Tech is one of the hottest growing fields. Every business needs computers, local networks, websites, social media, online advertising, and more—and this creates a huge demand for professionals who understand the hardware, software, and online coding.
How can you get a leg up in this competitive industry? You can start building your experiences and skills today—and including these advances on a professional resume. We’ll show you how below, or you can click here for more resume ideas.
6 tips to create a standout tech resume
Tip 1: Use technology every day
Much of the technology used by businesses is the same that you might use in your own work or personal life—laptop and desktop computers, Wifi routers, printers, smartphones, tablets, smart home devices, Bluetooth devices, Microsoft Office programs, photo editing software, cloud storage, video conferencing, apps, and social media platforms.
When you use these technologies in your everyday life, you will be comfortable and familiar with them in the workplace as well. You will also have a firm foundation on which to build an understanding of any new or industry-specific technologies.
Tip 2: Increase your skills through continuing education
Upskill yourself! No matter where you are in your career – whether you’re a high school student, an entry-level employee, or a seasoned professional—you can always increase your skills and inherent value as a team member.
You may be able to sign up for technology courses at your school or through your current workplace. Or, you may choose to pursue a university degree. But learning doesn’t have to stop there.
Attend industry conferences. Take online courses from resources like Codecademy or Coursera. Get certified by Google, Microsoft, or other technology companies.
Don’t forget to include this continuing education on your resume!
Tip 3: Build a portfolio of personal and paid projects
A portfolio of past projects is a great way to demonstrate your abilities to a potential employer. You can pursue personal projects such as:
- Designing and coding a personal blog or website.
- Creating an app to fill a need in your life.
- Creating YouTube videos for your own channel.
- Taking and editing photographs.
- Branding yourself and collecting a following as a social media influencer.
- Volunteering pro bono services for a small business or charity.
Another option is gaining work experience in the gig economy. Take on short-term tech jobs in addition to your regular employment. You might even decide to become a freelancer or digital nomad. If you start your own business, you can add the experience to the Work Experience section of your resume.
Finally, you’ll need to collect your portfolio together in one place. In the past, job seekers put together a physical file folder or lookbook. Today, however, most of your work will be visible online, so that is where your portfolio should live. You can link to your accomplishments on your LinkedIn profile or set up your own professional website.
Tip 4: Tailor your resume to each job you apply for
Not all tech jobs are created equal. As such, you shouldn’t write just one resume and cover letter, handing out photocopies to every potential employer.
Instead, you should tailor your resume and cover letter to each job you apply for. Don’t worry, you won’t have to rewrite your resume every time. You will just make small changes to increase your chances of getting the job.
First, examine the job description for potential keywords—skills, education or experience requirements, software, hardware, or other important terms. Then, include as many of these as possible in your documents.
This will accomplish two things. First, it will help your resume pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software used by many companies today. Second, it will ensure that the descriptions included on your resume are highly relevant to the job at hand.
Tip 5: Don’t stop at one application
It can be tempting to put all your hopes on getting your dream job at a big tech company like Google or Apple. But the truth is, those jobs are in high demand. Each opening might receive thousands of applications.
So, put in the application for your dream job. Put your heart into it. But don’t stop there. Try to apply to a handful of openings each week until you start receiving interview requests. Then, you can slow down to just one or two applications per week, but don’t stop applying until you’ve actually accepted a job offer.
This approach increases your chances of getting a job in the shortest period of time.
Tip 6: Network
You built a LinkedIn portfolio in Tip 3. Now, lean into those contacts. Ask for endorsements on your LinkedIn skills list. Search second and third-level contacts for people working at the companies to which you are applying. Get to know them, and ask questions. You never know when a job opportunity might surprise you via your professional network.
Featured image: Domenico Loia/Unsplash
Comments