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Resume Tips

How to write a technical resume

Image by Tyler Franta

From our experience, employers for both full time and consulting candidates receive a high volume of resumes. Resumes come to employers through their website job descriptions, advertisements, career fairs, Internet postings, recruiting firms, etc. There is a perception in the industry that there is a shortage of candidates. In reality, there is no shortage of candidates; there is a shortage of qualified candidates. If you are one of those qualified candidates and your resume is mixed in with every other resume received, you are going to get lost in the crowd. Due to the large number of resumes being processed, if employers cannot quickly determine what is your qualification/background, they may skip to the next resume. The best strategy is to compose your resume so that anyone can determine what you know/what is your experience in less than 1 minute.

Use a contrasting font within each job description to highlight the industry involved, title, technology environment, main accomplishments/duties. Add a brief summary and objective section at the top. Do not include every single technology to which you've been exposed (see preceding paragraph); include only the ones you know well. Check spelling and grammar. Try to keep the resume to a maximum of 2 pages.

 

Ask someone who is not familiar with your professional background to look at your resume for 1 minute. If he/she can describe/understand what is your background in that time, your mission has been accomplished. A prospective employer will now be able to quickly determine what you know and what you want to do, and will separate your resume from the rest of the pack.

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