Australia's Tech industry can be fiercely competitive, and a key tool to stand out from the crowd is your resume. As specialist Tech recruiters, we've seen resumes of all shapes and sizes (from fantastic to poor) and one thing is clear: the quality of your resume can make the difference between reaching the next stage of the recruitment process and being discarded to the ‘no’ pile.

While you take extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, find out how to use this opportunity to develop your tech CV and maximize the odds of securing the perfect tech job. 

Tailor to the Role

When it comes to top resume tips, one piece of advice that we repeatedly give candidates is to tailor their resume for every job to show they’ve paid attention to what the employer is looking for in the advert. This means double-checking it includes everything the employer is asking for – after all, a modern CV provides the "answer" to an employer's "problem." When writing a Tech resume, include the skills highlighted in the job description, as well as any important keywords. As you describe your skills, show how they are used on a day-to-day basis and give examples of projects you've worked on including your level of involvement. Remember to highlight any relevant soft skills, and more importantly show how you keep your IT knowledge up to date in this ever-changing industry. In addition, be sure to strategically select achievements in order to prove you have the right skills for the role.

Share Your Passion for the Industry

One of the best pieces of resume advice for candidates is to demonstrate their passion for their chosen field. If an interest in tech is part of your everyday life, showcase it, and your enthusiasm for the industry will become clear to potential employers. Perhaps it’s a personal project you’re working on in your spare time or regularly attending tech meetups and events – whatever it is, highlighting what you do outside of work is a great way to demonstrate your genuine enthusiasm for the Tech community. Plus, it has the added bonus of demonstrating a desire to continue growing and developing new skills.

There's More to IT than Technology

When looking at how to write a resume for the IT industry, it's vital to remember that in today's market, successful candidates possess more than just technical skills. Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in the Tech teams of today, especially when it comes to progressing into management roles. Abilities such as stakeholder management, relationship building and communication will go a long way towards making a candidate stand out in the talent pool. At a time when technology is becoming more and more integral to the day-to-day running of organisations, an example of a good resume is one that highlights a candidate’s ability to bridge the gap between IT and business by explaining technical information in a way that resonates with various stakeholders.

Remember the Basics

Although resumes may have changed over the years, the basics of building a resume are still important. Remember to keep your resume up to date regardless of whether you've been in the same role for years or weeks, by listing any new roles, promotions, responsibilities, achievements and special projects.

To ensure readability and clarity, we generally recommend keeping your resume thorough but concise, covering the key details of past roles and IT projects worked on, as well as using a logical resume format with clear headings, sub-headings and bullet points. Remember to thoroughly proofread the document before submitting it to a job application, and consider soliciting input from a second set of eyes to ensure it’s the best it can be. Sending your resume to a recruiter is a great opportunity to get instant feedback on whether it presents you and your experience in a way that resonates with potential hiring managers.

Final Thoughts

A resume is the first impression that a candidate leaves on a potential employer, so it’s crucial to get it right, particularly in the IT industry. Putting in the extra effort at the application stage and ensuring your resume is up to a high standard is the best way to stand out and increase your chances of moving forward in the hiring process.

Need more resume help, tips for your next job interview or support in your IT job search? Get in touch with the PRA team today.