Technology Resume Writing: The Ultimate Guide
Creating the killer technology resume is a bit of a black art.
Many resume guides explain the importance of things like good formatting, spell-checking, and grammar.
And while it’s true that grammatical mistakes can ruin your resume just like wearing wrinkled clothes can kill an interview, simply avoiding these pitfalls alone won’t be enough to succeed.
With that introduction, here are the fundamental rules that I believe you must follow to write a great technology resume.
Technology Resume Rule #1: assume it’s obvious that you meet the minimum requirements
A bad resume tries to convince the hiring manager that the candidate meets the minimum requirements — just barely, if you count that one time you fixed your aunt’s computer.
A great resume assumes the minimum requirements are already met and explains why the candidate is particularly special.
Here’s what I mean. Imagine you are a hospital administrator looking to hire a new surgeon and you read a doctor’s resume that says things like: “went to medical school” and “have had experiences with patients.”
Do you want this person to operate on you? It sounds like he’s trying to convince you that he’s a real doctor.
By talking about your unique accomplishments, skills and experiences, you are implying that you meet the minimum requirements.
If you tell me that you won a gold medal in an Olympic marathon, I’m not going to ask you if you know anything about endurance training.
Always focus on your most impressive, most differentiating accomplishments. Let the hiring manager assume that you’ve got the basic stuff covered.
Technology Resume Rule #2: have a clear message
If you could summarize your resume in one sentence, what would it say? Your resume shouldn’t just be a list of loosely related experiences and accomplishments. It should present a clear vision of who you are from a professional perspective.
“John Smith is senior software developer specializing in developing high-availability, real-time medical systems.”
Decide what image you want to present to the employer and then make sure every single point in your resume clearly supports that image. It helps if you know your niche so that you can focus your writing on the things that make you unique.
If you are more of a generalist, that’s fine. Just say so in a compelling and relevant way.
Technology Resume Rule #3: tailor your message to the company
When I’m looking for work, I apply only to jobs in which I am extremely interested. I also rewrite my entire resume for every application, tailoring the message to the company and the position as I write.
You might ask, “how can I rewrite my resume for every application? My career experience is what it is.”
That’s true, but what you highlight about your work experience might change with every application.
In my career experience section, I often write completely different bullet points under the same part of my history depending on the position for which I’m applying.
I recently changed jobs and during the search process, I applied to exactly two positions. I ended up taking an offer several weeks later.
I have found this strategy of “quality over quantity” to be extremely effective compared to the alternative of blasting out generic resumes to dozens or hundreds of employers, hoping for a “hit.”
Worse, the latter strategy, in its desperation, puts all the power in the hands of the employer. You have no guarantee that you’ll land a position that you enjoy, that challenges you to grow, or that pays well.
Some people try to “fake” this customization by using a sort of “mail merge” cover letter that substitutes one company’s name with another. This almost never works; your insincerity will shine through.
In summary, writing a great resume is very similar to acing an interview. You have to present a clear, concise message and tailor it to the position and the company to which you’re applying.
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