Writing a technical resume is the best way to showcase your skills. If you want to convince the recruiter that you have the talent and experience to fulfill their expectations, your technical resume is one of the best ways to show it.
What should you include in a tech resume? It is vital to follow the right resume format and list work experiences, skills, certifications, resume summary, etc. So, to build a strong tech resume, read through this article.
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What is a technical resume?
A technical resume will vary based on your experience level and the certifications you receive. Thanks to digital growth, many technical fields have bigger openings and bright future today. If you want to get the job, your technical resume is the key.
There are several ways to write your technical resume, but you should never forget to attach a cover letter to add more value. In addition, your technical resume can be drafted according to your job description.
Why do you need a tech resume?
Tech resume is easy to grab the attention of hiring managers. It can highlight your skills and achievements and clearly convey the strength and benefit you would bring to the role. It can also help you detail the kind of work you have done and how you exercised the skills in your work.
What should you include in a tech resume?
Beginning with the title header, there is a format you should know about the technical resume. But overall, there are two different formats you can choose from.
Chronological format
In chronological resume format, you first list the experiences with the most recent position. Then, after the header, you write a resume summary and follow it up with the experience section.
In the experience section, you write the job title, employer name, and year. After furnishing the basic details, you add your achievements and accomplishments in these jobs. Then, you write the education section and skills section.
Functional format
In a function format, you do not follow an order based on the year of work. Instead, you highlight what’s your strength. This means you start by explaining or listing your special area of focus and expertise. After which, you will write the resume summary. While you include the employment details and education after this, you could play around with what you feel needs to be included.
Go beyond the keywords
Including keywords will help you stand out, whether scanned through software or your hiring manager checks the resume. It is essential to include the keywords; you can find the right ones by googling. In addition, you can include them in your summary and skills. However, there is something more you should do.
While having those words in the resume will help you, it would be even better if you take time to elaborate on them. Especially when it comes to the column of skills, you can try writing a line or two than just mentioning the skills you have. It is even better if you can quantify your skills and give a better idea of your proficiency. Also, remember to include both hard and soft skills.
When it comes to a technical resume, there is a third kind of skill you should include – technical skills. You could write down skills relevant to the position. This could include presentation skills, leadership skills, language skills, and others.
In the case of the summary, you can always look for keywords from the job description. Compare it with your expertise and experience. You can then include those keywords seamlessly into the summary. Your summary should talk about your key skills, give an overview of your experience and highlight your key achievements.
Professional experience
- Follow a chronological format to write the experience.
- Include key sentences explaining your contribution under each job head.
- It is better to keep the points to one-liners.
- Try to start each sentence with a power verb.
- Quantify your achievements; give as many numbers as possible.
- Use bold and powerful words.
- Experience header format – role, company, period.
- List your roles with more achievements that could back the performance you have given.
- If you are a fresher, include part-time gigs, internships, unpaid work, or volunteer work in the professional experience section.
- Do not overdo with more words.
- If you think you can list more achievements, club them into a new section.
- Play around with the format and write a resume based on your work experience and the space you need.
It is always best to include your education details along with the time and GPA. Regarding your technical resume, you can add a section of relevant projects you have done. It will add more value and play a crucial role in getting the job. This section could help you explain the project, the solution or idea you came up with, and its impact.