do not take up space in the professional experience section to list the technologies used in every job.  Save that information for your technical skills section.

Show Accomplishments with Measured Results

Readers really want to see your accomplishments.  What did you do beyond the job description?  Did the effort you led increase efficiency, reduce expenses, or improve quality scores?  Whenever possible, quantify the results. This will help you stand apart from your peers.

Focus on Your Recent History

Employers are interested in your most recent career history. Show your most recent ten to fifteen years of relevant work history.  By showing his early history, you use valuable resume space to share details of less interest to the reader.  Also, you may be decreasing your marketability by revealing your age.

Remove References to Outmoded Technologies

Highlighting outdated achievements will make you look like a dinosaur.  Examples of projects you do not want to feature include leading the transformation of a company to a paperless environment or managing the Y2K project.  Talk about technologies, programs, and accomplishments that are contemporary.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Don’t miss an opportunity because you have a typical techie résumé.   Instead, show the potential employer that you are not just technically-strong, you are a business savvy professional with strong communication skills.  I love to help professionals in all industries, not just technology.  If you are not seeing the results you would like, contact me and I can help you diagnose the issue.