As a technology consultant, a great resume can be the ticket to the contract you've wanted to land. Conversely, having an average resume can leave you disregarded from jobs in which you are qualified. The tech sector is highly competitive. It's important to not only make yourself standout, but to understand hiring practices and what you can do to put yourself ahead.
The components of a good resume
A resume needs to have a structure that makes it easy for hiring managers to follow and read. Generally, it's best to start with your name and personal information (email address, mailing, address, phone number) at the top of the page. Professional summaries are optional, depending on the role, but often take up valuable space. List your professional experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent, or current role. Include the company name, your title, location, and the timeframe in which you worked. The best resume examples are tailored to specific roles and industries. If there are positions that are not relevant, remove them. If you have more than ten years experience, delete anything older than the previous decade. Following your professional work history, list your education starting with the most recent degree you’ve completed. If you’re currently in school, or working on and advanced degree, list that program first with your start date and anticipated graduation date. Conclude your resume with information such as volunteer experience, professional associations, or board memberships. If you have additional training or development opportunities, this is a great place to list those as well.
A good resume example follows a formula of simplicity, consistency, and quantifiable achievements. Focus on these components as you have a hiring manager's attention for only a few seconds. According to Resume Worded, a resume needs consistent formatting. This means using the same font, margins, and style. Ensure dates are formatted the same throughout your resume. Use a simple template; let your experience do the talking. State your achievements in quantifiable terms. Firms want to see measurable evidence of your contributions, not only the responsibilities you have. Use action verbs to describe your work.
How to beat the screener
Often, candidates apply for positions in which they are qualified, but are never interviewed. It's likely, particularly in larger organizations, they were ruled out by automated resume screening. How do you get through this system? It's all about keywords. FitSmallBusiness provides great insight into applicant tracking systems, or ATS. Many use automated resume screening designed to save recruiters time on candidate review. They're programmed to identify certain keywords from a job description, search for them on a resume, and sort applicants based on established criteria.
When an ATS screens your resume, it will parse your information as it searches for the keywords of a particular role. Even if you have experience that is relevant, if the keyword is not correct, you may be listed as an "unqualified" candidate. This means you need to pay close attention to how the job description is written. According to Glassdoor, corporate positions receive an average of 250 resumes. 4 to 6 candidates will be interviewed, and only 1 will be hired (Source: Next Gen Personal Finance). Major corporations are using automated resume screenings to deal with the enormous volume of applicants they see for each job. Knowing that a large number of prospects are applying, it's important to incorporate keywords into your resume for each job.
What makes a great technology resume?
Standing out in a competitive technology market is more than great bullet points on a resume. Kelli Smith, in her article How to Make Sure Your Resume is As Current as Your Skills, writes about the importance of including a link to your online portfolio. Showing companies real examples of your work will help separate you from other candidates. Smith also gives advice on how to deal with resume screeners. Reference specific coding languages or software (Java, C#, etc.) instead of general terms like "coding" and "software development."
Source: https://www.consultdirect.co/blog/3-steps-to-writing-a-better-resume-for-your-next-technology-role