- November 14, 2017
- Posted by: Jim Kromer
- Category: IT Staffing
If you have a strong background as a web developer, computer programmer, systems analyst or database administrator, things are looking up. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer and information technology jobs is projected to grow by more than 13% through 2026, adding almost 550,000 new jobs.
Equally important, these are high-paying jobs—the median annual salary for IT positions is about $83,000, more than twice the median salary for all other occupations. For some IT occupations, salaries are even higher. For example, computer and information research scientists make on average almost $112,000, and computer network architects pull down more than $100,000.
Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Having a stellar education, strong skill set, and substantial professional accomplishments is critical to advancing your career in the IT industry, but employers aren’t going to know what you can do for their companies unless you tell them. The best way to do that is with a clear, compelling and persuasive resume.
Here are 4 smart tips to create a killer resume to get the IT job you want:
- Include a Concise Technical Summary
Prospective employers want to know what you can do for their businesses—one of the best ways to show them is with a well-organized resume section highlighting your technical skills. You should call this section either “technical summary” or “technical skills.”
Make it as easy as possible for hiring managers to scan your skills by breaking them up into discrete subcategories. Depending on the specifics of your professional background, these could include things like:
- Hardware;
- Technical certifications;
- Operating systems;
- Networking/protocols;
- Web applications
- Database applications
- Programming/languages; and
The trick is to be both concise and transparent. In other words, don’t confuse a hiring manager with a spate of irrelevant details. In addition, you don’t want to exaggerate your technical skills—remember you’ll be expected to intelligently discuss these capabilities during your job interview.
- Highlight the Results You’ve Achieved
It’s one thing to have an impressive base of technical knowledge—it’s another to have used that knowledge to make substantive contributions to the companies for which you’ve worked. To demonstrate your ability to use your skills to help a prospective employer, include a section on significant accomplishments for each previous position.
As with the technical skills section, don’t overwhelm the reader with minutiae. Begin by making a list of everything you accomplished in previous jobs. Then, prioritize these from most to least important. Edit out those accomplishments which are the least consequential to ensure everything employers see is relevant to their concerns, and to the success of their businesses.
- Don’t Neglect Soft Skills
With the economy approaching full employment, businesses are more focused than ever on retaining their new hires. That means they want people who not only have technical skills, but also possess the ability to work collaboratively and have values which align with those of the company.
Said differently, employers increasingly are looking for candidates who possess a strong set of soft skills. You should highlight who you are as a person by including a “career summary” section in your resume. Begin by conducting research on the company to which you’re applying, this to learn what kind of people they’re looking for. Pay attention to their mission statement, and tailor what you include in your career summary to the values they prioritize, whether it’s collaboration, commitment to achieving corporate goals, diversity or interpersonal communications.
- Use the Right Keywords
Hiring managers search for appropriate job candidates using software and specific keywords, like “programmer” or “data analyst.” To make sure they find your resume in these searches, you need to sprinkle these keywords throughout your resume. The best place to find the right keywords to include in your resume is in the ad for the job. For example, if the ad says the employer is looking for someone who can “manage a sales pipeline,” include this phrase in your resume.
Conclusion
The most successful IT companies don’t simply identify the best talent—they identify the best talent for their business. The best IT consulting and staffing firms understand this, helping businesses find candidates who precisely match their needs to help them achieve their key business objectives. To learn more about the ways our consulting services, managed services and staffing solutions will help you achieve your goals and grow your business, contact us today.
