Helpful tips

Breaking Down the Technical Resume: Tips and Tricks for First-Time Job Seekers in the Tech Industry

Despite recent tech layoffs, companies still need qualified developers and offer them attractive salaries, benefits and career prospects. Whether you are a new graduate or are switching careers, writing your first resume for the tech industry is challenging if you have no relevant experience. In today’s article, we will share tips from resume experts to help you convey your knowledge and potential and get noticed by a prospective employer.

What is the easiest way to write a technical resume?

When writing a tech resume for the first time, it may be challenging to understand what to focus on and how to organize the document. In this case, a technical resume writer service tech can be of great help. A professional tech CV writer can present your knowledge and skills to employers persuasively even if you have no paid experience yet. Moreover, the writer will focus on facts that matter most to employers to boost your interview chances.

10 resume tips for first-time job-seekers from resume writing services 

Hiring managers spend less than a minute reviewing each resume. Thus, you need to focus on the most relevant qualifications and organize your education and skills in a reader-friendly way. Here are the tips to help you create a great junior software developer resume:

Include links to portfolio and social profiles

The best way to prove your skills to a potential employer is by adding a link to your online portfolio. If you don’t have commercial experience yet, you can add your student projects or even mock projects so that the employer could evaluate your coding skills.

Also, add the link to your professional website and social media such as LinkedIn. Make sure that your profile is complete and you have enough connections – it will help you make a professional impression on a hiring manager.

List hard skills and technologies

Companies look for developers with a specific skillset, so it is crucial that you list all technologies, programming languages and operating systems you’ve worked with. If you have no experience, put your Skills section at the top of the resume after your professional summary. Thus, the reader will be able to instantly evaluate your competencies. Indicating your level of proficiency may be helpful too, especially if a certain level of knowledge is requested in a job posting.

Here’s an example of how you can list your tech skills:

Programming languagesPython, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript
FrameworksSprink, Flask, Angular
CloudAWS Cloud Practitioner
ToolsDocker, Git

Include soft skills

When hiring entry-level software developers, employers expect to see your enthusiasm, ability to work with the team collaboratively, and willingness to learn. Be sure to list your soft skills along with technologies. The best way to do so is through examples. When describing your projects or internships, mention how you worked with other members of the group, especially if you had a leadership role.

Here are some good examples of soft skills to include:

·         Problem-solving

·         Creativity

·         Adaptability

·         Attention to detail

·         Verbal and written communication

·         Project management

·         Time management

·         Teamwork, etc.

List projects, bootcamps, and internships

If you have no paid experience yet, list your college or volunteer projects as if they were real jobs. Choose 3-4 projects most relevant to your target job and describe them in detail. Mention your role, your responsibilities, and the results you managed to achieve. Write 3-5 sentences for each project, so that the hiring manager could understand your technical skills and your ability to complete tasks set.

If possible, include accomplishments with figures, as companies always look for proof of your skills. For example, you can mention that you completed the project ahead of the deadline, redesigned a friend’s website which resulted in increased visitors, or solved any other task effectively.

Add a persuasive summary statement

A summary statement works as an elevator pitch, introducing you to the employer and focusing on your most notable strengths. Write 3-4 sentences, describing your skills, knowledge and how you can be helpful for the employer if hired. If possible, use quantifiable accomplishments, either in your university or in your internships or personal projects, as accomplishments always draw attention.

List education and courses

Although a degree in computer science is no longer necessary to get hired for a tech role, hiring managers still appreciate relevant education, courses, and certifications. If you have a relevant degree, put it at the top of the Education section. As a student or graduate, you can also include academic accomplishments, relevant coursework, and extracurricular activities to prove your relevant knowledge and determination.

If you have attended online courses, list the relevant ones under the Training section. Also, include the certifications, as they can add you value in the eyes of the hiring manager. Here are some examples of relevant certifications to add to enhance your resume:

·         AWS Certified Developer Associate

·         R Programming Certification

·         Certified Software Engineer

·         Oracle Certified Associate Java Programmer OCAJP

Keep it to one page

Entry-level professionals should keep their resume to one page. If your resume is longer, consider removing repetitive information (such as projects with similar responsibilities). When describing your projects and responsibilities, use bulleted lists, to make the information easy to look through.

Using a one-page resume will save the recruiter’s time, moreover, it shows your ability to organize and prioritize information. If you are changing careers, remove the irrelevant jobs or describe them briefly.

Tailor your resume to a job posting

Most large companies use ATS software these days. This software rejects irrelevant resumes, so if you want to get your application seen by a human recruiter, you need to adapt the resume for a specific job posting. Use keywords from the job posting and popular industry keywords and add them to your resume naturally.

If that sounds challenging, a technical resume writing service writer tech can help adapt your resume for a specific position. You can contact one of the best technical resume writing services online, and, in addition to keywords, they will improve the structure and content of your resume, making it appealing to every employer.

Add a matching cover letter

According to the statistics, 49% of hiring managers will not consider a resume without a letter. And, while large companies that receive hundreds of applications may overlook it, for smaller companies and startups a strong letter can be a decisive factor in interviewing you.

Keep your letter short – 3-4 paragraphs will be enough. Mention what inspired you to apply to the company, and list your relevant projects and skills in detail. Add some personality – list personal projects, tell about your blog and other interests. Show your willingness to learn, motivation, and eagerness to contribute – hiring managers always value that.

Proofread carefully

Some recruiters will reject resumes that contain typos, incorrect grammar, incomplete sentences and other signs of poor writing. To make sure your resume makes a professional impression, proofread it a few times before sending it.

You may use an online spell checker to speed up the writing process – for example, Grammarly.com can identify spelling, grammar, and punctuation issues. Read the document aloud to make sure that each sentence makes sense. Submitting an error-free resume will emphasize your attention to detail and make a strong first impression even if you lack professional experience.

Show it to an expert

After you have completed your resume, it is helpful to show it to an expert to get feedback. You may ask a hiring manager or a professional resume writer to give their opinion. People who work with resumes know exactly how companies hire professionals, what they pay attention to and what can be viewed as a ‘red flag’. Thus, they can give you helpful pointers so you could further improve your resume and make it more focused.

If you follow these tips, you can improve your entry-level resume and create a document that brings you more interview calls. Yet, if in doubt, do not hesitate to ask for help from a resume writer to improve the quality of your resume and find a perfect first job faster.