Why Your IT Resume Sucks

Although employment has increased, competition for openings will still exist in Information Technology (IT) because it’s one of the most popular career choices for new graduates and experienced professionals. In fact, The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that employment in Information Technology professions will increase by 12% between 2018 and 2028 (about 546,200 new positions).

With this being said, a strong IT resume is necessary if you want to get noticed.

In this guide, we’ll show you the reason why you’re not receiving replies from your IT job applications, why your resume sucks, and what you should do to improve it.

The Reasons Why your IT Resume Sucks…

You Don’t Align Your Resume with the Job Description

I get it. Writing sucks, and personalizing is annoying. But you’re not applying for fun, you do want that job, right?

To identify the applicant that fully meets their requirements in terms of a combination of abilities and experience, hiring managers must interview a large number of applicants. These teams spent a lot of time developing the job description for the role, so this document will remain key in helping them compare your experience and qualifications to the needs of the technical team that put out the request.

If your experience section isn’t including the keywords, phrases, systems, and tools they seek, you may not be called in for an interview. Match your skills and experiences with those listed in the description, as applicable.

You Have An Objective Statement And A Bad One At That

Before determining whether to move on to the next candidate, hiring managers to give your IT resume around six seconds of their time. Consequently, you must start out strong!

Replace your previous “Objective” with a well-written, detailed Professional Summary that gives readers a clear summary of your professional background.

Your Resume Is Too Fun

IT industry is exciting, but it’s not that “fun”. You shouldn’t put photos of yourself in your favorite hiking hoodie on your resume. In fact, you shouldn’t be putting any photos on your resume at all.

One mistake often seen with IT resumes, is when applicants add some flair to their resume and submit a lime green resume with hints of blu throughout. Remember, personality is great, but you still want to exhibit yourself as a professional.

Now, if you’re applying for a job that wants that fun flair, go for it! But if you’re applying for a more conservative role like an IT Specialist for the government or a law firm, I’d recommend staying away from the shape, photos, and colors.

You’re Not Including Your IT Soft Skills

You likely didn’t forget to add all your experience with various programming languages, hardware systems, and software tools. But you might have missed some of the overlooked skills on your IT resume. Though many job candidates have a comparable degree of technical proficiency, it’s crucial to stress your soft skills to guarantee that you stay ahead of the competition.

Employers are interested in learning about your ability to express yourself clearly, collaborate with others, speak with vendors, and, if necessary, teach or manage people. Now don’t go overboard with descriptions like “creative” and “resourceful”. Instead, use keywords such as:

Soft skills:

Personnel Management
Stakeholder Management
Process Improvement
Organizational Leadership
Critical Thinking
Customer Service
Relation Management
Time Management
Strategic Decision-Making

Your IT Resume Is Hard To Read

Your IT resume is likely hard to read if you’re using a poorly formatted template with too much or too little whitespace.

Paragraphs that are incredibly long and overly detailed may also impact your IT resume’s readability. Opt for short, concise bullets that are very focused and can quickly be read and understood by often non-technical HR staff.

You’re Using The Wrong Format

For IT resumes, use a reverse chronological order.

This format highlights your technical responsibilities, professional background, and IT career. Most recent employment is mentioned first, followed by a list of previous positions.

You’re Not Using Action Verbs

Action verbs are key in your IT resume. They clearly explain your experience and help you stand out by describing your level of involvement.

The more important action verbs and skills you mention on your resume, the more probable it is that the hiring manager will contact you for an interview.