This is the perfect time of year to renew and refresh your IT resume. If it’s been a while since you’ve taken a look at yours, here are some tips to clean up your IT resume and get it looking shiny and brand new.
Get Rid of Clutter
Old, irrelevant experience is a sure sign of a stale resume. Your work history does not have to include every position you’ve held since The Reagan administration. Your resume also does not have to list certifications that have long since lapsed or skills that have become obsolete. Feel free to remove things like internships, college scholarships and awards, old licenses and outdated skills – anything that is old or stale can be deleted.
Clear Off The Dust
Hiring managers scan resumes looking for specific skills and experience. In fact, many use resume scanning software that strictly looks for specific keywords. Not only does fluff make your resume longer than it needs to be, it can actually be a roadblock when it comes to getting called for interviews. Think in terms of active phrases and bulleted lists rather than flowery sentences and lengthy paragraphs.
You can also delete completely irrelevant phrases like “team player,” multitasker” and “people person.” Your resume should speak to contributions and accomplishments, rather than abstractions, and you should avoid clichés and boilerplate language. For example, consider the following phrase on a project manager resume:
Delivered application on time and under budget.
What does this actually tell the hiring manager about the project? Compare that with a phrase like:
Final application was delivered two months ahead of schedule, $25,000 under budget and helped clients save anywhere from $15,000 – $30,000 annually.
Notice how the second version offers specific results that illustrate the actual business value you can bring to a team. You won’t always be able to quantify results, but try to be as specific as possible.
Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
Your final step is to refresh your resume using the space you created by removing clutter and fluff. Go through your document and determine what is missing. Have you achieved new certifications? New skills? Received any new awards or accolades? Taken new classes or developed new proficiencies?
Though they are not included on your actual resume, you can also take the opportunity to update your reference list. Make sure that you have correct contact and job title information for each reference, and make an effort to add a few new professional references, as well. You want your reference list to be as fresh as your resume.
If you are an IT professional in the Buffalo area seeking new opportunities, recruiters at Systems Personnel are interested in speaking with you. We can connect you with a position that will help you utilize your talents and achieve your goals. Contact us today start the conversation.
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Send us your resume today and one of our top recruiters will be in contact to help you find your next role.