technical resume writing tips

Technical Resume Example for 2024 [W/ Template & Step-by-Step Guide!]

So, you’re looking for your next big gig in the tech industry. 

You have the work experience, tech skills, qualifications, and the right education to go after any opportunity you see fit, but your resume-writing skills are not the best. 

And, like it or not, it does take an exceptional technical resume to stand out in such a competitive industry.  

Well, there’s actually no reason to worry. With the right guidance, you can leverage all your experience, skills, and other qualifications to effectively create a memorable tech resume that will get recruiters hooked!

This is exactly what this article is here to help you with, including: 

• Technical Resume Example

How is a Technical Resume Different?

8 steps to ace your technical resume.

• 58 In-Demand Tech Skills

And much more! Let’s dive in! 

Technical Resume Example Done Well

First thing’s first - you’re probably wondering what an effective technical resume looks like, right?

Here’s a rock-solid tech resume crafted with the Novorésumé resume builder :

Here are all the things this tech resume does right:

• Relevant information section. In addition to the essential information, like their email, phone number, and location, the applicant has added their GitHub profile and personal website on their tech resume.
• Memorable resume summary . The profile summary in the tech resume above is short but effectively highlights the applicant’s experience and relevance for the role.
• Reverse-chronological order. This format allows recruiters to see a candidate’s most recent and relevant work experience first.
• Achievement-focused work experience . The applicant has focused their work experience section around their achievements instead of their responsibilities, which he’s also backed up with numbers and hard data. This is something most tech resumes don’t do, so definitely something that can help you stand out.
• Brief education section. With so many relevant skills and work experience to show, the applicant has kept their education section short and sweet, with only their Bachelor’s Degree listed.
• In-demand tech skills. The applicant has only included tech skills that are relevant to the position and in-demand within the industry.
• Valuable optional sections. By adding optional sections such as awards, certifications, and languages, the applicant has a better chance of standing out from other applicants with the same work experience and education.
• Optimal resume length . The tech resume above fits perfectly on one page, which is the gold standard in terms of resume length.

Want more tailored tips for building a specific type of technical resume? Check out some of our more niche guides below:

• Computer Science Resume
• Data Scientist Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Engineering Resume
• Java Developer Resume
• Web Developer Resume

Click here for a complete list of all our resume examples .

Tech positions are quite different than normal jobs, as they require plenty of hard skills and expertise, so it’s only normal for your tech resume to be different too. 

Specifically, here are the most important differences between conventional resumes and tech resumes that you should know about: 

• To highlight your tech experience from the get-go, include your GitHub profile in your contact information section and maybe even Stack Overflow if you’re an active contributor.
• Focus more on your hard skills instead of soft skills. The employer will assess your soft skills during the interview after they’ve made sure you have the right set of hard skills for the job.
• If you have any certifications, including them will definitely be helpful, especially if you’re applying for a corporate job.
• Do you code in your free time? That’s definitely something that will work in your favor. Hiring managers see this as a sign that you’re actually passionate about coding, and aren’t just in it for the money. So, include a “Personal Projects” section in your resume to stand out from the competition.
• If you’re new to coding, (e.g. a recent graduate), you can make your tech resume pop either by including information/links to the projects you’ve worked on during university, at a Bootcamp, or even in your spare time. 

You’ve seen what the end product should look like. 

Now let’s go through the steps you need to follow to write the perfect tech resume fast and easy!

#1. Choose the Appropriate Format

Your tech resume’s format is just as important as its contents. 

If you do it wrong, your resume risks looking messy and completely unreadable at worst, which can mess up your chances of getting hired. 

So, the first thing you should pay attention to is choosing the right format for your tech resume. Here are the three most popular options out there: 

• Reverse-chronological resume format. As the name suggests, this format lists your work experience and skills in reverse chronological order, from the most to least recent ones. 
• Functional resume format . This resume format focuses on skills over work experience and is the perfect choice for recent graduates or entry-level applicants who don’t have a lot of experience to add to their resume. 
• Combination resume format . As a combination of the reverse-chronological and functional resume formats, this format aims to showcase both your experience and skills. 

While all three formats are beneficial in their way, we recommend that you choose the reverse-chronological format for your tech resume. It’s recruiters’ favorite resume format and that’s for good reasons: 

• It’s easy to skim through. 
• It draws attention to your most recent professional experience. 

Here’s what the reverse-chronological format looks like: 

Once you get the formatting out of the way, you can start focusing on your tech resume’s design and layout. 

Here are the most essential resume layout tips to keep in mind: 

• Set the right margins. To make your tech resume visually appealing and easy to read, provide ample white space by setting the margins at 1 pt on all sides. 
• Choose a professional font. It goes without saying that a font like Comic Sans shouldn’t even cross your mind when picking a font for your tech resume. We recommend going for something catchy and professional, such as Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. 
• Take advantage of bullet points. Bullet points are another great way to save some space and organize the information on your resume in a reader-friendly way. 
• Keep your resume under one page. As we already mentioned, it’s important that your resume is one-page long (or around 475-600 words). Recruiters are busy people who probably won’t be too excited if they have to go through a 3-page long autobiography of your life.  
• Choose the right file format. Unless you’re asked otherwise, save your tech resume as a PDF file . This ensures an impeccable design no matter the device or OS the recruiter uses to open it. 

Want to Avoid the Hassle? Use a Tech Template Instead

If you’re in the tech industry, chances are your design and writing skills aren’t your strongest point.

Not to mention, you probably have more important projects to spend your time on than wasting hours tinkering with the resume design and layout, only to end up with a result you’re not particularly fond of. 

Well, what if we told you there’s a way to avoid this part altogether? 

By using one of our resume templates , you’re going to skip this entire process altogether - all YOU have to do is fill in your resume contents.

And the best part? All our resume templates are:

• Created in collaboration with the very best recruitment professionals 
• Applicant Tracking System-friendly
• Aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching

Want to speed up your resume creation process? Pick a template and start writing your resume as you read!

#2. Add Your Personal Information 

The contact information is one of the easiest sections to write, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook its importance. 

After all, what’s the point of putting in the hours to create the perfect tech resume, only to never get an interview callback because of a small typo in your phone number or email?

As such, double and triple-check to make sure this section is completely error-free.

As for what to include in this section, here are the essentials for a technical resume:

• Professional title
• Phone number
• Social profiles such as LinkedIn, GitHub, etc. (optional) 
• Link to personal website (optional)

And here’s an example of a tech resume’s contact information section done right:

Thomas Shelby

123-123-4444

[email protected]

Birmingham, UK

github.com/th.shelby 

Make sure your email address is professional (e.g. [email protected]) and not your childhood email address, such as [email protected]. An unprofessional email address just makes it seem like you’re not serious about the job.

#3. Write a Captivating Resume Summary/Objective

According to an eye-tracking study , recruiters only spend 6 seconds reviewing a resume during the initial screening. 

This means you have very limited time to grab the recruiter’s attention and get them to take a deeper look at your resume.

The most effective way to do that? Write a captivating resume summary or objective. 

These are short (2 or 3-sentence-long paragraphs) that go at the top of your resume, just under your contact information, and their main goal is to give the hiring manager a quick introduction to you as a candidate. 

• A resume summary is a 2-to-4-sentences-long summary of your professional experience, including the years you’ve worked in the industry, your professional title, and your most noteworthy accomplishments and relevant skills. 
• A resume objective is a snapshot of your career aspirations and goals. Perfect for entry-level professionals or recent graduates, the resume objective can also highlight academic achievements and skills acquired through other activities, such as internships and volunteer work. 

Here’s an example of what a tech summary should look like: 

• Experienced IT Manager with 8+ years of experience in providing impeccable technical support to our clients and effectively managing in-house IT teams. Skilled in using my analytical skills to prioritize tasks, identify technical and managerial issues, and lead my team to provide timely and effective solutions to internal and external problems. Great communication and leadership skills as well as wide expertise in complex problem solving and hardware and software support. 

And here’s an example of a captivating tech resume objective: 

• Hard-working Computer Science graduate seeking to work as a junior IT analyst. Passionate about building software that perfectly meets the needs of end-users and revolutionizes the industry. Skilled in databases, system security, and troubleshooting, with an analytical mindset. Looking to apply my newly acquired knowledge and passion in practice and help your company carry out in-depth evaluations of system capabilities. 

#4. List Relevant Work Experience

Your work experience can make or break your resume . 

First thing’s first, you need to start with the formatting. To list your work experience section in your tech resume, do this:

• Start with your most recent/current position and go backward in time from there. 
• Add your title, the company name, its location, and the years you’ve worked there. 
• Include 3-5 bullet points with your achievements and responsibilities under each work entry (with fewer bullet points for older/less relevant positions). 

Simply listing your work experiences, though, is not enough. You also need to make them compelling and achievement-oriented.

See, the hiring manager knows your responsibilities for the role. After all, they’re the ones hiring for it!

Instead, they want to know how you stand out from the rest of your peers, and the best way to show that is by including achievements instead of responsibilities.

Compare these 2 examples:

• Improved client websites on a weekly basis.
• Improve 100+ client website speed by a range of 25% to 60%.

The first example is too vague - the hiring manager does not know what “improve” means, nor do they know whether you improved the site speed by 10% or 60%.

The second, on the other hand, is way more achievement-oriented and helps the hiring manager really understand the impact of your work.

That makes sense, right? Now let’s review what a work experience section would look like on a technical resume:

IT Specialist 

03/2018 - 02/2022

• Increased UX scores by 40% by improving applications so that they deliver an overall better user experience. 
• Decreased website load time by 42%, effectively improving SEO results and increasing the number of monthly website visitors by 15%. 
• Monitored installation, integration, configuration, and maintenance of the IT system for minimal downtime. 
• Trained over 30 staff members in internal website functions.

What If You Don’t Have Work Experience?

If you’re a Computer Science graduate looking for work after college or if you’re going for a career change , chances are you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience to put on your resume. 

Nonetheless, recruiters will need to see some proof that you can actually do the job, be it through your coding skills, or your portfolio. 

The good news? There are plenty of ways to build a tech portfolio, even without work experience. Here are the top ways to do it: 

• Get freelance gigs through websites like Upwork
• Mention projects you’ve coded in the university
• List personal projects you’ve worked on in your free time
• List the tech coursework you’ve attended at the university

#5. Don’t Forget Your Education

Including some details about your education is an essential part of a well-done tech resume. 

That said, you don’t need to go to lengths for a good education section. On the contrary, you’re better off keeping it brief and to the point in order not to take up too much space for other, more valuable sections, such as your hard skills and your achievements. 

So, to nail this section, simply list the following elements: 

• Your degree name
• The institution’s name and its location
• Your years of attendance
• Relevant academic achievements and coursework (optional, in case you don’t have a lot of work experience) 

Here’s an example of what the education section of a tech resume should look like: 

B.A. in Computer Science 

University of Birmingham, UK

08/2009 - 05/2013

For a job in the tech industry, you only need to mention your most recent (and higher) degree. That means you can leave out your high-school degree and even your Bachelor’s if you hold a Master’s degree or a Ph.D. in the field. 

#6. Add Technical Skills

Industry-related skills on your resume can improve your chances of standing out by as much as 59% . This fact alone makes the skills section one of the most essential sections of any resume. 

When it comes to the tech industry, however, your skill-set - with emphasis on your hard skills - is all the more important and can be a deciding factor on whether you’ll get called for an interview or not.

You may be a software engineer with 10+ years of experience in Python and still get instantly disqualified if the job needs someone who knows how to code in Java. 

This doesn’t mean, though, that soft skills aren’t important in a tech resume; it only means recruiters are more likely to assess your soft skills during the interview and focus more on your hard skills when they’re reviewing your resume. 

To figure out what hard skills are required for the position, simply check the job description. For most tech jobs, the employer will provide a comprehensive list of all the necessary hard skills to make sure only relevant candidates apply. 

So, when creating your Skills section, do this:

• First, include the essential skills mentioned in the job description.
• Second, list skills that aren’t listed in the job description, but that you think would help you perform well in the role you’re applying for.
• Finally, if you still have space on your resume, you can use it to include your soft skills.

Not sure what technical skills to include in your resume? Here’s a list of the 58 most in-demand tech skills this year!

Hard Skills for Tech Resume

• Lean manufacturing
• Multivariate analysis
• Linear regression
• Prototyping
• Workflow development
• STEM skills
• Payment processing 
• Automated Billing Systems
• CRM Platforms
• Troubleshooting
• Computer Hardware/Software Knowledge
• Internet Applications
• Operating Systems
• Internet Security
• Data Privacy
• Programming Languages
• Agile Development
• Database Administration
• Front-End & Back-End Development
• Cloud Management
• Data Synchronization
• Social Media Experience
• Project Management
• Technical Writing
• Network Architecture
• Quality Assurance
• Technical Support
• Software Installation
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Maintaining servers, routers, and PCs
• Configuring, managing, and maintaining networks
• Backup management
• LAN technology

Soft Skills for Tech Resume

• Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Multitasking
• Customer service
• Organization
• Decision Making
• Working under pressure
• Time Management
• Analytical Skills

#7. Take Advantage of Additional Sections

So, you’re done with all essential resume sections . If you’ve already hit the one-page mark, then you’re ready to start applying for jobs with your tech resume.

If, on the other hand, you still have some extra space that you’d like to fill up, we’ve got you covered. 

Here are some optional resume sections you could leverage to get rid of the extra white space and stand out from other applicants even more effectively: 

• Awards and certifications. Have you won an award that showcases your talents or completed any courses to hone your skills? That’s definitely something to mention on your resume! (E.g. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Certified Cloud Technology Professional (CCTP)).
• Languages . If you’re multilingual, make sure to add your languages to your resume. They’re very useful for technical support roles, and they’re always a nice-to-have addition for other types of IT roles. 
• Interests and hobbies . Your hobbies and interests reveal a more personal aspect of your character and can help you connect with your interviewer on a more personal level. Sure, they’re looking for a highly-skilled tech guy, but the hiring manager is a lot more likely to pick a candidate with that they have more in common than someone who’s all about work-work-work. 
• Publications. The tech industry isn’t all about practical work. If you’ve done any theoretical or research work that got published, you’re bound to impress recruiters by adding your publications to your resume. 

Here’s what these sections should look like on a tech resume: 

Certifications 

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
• CompTIA A+ Technician

English - Native

Spanish - Full Professional Proficiency 

French - Full professional proficiency 

• Solving crossword puzzles

#8. Include a Cover Letter

Last but not least, don’t forget to add a cover letter to your tech job application.

In case you were wondering, the cover letter is a must for any industry. Not only do recruiters expect to receive one, but they might not consider you altogether if you fail to submit one. 

So, dedicate some time to writing a cover letter that will give recruiters more detailed insight into who you are and what you can offer the company.

Not to mention, you can use the extra space to explain anything you didn’t have space to explain on your resume, such as a career gap or how you achieved a particularly noteworthy accomplishment. 

Here is the best structure to follow to create an effective tech cover letter: 

• Header - Add your full and correct contact details, as well as the name and contact information of the hiring professional the cover letter is addressed to.   
• Greeting - If possible, try to greet the recruiter by their name to show you went the extra mile researching the company and the people doing the hiring. The recruiter will usually be the head of the department you are applying to and you can almost always find their name listed on the company website or the company’s social media platforms. 
• Opening paragraph - Use your cover letter’s opening paragraph to grab the recruiter’s attention by listing some of your biggest achievements or most relevant skills. 
• The second paragraph - This is where you should let recruiters know what skills or experience you can bring to the table and why you’re more qualified than other applicants. 
• Third paragraph - Here you can mention why you’ll fit in well with the company and why you’re passionate to work there. 
• Closing - The closing of your cover letter is the last thing the recruiter will read and will probably be what stays with them the longest. So, you want to leave a memorable impression and give them a reason to call you back. 

Check out our guides on cover letter tips and common cover letter mistakes to take your cover letter to the next level. 

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap! You should now be ready to write a killer technical resume from scratch or build one in the blink of an eye using our fast-and-easy resume builder. 

Before you go on to do that, here are the main points we covered in this article: 

• Choose the reverse-chronological format to build your tech resume. It effectively highlights your most recent experiences and it is also recruiters’ favorite worldwide. 
• Make sure your contact information has no errors or typos, and that you add relevant details like your personal website or GitHub profile. 
• To stand out from the crowd, make your work experience as achievement-focused as possible and back up those accomplishments with hard data whenever it’s possible. 
• Keep the education section of your tech resume short and to the point, and only list your higher and most recent degrees. 
• Focus on your hard skills instead of your soft skills on your technical resume. 
• Don’t overlook the importance of the cover letter for a successful job application. 

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Creating the Best Tech Resume: Guide With Tips and Examples

The good news? Tech professionals are in high demand. But with so much talent competing for the best jobs, a standard resume won’t cut it. So what are recruiters looking for in a tech resume, and what’s the best way to highlight your skills?

A tech resume should be more than a document listing your skills and experience in bullet points. With hundreds of applications to wade through, recruiters often only have a few minutes to get a sense of your personality, creativity, and ability. 

For tech-newcomers who have recently graduated from a tech bootcamp, your resume is also a chance to show off your transferable skills—and demonstrate how you’ll apply them in your new role. 

If you’re staring at a blank page, unsure of where to start, you’re not alone. So we’re here with tips, tricks, and examples to help you get your foot through your dream company’s door.

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

• Tech resume dos and don’ts 
• Building and formatting a tech resume
• How to highlight tech skills on your resume
• Tech resume examples
• Final thoughts

Let’s get into it!

1. Tech resume dos and don’ts

Creating a tech resume can be a nerve-racking endeavor, especially for career changers . In the absence of years of experience in the field, your resume is often your one shot to convince recruiters you’re the right fit for their company. 

It can be challenging to showcase everything you have to offer in a one-page document, but a tech resume doesn’t have to be all-singing, all-dancing. It simply has to quickly and efficiently communicate what you bring to the table. 

It’s also important to note your resume often won’t even be seen by a human first. With the high amount of resumes being uploaded to job application sites, many companies rely on automatic AI software to filter the resumes before they go to hiring managers or recruiters.

If your resume doesn’t include keywords, isn’t readable, or isn’t formatted correctly —the hiring managers may never see it. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s important to know what you’re up against before you start firing resumes off. 

To help get your application seen by the right people, let’s go through some quick-fire dos and don’ts: 

• Tailor it to specific companies. When recruiters scan a tech resume, they look for the specific keywords listed in the job description. To boost your chances of standing out, tweak your resume for each application and make sure these keywords are highlighted. 
• Talk about tools. In today’s remote-first tech landscape, proficiency with certain tools is a distinct advantage. You’ll want to highlight your stack on your resume, and your proficiency with more common remote working tools like Jira, Hubspot, Asana, and so on.
• Get friends, family, and colleagues to proofread it. Nothing says sloppy more than a typo or grammatical error. Get a second, a third, or even a fourth pair of eyes on it before you start sending it to companies. 
• Have big blocks of text. Your resume needs to be scannable, with a highlights reel of your key experiences, skills, and the tools you work with. Stick to bullet points and lists—you can elaborate in your tech cover letter . 
• Make it longer than one page. Likewise, anything longer than two pages is at risk of being disregarded for another’s.
• Make it too design-heavy. For new designers especially, it’s tempting to want the design of the document the star of the show. While a tech resume can certainly include creative elements, above all else it should be easy and quick to read—by both humans and AI software. 

Remember: If you get through to the interview stage, the hiring manager will use your resume as a reference point for the questions they ask. It’s crucial to highlight skills and experience that you’d be comfortable expanding on in a conversation. 

To find out more, check out our guide to the recruiter phone screen . 

2. Building and formatting a tech resume 

Now that we know what not to do, we can move on to actually compiling your resume. 

To make things as clear as possible, we’ll break this section up into two parts: What to include in your tech resume, and how to format a tech resume. 

What to include in your tech resume

Your resume should include eight key sections: 

• Name and contact information. You don’t need to include an address unless the role you’re applying for is location-specific.  
• Personal summary. This is 1–2 sentences summarizing who you are as a tech professional. This can include your title, the sector you’re currently working in (or are looking to work in), key skills and credentials, and an overview of your experience. 
• Relevant links. Here’s where you link out to your website, portfolio, and any professional networking profiles. 
• Relevant education. Emphasis on the relevant—no one needs to know where you went to elementary school! Stick to highlighting your university education, bootcamp programs, or relevant courses and classes.
• Tools. As mentioned earlier, highlighting your proficiency in the tools used by the team or company you’re applying for is a great way to boost your chances of getting noticed. If you’re a whiz in Figma or a GitHub guru—highlight it.
• Skills. This is arguably the most crucial part of your resume, and what recruiters want to know about in particular. We’ll talk a little more about this in the next section. 
• Work experience. Don’t have any? No problem: If you’re a bootcamp graduate, emphasize the skills you learned on the projects you worked on for your portfolio. You can also highlight work experience in your previous career if it’s relevant for the role.
• Other cool things about you. Your tech resume doesn’t need to be devoid of your personality; it’s a good chance to tell your potential employers some cool (but relevant) facts. Do you speak other languages, run a blog, or own a business? Include any noteworthy features that make you stand out from the competition.

We know what you’re thinking: All that on just one page?

Not necessarily. Depending on the role you’re applying for, you can sacrifice one section to place emphasis on another. What’s most important is relevancy.

How to format a tech resume

Get the format right. A tech resume is more likely to be well-received if it’s a word document or PDF, but whichever you prefer, make sure it’s presented in the document type required by the uploading tool. Be sure to double-check the job description too, as this often lists a preferred format.

Embellish elsewhere. Already noted, but it can’t be overstated: When it comes to tech resume design formats, the simpler and clearer the better. The creativity, storytelling, and design can shine through in your cover letter and portfolio. 

The differences between them can help shape your approach for each:

A tech cover letter is a longer-form document than your resume (but still no longer than a few paragraphs) that introduces yourself as a candidate, expands on your relevant experience, and details your motivations for applying to a specific role. 

A tech portfolio showcases your skills in action. It’s a collection of the real-world projects you’ve worked on that demonstrate your competency in your chosen field. Portfolios are usually embellished with videos, images, additional files, and so on. 

Both of these should be linked to in your resume, and vice versa.

Use tools and software to spice it up. There are plenty of tools and software out there that can help you design and format a beautiful tech resume, like Canva , resume.io , and CakeResume .

But keep in mind that over-designed resumes will sometimes be automatically rejected by candidate-tracking AI software. Vibrant colors and branding are great, but don’t get carried away: a UX/UI design resume in particular needs to be simple, clear, and quickly scannable .

We know—it’s tricky to toe the line between a creative resume that showcases your unique personality, and a clear resume that cuts through the fluff to quickly communicate your value.

But once you see how it’s done, your life will be a lot simpler: you’ll find some great examples to help you further on.

3. How to highlight tech skills on your resume

Emphasizing your tech skills on your resume is vital. Ultimately, it’s these that recruiters are most interested in. 

There’s definitely a right and wrong way to showcase these. More than simple bullet points suggesting you’re proficient in X skill, recruiters want the proof in the pudding. Provide evidence of how you’ve put said skills into practice. 

There are also two different types of skills to highlight, hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills refer to the technical skills you need to actually perform the role’s basic duties. For a UI designer , this might be wireframing or animation. For a web developer , this might be documentation or specific coding languages. For a digital marketer , this might be tracking and reporting campaign metrics using a CMS. 

Soft skills refer to the interpersonal skills that make someone a great employee, such as effective communication, project management, leadership skills, and so on. While the word “soft” might suggest these skills are not as important to tech recruiters—many of these soft skills are actually in incredibly high demand. Your ability to be a great team player or manager could be the difference between getting an interview and being overlooked. 

So you’ll want to highlight both your hard and soft skills—especially if you’re a career changer on the hunt for your first tech role. The transferable skills  you’ve picked up from your previous careers will help you stand out among more experienced candidates. 

Here are a few best practices for highlighting tech skills on your resume: 

• Quality over quantity. An endless laundry list of everything you can do isn’t going to get you noticed. It’s better to focus on a few key skills that are directly relevant to the role you’re applying for. 
• Use the right language . Mirror the language used in the job description. Where possible avoid repetition of generic terms like “experience with” or “proficient in”.
• Provide relevant examples . It’s one thing to say you’re good at something, but employers want to know how you’ve put it into practice. Definite bonus points for real-world projects! 

4. Tech resume examples 

Now that we know the elements that form an awesome tech resume, we’ll take a look at some people who got it right. 

Here are tech resume examples for five of the most popular tech jobs: 

Data analyst resume example

Via Beamjobs

What works? 

• A clear, simple overview of everything a recruiter needs to know, in grayscale—meaning it’s far more likely to be accepted by resume-scanning AI.
• A career progression, which gives us some insight into Derek’s career goals and motivations as an entry-level data analyst.
• Specific projects that showcase Derek’s skills in action, with metrics demonstrating the impact of the work he did. 

To learn more, check out our guide to writing a great data analyst resume. 

Web developer resume example

Via ResumeKraft

What works?  

• A creative way to display key skills and competencies, with bars and dots to break up the text.  
• Richard chose a bullet-pointed summary for added scannability—a great move.
• The theme is bright and colorful, while still being clear and simple. The best of both worlds.

UX designer resume example

Via Coursera  

• Winona has struck the perfect balance between information and personality. There’s a pop of color and a unique logo that showcases creative flair, but it doesn’t take away from the key pieces of information. 
• Winona’s personality shines through in the “ask me about” section, but Winona has prioritized information—so it doesn’t sit above skills, tools, or education. 

UI designer resume example

Via Mockplus  

• This sleek, professional tech resume by Michelle Flacks is simple enough to pass through any AI software, but the effort that’s gone into the design is still clear. A bespoke logo and slanted lines make it unique, without distracting from the words themselves. 
• Michelle has kept it simple with three key sections which, in this case, is more than enough. 

Digital marketing manager resume example 

Via VisualCV

• A more in-depth look into each skill, with a scannable graphic that quickly lets the recruiter know the competency level—with the option to learn more. 
• A clean, sleek feel overall, with an enjoyable but subtle contrast between the two colors.
• A succinct personal summary that touches on qualifications, skills, and experience. 

Learn more with our digital marketing resume guide.

5. Final thoughts

The best way to make sure your tech resume is up to scratch? Get eyes on it.

More specifically, eyes from someone well established in your field. That way, they can guide you on whether or not your resume would make the cut in their teams—and you can make the necessary changes before it lands on the desk of a prospective employer. 

So there we have it: Your ultimate guide to writing a stand-out tech resume.

With so much to include, it’s all too easy to overthink it to the point of paralysis. But as long as you follow the industry-standard tech resume best practices, you’ll have an interview for your first tech role in no time. Of course, be sure to be sure to craft the best career change cover letter to accompany any application and get ready for the interview with the most common interview questions.

To learn more, we recommend giving these articles a read: 

• Ten big signs it’s time for a career change—which applies to you?
• How to successfully change careers in 2024: Your step-by-step guide
• How to get a UX design job with no industry experience

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Guide to Technical Resumes: Tips, Tricks, and Templates

No matter where you’re at in your career, one of the most important tools you can use to land technical interviews and get hired is your technical resume. But with all the conflicting advice on how to format a tech resume and what technical skills to put on a resume, it can be a real challenge to find the best advice.

That’s why Career Karma has compiled this ultimate guide to technical resumes. Here, you’ll find all the information and tips you need to create a tech resume that will help you break into one of the best tech jobs . We’ll share tips on the best technical skills for resumes, what not to include on your resume, and how to use numbers to describe your experience.

Writing the Perfect Technical Resume

The perfect technical resume highlights your technical skills and catches the interest of a hiring manager at a tech company. The key to good technical resume writing is knowing what to include and what to leave off. In the next section, we’ll cover the building blocks you need to write a good technical resume.

What to Include in Your Technical Skills List

There are four major categories of technical skills for a resume: programming skills, hard skills, soft skills, and special skills. Listing technical skills on your resume in these categories helps the hiring manager make sense of your skillset and get a better picture of you as a well-rounded candidate. 

Programming Skills

Coding is a technical skill that looks great on any tech resume. A background in programming languages is an asset in many job roles, not just for software developers. A lot of large companies use applications designed specifically for that company, and learning to code shows that you’ll be able to troubleshoot buggy applications better than the average employee.

If you are applying for web development or software engineering jobs where programming is an essential skill, list all programming languages you are comfortable working in. You should also link to projects in your coding portfolio to show the kinds of products you can deliver in each language.

Hard Skills

To figure out what hard skills are relevant for your technical resume beyond coding, look at some job postings for roles you are interested in. Review your list, and see what skills you are missing. You don’t need to have every skill that hiring managers are looking for, but the more information technology skills you have the better. You can always learn more IT skills to boost your resume .

Data analysis is an important hard skill for your technical resume that you can develop on your own. There are all sorts of free education options where you can learn data analysis, data visualization, and data mining. Big Data is another great skill to list on your resume. These days big data is vital to helping companies decide what direction to move in next.

If you’ve taken any technical courses or other kinds of educational programs related to the job you’re applying for, list those skills on your tech resume. Listing these kinds of programs not only shows that you have additional skills, it also shows that you take your career seriously and are committed to learning new techniques.

Soft Skills

Tech experience isn’t the only thing hiring managers are looking for in your technical resume. Soft skills like leadership, communication, project management, and conflict resolution are extremely important to building a high-functioning team. Most employers, regardless of the industry, are seeking workers who possess these crucial soft skills.

To list your soft skills, give an example of a problem you solved or a project you managed. Include quantitative details such as the number of people you led, the amount of time you saved on a project, or scores on performance reviews. Include any soft skills workshops or classes you attended, especially if you earned a certification or certificate .

Social media skills are valuable communication skills for your technical resume. A good social media presence is essential, and not all organizations have a dedicated social media communications specialist. If you can show that you are comfortable representing a company on social media, you’ll stand out to hiring managers who are looking for someone who can fill multiple roles.

Special Skills

You should also include some skills or abilities that don’t necessarily fit within the technical skills category. For instance, maybe you have a passion for design or are a certified white water rafting guide. These are great ways to set yourself apart from other applicants who probably share many of your technical skills, especially if your special skills show your leadership or passion.

Top Items to Leave Off Your Technical Resume

Almost as important as the things you should include on your technical resume are the following items that you should never include. Avoid these common technical resume pitfalls to ensure your prospective employer gets the right idea of what you can offer the company.

Inappropriate Contact Info

Your resume is your only chance to make a good impression on the hiring manager. Your resume will get an initial 15-second scan by the hiring staff if you’re lucky. You don’t want them to spend that precious time wondering about a piece of unprofessional contact information.

Don’t include an address, phone number, or email from a current employer as your contact info, unless you are both a student and an employee of a college or university. Use an inconspicuous email address like [email protected]. 

Irrelevant Work Experience

When you apply for tech jobs, you need to load up your resume with relevant work experience that applies directly to the role. Prospective employers don’t have time to wade through unnecessary details in your job history. You need to make it easy for them to see the ways your experience matches the job description. Customize your resume with the relevant work history for each new job you apply to.

That said, don’t be afraid to include unrelated work experience if you feel it demonstrates a quality that applies to the role. Make sure it is clear in the first sentence or bullet point describing the experience why the hiring manager should know about it.

Incorrect Information

You should never include incorrect information on your resume. All the skills, work experience, and education you list need to be true. If the hiring manager finds that you are misrepresenting yourself, they will likely disqualify you from the current job opening and any future job openings at that company.

Top Tips for Your Technical Resume

Now you know what skills to put on your technical resume, here’s some advice on how to create the perfect resume for any job in tech. You should go through this process for each job you apply to and tailor your tech resume to reflect the specific position you’re applying to, as well as the company.

Lead With Your Expertise 

The best way to write a technical resume is to showcase your expertise. Focus on work experience and education that shows your mastery of a topic or skill. Write about the kinds of projects you completed and led, and link to examples from a professional portfolio when possible.

Write a Personal Summary 

In two to three sentences, summarize your career up to this point and state your job goals. This is particularly important if you are changing careers or have a gap in your resume. A personal summary is your chance to give the hiring manager a framework for understanding your tech resume. Here’s an example personal summary for a person switching to a tech career from teaching: 

“After 12 years of teaching high school math, I decided it was time to enroll in coding bootcamp and work towards my goal of becoming a full stack developer . I look forward to bringing my new coding skills and prior knowledge of how to design curriculum to LearningApp’s web development team.”

Use Strong, Action-Oriented Words

If you’ve just finished a coding bootcamp , most of the items on your resume are going to be related to websites or apps you developed in the program. Maybe you have some internship experience too. No matter where you got your experience, use strong action words on your tech resume to describe your projects and accomplishments.

Here are some examples of strong resume sentence-starters using action verbs:

• Led a team of…
• Spearheaded design and development for…
• Accomplished project goal of…
• Established a new system by…

Quantify Your Impact

Make sure your statements are impact-oriented on your technical resume. Focus on what you achieved and how you did it. These statements should look something like, “Spearheaded X by implementing Y, which led to Z.” For example, “Spearheaded a Waze-like app for Pokemon Go players by implementing Ruby on Rails, which led to 40 percent time saved on finding Pokemon.”

To brainstorm the information you need to write an impact-oriented state, try answering these questions:

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

• What was the scale?
• How many devices did I serve?
• How many scenarios/permutations/tests did I consider/handle?
• How many different methodologies did I implement?
• What results did I achieve?
• How many users did I launch to or will I launch to?
• How many users/groups used it?

Highlight Your Technical Skills

Prospective employers might look at your tech resume for less than one minute, or they might run it through an Automated Tracking System (ATS) to look for keyword matches. You need to do everything you can to make sure your resume and the language you use matches the job description exactly so that your technical skills stand out.

You can also format your tech resume to highlight your technical skills. Create a designated “Technical Skills” section, so that a recruiter glancing at your resume will see it immediately. It’s also a good idea to add a technical summary near the top of your resume. That way, your prospective employers can see each technical ability you possess at a glance.

Add Coding Bootcamp to Your Work Experience

When you graduate from a coding bootcamp and start your job search in earnest, you’ll be competing against programmers with prior work experience. Hiring managers need to know that you can handle actual coding work. If you completed any coding bootcamp projects with real-world data or actual clients, you can include that in your work experience.

You should still list your bootcamp training under your education section too, highlighting your class performance and any areas where you excelled. However, don’t overload your tech resume by including every project. Including too many small projects will dilute your resume and obscure your big accomplishments.

Some General Advice on Resumes

Your tech resume is often the first point of contact between you and a potential employer. It is your best opportunity to show the hiring manager your professionalism and highlight your credentials. These general tips on how to write a technical resume will help you make the most of this opportunity to make a good first impression.

• Update your resume for each job you apply to: Your work isn’t done after you finish the first draft of your technical resume. You need to adjust your resume for each prospective job. Look at the job description for keywords, important skills, and required competencies. Adjust your resume to highlight what you find in the job description.
• Stay professional: While some careers might require a bit of flair on your resume to stand out, most resumes benefit from looking professional. Use engaging language and action words to make your resume interesting, but avoid things like too much color and wacky fonts.
• Don’t be bound to templates: Tech resume templates are a great way to get started when crafting a resume, but you need to be thoughtful about how you use them. Just because the resume template you’ve chosen includes a certain section doesn’t mean you have to include it in your resume. Only keep sections that are relevant to you, your skills, and your experiences.
• Never lie: You should speak proudly about your achievements on your resume, but never exaggerate or lie. Your prospective employer will find out if your resume is dishonest. 
• Proofread: This should go without saying, but you must thoroughly proofread your resume at least twice before you start sending it out. Ask multiple people to look for errors you might be missing. This will show prospective employers that you’re professional, meticulous, and taking the application seriously.
• Consider Different Layouts: Many people limit their creativity when crafting a technical resume by presenting their education, and work history in chronological order. You can also try a functional format, where you present the skills and experience you want to highlight at the top.
• Try to Stick to One to Two Pages: This can be tough if you have a lot of experience or a long work history, but hiring managers really don’t want to read more than a page or two. With some creative editing and formatting, you can fit a lot of information on a single page, and your prospective employers will appreciate the effort.
• Highlight Any Transferable Skills: If you’re changing careers, there are always opportunities to show transferable skills you’ve acquired in unrelated positions. If you’re applying for a tech job but only have administrative experience, you can highlight your ability to work well in a team or to manage time wisely. 

Free Technical Resume Templates and Examples

While there are many tech resume templates out there, free technical resume templates range from overcomplicated to dull and forgettable. When looking for a good technical resume template, consider a few options before picking one. Look for a template that emphasizes technical skills.

The bottom line is that your resume is supposed to reflect your skills and what you can offer to your prospective employer. Look at technical resume examples and imagine what it would be like to read them as a hiring manager. Pick the tech resume template that most clearly showcases technical skills.

Top Free Technical Resume Templates

Here are our top picks for the most attractive, effective, and memorable technical resume templates that you can get for free. All of these templates are clean and simple and designed to draw your eye to technical skills.

Once you’ve picked your favorite, go back through this article and use these tips to make the content work for you. A high-quality resume design is very important for catching the eye of a hiring manager, but the content also needs to stand out to the ATS program picking the top resumes to send to the hiring manager.

Cultivated Culture 

Cultivated Culture offers a set of free resume templates that are perfect for tech workers in the job market. They provide a level of professionalism and class, while still allowing for a dash of color and style to let your personality shine through. This particular template gives you enough space for text to describe your skills and experience.

Rijo Abraham 

If you want to get noticed, you need to expand your template options beyond the usual Microsoft Word selections. Rijo Abraham’s free resume template is memorable without being too wild. You can modify or eliminate the top banner, and the education, job history, and skills sections are well-designed.

This spare, eye-catching free resume template from Zohn Habib is a great way to focus on relevant education and skills. This template is a good choice for a recent grad or an early career job seeker because it highlights training over work experience. It also gives you two sections for skills which you can categorize as technical skills and other skills.

A Final Word on the Technical Resume

Now that you know useful technical resume tips like what to include and what to avoid, you’re ready to start crafting your own tech resume. The most important things to remember are to highlight your skills and experience, use powerful language, and always be honest. If you follow these guidelines, you’re sure to land that technical interview you’ve been striving for.

Technical Resume FAQs

There isn’t a perfect formula for how to write a resume that gets you hired in tech. A technical resume is a good format for showcasing technical skills that are most relevant to tech jobs. However, sending out resumes to hiring managers you don’t know is less likely to get you hired no matter how good your resume is. You should also spend time growing your professional network.

Technical skills should be listed near the top of a technical resume, after your contact information and personal summary but before your work experience. This is especially important for people who have tech skills that they haven’t used in past jobs, such as recent bootcamp grads.

A technical resume should be one to two pages long. Keep your tech resume to one page long if you are a recent grad or have little work experience. It can be hard to balance keeping things brief while still showing off your tech skills. Remember you can always elaborate on an experience in your cover letter.

If you are a coding bootcamp grad, you will definitely put your bootcamp experience under education and all the tech skills you learned will go under the technical skills section. If you completed any real-world projects or internships, you can list that under work experience. You should provide a link to your bootcamp portfolio near the top of the resume.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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Breaking Into Tech

The Ultimate Tech Resume Guide

By stephen greet.

It’s no secret that jobs in tech are high paying with top-notch benefits at companies that are solving some of the most challenging problems of our time. It’s no wonder that tech jobs are highly sought after. How can you get your foot in the door and land an interview at one of these companies?

First things first, you need to convince the hiring manager that you deserve an interview with your resume. This guide is built to do just that. We’ll go through each section of your resume to help you showcase your skills and land a coveted job in tech.

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Tech Resume Examples & Tips

When you’re creating your resume, nothing is more intimidating than staring at a blank page. To that end we’ll walk you step-by-step to help you put your best foot forward in your resume and land your dream tech job.

In short, here’s what you need to do to ensure you resume will help you land interviews with tech companies:

• Format your resume correctly. This means keeping it simple and easy to read, limiting it to one page, and correcting all spelling and grammar errors .
• Convince the hiring manager you’re the right fit for the role by quantifying the impact of your past work or projects.
• When it comes to technical skills on your resume, it’s better to be a master of a few skills as opposed to a jack of all trades.
• If you’re an entry level tech candidate then it’s important you highlight projects you’ve worked on in your resume.

To get the creative juices flowing, let’s start with an example of an effective tech resume.

Source: BeamJobs Software Engineer Resume Examples

Why this resume works:

• It’s visually pleasing and easy to read.
• No matter where the recruiter or hiring manager looks, they will see that this software engineer had a demonstrable impact in all of their work experience and projects.
• The skills section is not a laundry list. It’s a concentrated skill-set that would appeal to an experienced hiring manager in tech.
• This candidate included all relevant personal links to their LinkedIn and Github profiles.

Formatting Your Tech Resume

Recruiters spend 6 seconds on average reviewing a given resume. This means you have to very quickly make your case that you deserve an interview for the tech role you’re applying to. Before anything else, a recruiter will see the layout of your resume. In light of this, it’s your job to make your resume as consumable as possible. Here’s how to do that:

• Keep your formatting simple and easy to read. Don’t include fancy graphs or images that take time to parse.
• Avoid big blocks of text. Break up your writing into small, self-contained bullet points.
• Keep your resume to one page . Nothing discourages a hiring manager more than a 5 page resume.
• Your resume needs to be a highlight reel, so no matter where the tech recruiter or hiring manager looks, they’re convinced that you deserve an interview.
• This one bears repeating: fix all spelling and grammar errors. Triple check your resume and have a friend review it. A typo should never be the reason you don’t get the job!

All of these tips are in service of a singular goal: make the recruiter’s job as easy as humanly possible. No matter what bullet point they read, they should come away convinced that they are missing out if they don’t interview you for the role.

Quantify Your Impact

You’re a (soon-to-be) tech professional, so you know that the best way to make your case in any discussion is through numbers. Numbers speak louder than words and this is especially true in a tech resume. To make it clear why, let’s look at an example.

The following bullet points describe the work experience for the same data analyst. Which do you think is more convincing to a hiring manager?

Work experience with measurable impact:

August 2016 - May 2018, New York NY

Data Analyst

• As the first data hire worked directly with the executive team to formulate and report on KPIs across their web properties that get 200 million visitors annually using SQL and Google Sheets
• Built a logistic regression model to help the SEO team decide which keywords to target resulting in a 13% lift in YoY site visitors in 2018
• Worked with product managers to perform cohort analysis that identified an opportunity to reduce pricing by 25% for a segment of users to boost yearly revenue by $720,000

Work experience without measurable impact:

• As the first data hire worked directly with the executive team to formulate and report on KPIs across their web properties that get millions of visitors annually using SQL and Google Sheets
• Built a logistic regression model to help the SEO team decide which keywords to target
• Worked with product managers to perform cohort analysis that identified an opportunity to reduce pricing for a segment of users to boost yearly revenue

Source: BeamJobs Data Analyst Resume Examples

Remember, the hiring manager or recruiter tasked with reviewing your resume will only be doing so for about six seconds. This means they’ll be skimming what you wrote. The most effective way to draw their attention is through quantifiable metrics. It’s easy to say that you had a big impact in a past role, but it’s much more convincing if you can quantify the size of that impact.

“When I look for a technical hire I want to interview candidates who will have a measurable impact on my business” says Neal Taparia, the founder of Imagine Easy Solutions and Solitaired . “The quickest way to make that determination is by assessing whether they’ve had a measurable impact in their past roles or projects.”

Highlight Your Technical Skills

When it comes to landing a job in tech, technical skills aren’t everything . But they are a crucial aspect of  your resume. Keep in mind that there are generally two review stages that your resume undergoes before getting an interview:

• Companies use an automated filter called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that filters resumes based on whether they contain certain keywords.
• Either the recruiter or hiring manager in charge of the role will review your resume.

To appease the automated ATS filters, you need to include relevant skills from the job description. Conversely, to satisfy the hiring manager, you should avoid having a laundry list of skills. Instead, demonstrate your expertise in a handful of skills, languages, and frameworks.

How can you walk this fine line with your tech resume? As a rule of thumb, only include skills on your resume that you would be comfortable talking about in an interview . The only sure-fire way to get blacklisted from working at a tech company is by lying on your resume. It’s just not worth it. You deserve to find a job that you love and are qualified for.

What kind of skills should you actually include in your resume? That depends on the kind of role you’re applying for:

• Data scientists: Include programming skills, SQL knowledge, and modeling techniques.
• Data analysts: Talk about your SQL ability, your data visualization skills using a BI tool like Tableau, and data wrangling in Python or R.
• Web developers: Focus on your programming ability in 1-2 languages and any front-end or back-end frameworks you are familiar with in that language.
• Product management: You’ll need to demonstrate your command of a web analytics tool like Google Analytics as well as your basic programming skills and data analysis ability.
• Technical project management: Mention your familiarity with a project management tool like Jira as well as your comfort level in a project management methodology like Agile.
• Digital marketing: Highlight your ability with a web analytics framework like Google Analytics as well as your comfort with a CRM. Mention your skills with paid ad platforms like Facebook or AdWords.

Tips for Entry Level Technical Resumes

Quantifying your work experience is straightforward if you have a relevant background. But if you’re an entry level data scientist or UI designer looking to break into the tech industry for the first time, you might need to get creative.

Center your resume around your projects. You’ll want to demonstrate a few characteristics to a potential employer:

• You’re passionate about the role you’re applying for
• You understand what is required of the role
• You have the required skills necessary to succeed in that role

Let’s walk through a sample project for a prospective entry level data analyst. Data analysts are tasked with turning messy data into actionable insights for their company. In 2020, data is everywhere. So to build a project for a data analyst resume, all you have to do is ask questions that you’ve always wanted to answer. Here are a few sample questions that an entry level data analyst might answer in a self-directed project:

• As a runner, is there a strong correlation between where you train and your race performance?
• As a fantasy football enthusiast, does the draft order matter in determining the quality of a team?
• As a foodie, does the quality of a restaurant vary based on the price of the menu?

Once you have a question in mind, you can creatively go about gathering the data necessary to answer that question. Finally, you can put together a write-up with your conclusions. Link to this write-up in your resume and there you have it: a project demonstrating your ability as a data analyst.

This kind of scrappy can-do attitude can be applied to any tech role you can imagine. If you’re a designer, you can build a UI for an app you’ve always envisioned. As a web developer, build a web app to solve a nagging problem you’ve always had. Data scientists can build predictive models to answer their burning questions.

If you need to level up your skills before applying for a job in tech, browse our range of full-time and part-time courses . All of our tech tracks are project-based, helping you build a portfolio and get hired. You’ll learn side by side with mentors, technical experts, and experienced instructors who all support your end goal: a lasting career.

Employers in tech value job candidates who are innately curious, ask questions, and find the resources to answer those questions. Demonstrate this ability in your projects as an entry level candidate and you should have no trouble getting interviews.

Optimizing Your Tech Resume

Breaking into tech can seem like an insurmountable mountain to climb, but we know you can land a job you love, even with no previous experience. The first step is building a resume that catches the attention of the hiring manager. This guide was designed to help you do just that.

Before you know it, it’ll be time to start preparing for job interviews . Applying to jobs can be overwhelming at times, so congrats on  taking a big first step and completing your tech resume.

This article was written by Stephen Greet, Co-Founder of Beam Jobs .

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Click here to directly go to the complete Technical Resume Sample.

How do you convince the recruiter that you've got what they are looking for in a potential candidate?

Your technical resume is definitely one sure shot way to prove your potential.

To write the best technical resume, you need to make sure that the following points are clear to you:

• Why do you need a technical resume and how to write one?
• How to choose the right resume format for technical resume?
• How to list work experience in technical resume to highlight your career trajectory?
• What are the skills required for technical resume?
• How to add certifications, internships, and training in a technical reusme?
• How to compose a resume summary or objective to get the recruiters' attention?

Additionally, the technicall resume samples provided in this blog will give you more clarity at each step of your technical resume writing process.

• Technical Project Manager Resume
• Technical Product Manager Resume
• IT Manager Resume
• IT Specialist Resume

What Is a Technical Resume?

Technology is a very rapidly evolving industry with diverse areas of specialization.

Searching for a job in these technical fields will require a different set of interests and skills. But all of the recruiters will have one thing in common: they will want to see a powerful tech resume.

To build a strong technical resume, check out our pre-existing technical resume templates on our professional resume builder.

Your technical resume will vary widely, based on your experience level, your certifications, and your long-term professional goals.**

This blog post on technical resume samples can help you understand the following:

• The kind of information your employers will be looking for
• How should your technical resume be formatted on the page
• Some special tips for writing various sections in your technical resume.

And all kinds of details that will help you stand out.

There is no right way to create a tech resume for a technical position. However, there are certain details that almost every employer wants to see.

These can be put into distinct subheadings as follows:

• Technical Resume Summary
• Education Section
• Work Experience Section
• Skills Section

Why Do You Need a Technical Resume?

Any technical resume:

• Grabs the recruiter's attention
• Reflects your strongest skills and accomplishments
• Conveys how you are the perfect match for a position or project
• Gets you the job interview

Further, a tech resume exemplifies:

• What are the skills you have learned/exercised across your career
• How these skills can be exercised in your subsequent jobs
• What was the impact of exercising these skills before
• How you may deploy innovative tools or methods to overcome challenges

Your tech resume therefore stands as a testimony for why you should be working for your target company.

How to Write a Technical Resume?

There are several technicalities that go behind drafting your tech resume - from writing the Master CV to tailoring your technical resume - according to your target job description.

The following guide will enable you to create a final draft that looks like the wonderful technical resume examples given below.

How to Choose the Right Resume Format for Technical Resume?

When it comes to the layout of your techn resume, you will have two different options:

Chronological Layout for Technical Resume

You will have an opportunity to boast about the work you have done in the past, and the projects you have completed.

• Start by listing each of your past jobs in reverse order
• Put your most recent position first.
• For each job title, provide the employer, employment year, and the basic requirements of each job.
• Add a list of your achievements while you held that role, including the awards you won and challenges you overcame.
• Try and make your accomplishments quantifiable. Provide performance figures wherever possible.

Functional Layout for Technical Resume

This layout focuses more on what will be able to do for your job. It focuses on your future career.

• Open this technical resume section by listing your “core competencies” or special areas of experience and talent.
• Follow up with a short summary of past job titles.
• You do not necessarily have to follow up with employment dates and too much detail about responsibilities and accomplishments.

Also Read: How to choose the best resume layout

An ideal Technical Resume example looks like the following:

How to Write Personal Information in Technical Resume?

Following information must be included in a tech resume:

• Updated Phone Number
• Professional Email Address
• Present location

Contact Information Sample for Technical Resume

You can also add your LinkedIn account, Twitter handle or other social media addresses to your technical resume. Do it only if you think it'll bolster your overall application.

How to Create an Impeccable Summary for Technical Resume?

A technical resume summary is also called by various other names such as career summary, resume summary statement, resume profile summary, resume summary of qualifications, qualifications summary, etc.

Before writing the summary, ponder over the following points to make sure you do not miss out anything:

• What are the core skills the interviewer is looking for?
• What are the soft skills the job requires?
• What are the strict NOs mentioned in the job description?

Your technical summary should provide the following information:

• Most important credentials/ key skills
• Quick overview of the information that appears in the rest of your profile
• Your major achievements according to the job profile

Have a look at the summary sample given below:

4+ years experienced software engineer skilled in software development, testing, documentation, etc. across the complete development life cycle of a product. Adept at end to end software design & development including requirement gathering, documentation, infrastructure setup, coding and unit & integration testing. Gained proficiency in a wide-variety of programming languages & developed in-depth knowledge of the latest technologies as a result of working on numerous complex projects. Handles complex project management & coordination work very efficiently to deliver results. Looking forward to applying the acquired gamut of skills to a challenging software development role.

Also Read: How to craft an impeccable resume summary.

How to Present Skills in Tech Resume?

Technical resume skills.

One of the most important sections on your technical resume is the key skills section. The ATS quickly scans you on the basis of the key skills .

Hence, it is important that rather than listing a dozen odd skills relevant to the job, you demonstrate them.

Instead of adding skills relentlessly like a robot, elaborate them. Show how you exhibited that certain trait, resolved bugs, handled mid-project crisis and inner team dynamics.

Quantify Your Skills:

If you can, because it is going to give you 10x more attention than merely adding the appropriate keyword.

Any good tech resume will contain a healthy mix of both hard skills and soft skills, with emphasis on the former. Hard skills demonstrate how you are fit for the job, while soft skills prove how well of a team member you are.

An example for key skills for technical resume could be:

Any special skills related to:

• Problem Solving
• Negotiation
• Customer Service
• Interpersonal Relationship Management may also be included to throw light on specific parts of your tech resume.

If you have a special skill or interest and you are not sure whether it will leave a lasting impact through your tech resume, put yourself in the position of your hiring manager.

If you would find this skill interesting in a candidate, write it down .

Technical Skills

For a technical resume, a special requirement is of technical skills section . Create a special tech resume section dedicated to these skill sets. These skills must include:

• A direct relevance to your target position
• Skill sets that are not directly relevant but may elevate your profile potentially

These technical resume skills can include:

• Software Skills
• Leadership and Management Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Foreign Language Skills
• Design Skills

Look at this sample technical skills section :

Also Read: The best way to list skills on resume.

How to Write Professional Experience in Tech resume

A professional experience section should always contain the following elements describes below:

STAR Format

Grouping & Highlighting

• Action Verbs

The star format refers to the Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

• Situation is the difficulty you found yourself in
• Task that was assigned to you as part of the job profile
• Action that was undertaken to perform the assigned task efficiently
• Result is the outcome of your contribution in terms of catapulting business growth

Technical Writer Resume Example With STAR Format

• Liaising with product managers and engineers to produce 5+ documents daily, including User Guides, Integration Guides, and API Developer Guides, etc.

In the example, we can easily identify that the applicant is coordinating with cross-functional teams to product documents.

Likewise, you need to make sure that you describe your action and its result by implementing STAR format.

STAR format helps you establish a concrete cause and effect relationship by just not mentioning what you did but also why you did to make the recruiters recognize your potential.

Make sure there are no paragraphs in your technical resume except a summary.

Framing one-liner bullet points to write your professional experience improves the readability experience, giving it a clean look.

Also, try to draw a cause-effect relationship in all one-liner points to give a better perspective to the recruiter about the impact of your contributions in your previous organization.

Tech Resume Example in Paragraph Form

Tech Resume Example in One-Liners

• Translating technical information and complex concepts to non-technical audience ensuring 100% user understandability

Technical Resume Examples Analysis

Both the examples are conveying the same message but it is clear that example 1 is using unncessary connecting words and is unclear.

Writing a one-liner will help you focus on describing the nature of the task assigned to you and what you did to achieve positive results.

Hence, a one-liner is always the right way to describe your technicalresponsibilities in a resume.

For all your professional experience, wherever the total number of points is more than 3, you can group similar points and create subheadings for the same. Grouping similar points together allow you to showcase your broad-level skills.

Further, highlight key achievements and important words, phrases, and numbers throughout your professional experience in your technical resume.

Let's look at a bullet point with a grouping and highlighting approach and the same without and analyze which one is better.

AVERAGE IMPACT:

Tech Resume Example 1

• Collaborated with 5+ departments including development, QA, product management to draft and finalize product description
• Planned, researched, wrote, and revised printed and online documentation, including general overviews, tutorials, installation & configuration instructions, and API documents
• Oversaw peer editing and production to provide an in-depth review to ensure high quality

HIGH IMPACT:

Tech Resume Example 2:

Team Collaboration & Quality Assurance

• Planned, researched, wrote, and revised printed and online documentation , including general overviews, tutorials, installation & configuration instructions, and API documents

Tech Resume Example Analysis:

Both the tech resume examples says the same thing but example 2 creates a higher impact. Grouping helps the recruiter recognize your broad level skills and highlighting important words/numbers ensure that the recruiter doesn't miss out any important information due to lack of time.

Action Verbs and Powerful Words

To write a technical resume that creates an impact, use action verbs and powerful words. The best power verbs to use in your technical resume are:

• Tech Resume words for 'Planning' or 'Strategic Planning': Administered, Brainstormed, Strategized
• Tech Resume words for 'Managing': Steered, Directed, Led
• Tech Resume words for 'Organizing': Acquired, Designated, Activated
• Tech Resume words for 'Supervising' or 'Leadership': Chaired, Authorized, Spearheaded
• Tech Resume words for 'Executing' or 'Worked on' or 'Handled': Arranged, Compiled, Composed
• Tech Resume words for 'Communication': Advocated, Authored, Clarified, Conveyed
• Tech Resume words for 'Helping': Aided, Bolstered, Assisted
• Tech Resume words for 'Creativity' or 'Problem Solving': Altered, Drafted, Overhauled
• Tech Resume words for 'Responsible for' or 'Getting Results': Accomplished, Operated, Targeted

Also Read: List of power verbs for your Technical Resume.

Tips for Writing an Impeccable Professional Experience Section

The work experience section of your technical resume is the most important section. And it is most frequently done incorrectly .

Before writing down this section, go through the following points:

• Follow the format Role | Company | Location | Time Period to design your professional experience.
• Write one liner bullet points for each position highlighting your responsibilities and achievements
• Quantify your experiences to back up your achievements.
• Do not list too many responsibilities without any tangible achievements.
• Highlight important keywords that instantly catch the eye of the hiring manager.
• Write suitable Subheadings for different types of work you did. Ex: product management, client management.
• If you are a fresher, list volunteer or unpaid experiences that qualify as work experiences.
• In case of an extensive list, you can create a new section for activities, associations, and volunteer work.
• If your experience runs deep, do not include details about positions held 15 to 20 years ago.
• You can insert this section beneath or above your education credentials.
• Choose to opt for the layout that suits your experience well: traditional chronological layout, the functional layout, or a hybrid of these two styles.

How Should You Include Education in Technical Resume?

Your education and GPA will provide essential background information to your potential employers.

It is a very important part of your technical resume, especially for the freshers.

• List your degree/academic credentials in reverse chronological order
• Follow up with the name of your institution
• Add the time period across the entire education section
• List your GPA , if you choose to

Following is an education section example from tech resume template:

• B.E. Computer Science
• UC Berkeley | Berkeley, US | May '13
• The University of California, Berkeley is the top public university in the United States
• Top 15 percentile of the class

Also Read: Tips & tricks of creating a flawless education section.

Add Projects in Your Technical Resume

Adding relevant projects in your technical resume is crucial to help the recruiter evaluate your expertise amd recognize your advanced skills.

All you need to do is create a separate section on your resume and give it an appropriate title i.e PROJECTS

The following tips can help you list the details of your projects in a process engineer resume:

• Begin with the Project Description in one line followed by the ‘Tech stack/environment’.
• Next write the Problem Statement/Objective in one line
• After this, write the Solution sub-section, include all the measures you took in bullet points, with each point beginning with a power verb.
• The last sub-section would be Key Achievements where all your points with quantifiable impact/performance figures will go.

How to Add Training, Certifications, and Internships in Technical Resume?

Your technical certifications, trainings and internships can help you grab even more attention. They are considered even more relevant to your potential employer than your academic degrees.

In order to keep your certifications, trainings and internships from going unnoticed, be sure to :

• Place this information in a separate section.
• Emphasize credentials that are recent and the ones that are of special relevance.

For all your certifications/Training, follow the format mentioned below Certification/Training | Certifying/Training Authority | Time Period

Take a look at this technical resume samples for your training and certifications:

• Certified MongoDB developer | MongoDB. Inc. | ‘17
• Certified Developer Associate Level | AWS | ‘16
• Certified Java Developer Professional |Oracle | ‘15
• Certified JBoss Developer | Red Hat | ‘14
• Attended the ‘National workshop for Python Developers’ | MIT | ’12

Also Read: How to list certifications on resume.

Take a look at this technical resume sample for your internships:

Stark Tech LLC Summer Intern | New York, US | May '12 Worked as a Web Developer & Mobile Application Intern to develop web pages by using scripting languages

Are References Required for Technical Resume?

Before signing an official offer, almost all employers follow a code for the review process:

• They contact you for a personal interview
• They want to see a list of professional references

BUT usually, these steps do not happen until after a thorough technical resume review. So we recommend that:

• You should have your references ready.
• They must be in a separate document.
• Do not include this information into the text of your tech resume.

Since your technical resume should be short and concise (one or two pages at the most), it occupies unnecessary space .

If your employer has specifically requested a list of references, you should:

• Submit the names, phone numbers and email addresses of at least three professional contacts or former employers
• They must be the ones who can vouch for your skills and accomplishments
• Be sure to contact these people first
• They must know beforehand that their names have been added as your references
• Choose the people who can speak on your behalf

Also Read: When to add references to your resume?

Why Should You Build an Online Portfolio for Technical Resume?

An online portfolio can immediately boost your technical resume. Bring out your geeky animal out! Let the hiring manager reach beyond your technical resume.

• After building your super cool tech resume, link your portfolio to it.
• If you can not fill your portfolio, sign up for some small projects or freelance jobs. You can also do a little fun work for yourself.

Keep looking out for some of the common mistakes in technical resumes:

• Missing details : The employers may be most interested in a certain certification. They may want an experience with a very specific technical skill. Do not let any details go unnoticed. Mention all your experiences explicitly.
• Non-specificity : General skills and abilities are great. However, read the post carefully and tailor your tech resume to your job profile.
• Overstatements : Do not claim skills and abilities that will be difficult for you to prove. Indicate your level of expertise and years of experience with the platforms carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it important to write technical resume summary?

Yes, it is important to write technical resume summary in your resume. It gives an overview of your career to the recruiter.

2. How to write technical resume skills?

Create two separate sections for you technical resume skills, one should be titles key skills and the other as technical skills.

3. How to add technical skills to the resume?

Create different sub heads for the technical skills and group them under them.

Technical Resume Sample

Here's a sample technical resume for a Technical Architect.

• Virtualization Platforms : ESX/ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.x, ESXi 6, Microsoft Hyper-V 2008 & 2012
• Cloud Platform : vCloud Air, VMware vCloud Director 8.1, 5.5 & 5.1
• Server Infrastructure : Microsoft Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008
• Hardware Platforms : HP ProLiant Servers, Fujitsu Servers, IBM System X Servers, Sun Fire Servers, SunMicro Servers
• Scripting Tools : PowerShell, vSphere PowerCLI
• Ticketing Tools : Remedy, Service Center, HP SM7 & HP SM9, BMC Footprints
• Hardware Platform : Hp DL Series Server. IBM X Series Server Installation & Configuration
• Backup Tool : Installation, Configuration & Administration of Symantec/VERITAS
• Monitoring Tools : IBM Director, HP SIM, HP Open View, HP BAC Monitor, HP Site Scope, VMTURBO
• Team Management & Leadership
• VMware & vCloud
• Resource Management
• Virtualization & Design Storage
• Cloud Infrastructure
• Issue Resolution
• Implementation
• Process Optimization
• Client Servicing
• Installation, Configuration & Troubleshooting
• Training/Mentoring
• Stakeholder Management
• Project Execution & Delivery
• VMware Certified Implementation Expert | Apr '18
• VCAP6 - Datacenter Design & Deployment | Apr '18
• VMware Certified Professional (VCP 6.5 - DCV) | Jan '18
• Redhat Certfified Engineer (RHCE) | May '17
• Microsoft® Certified Technology Specialist | Jul '11
• Creating, configuring & deploying new virtual private cloud to execute project deliverables via automation tools like Puppet & Razor , etc.
• Conducting extensive analysis of client requirements and integrating cloud computing services like IAAS , DRAAS , ANS , etc
• Setting up DR to vCloud Air by effectively utilizing vSphere Replication
• Superintending new infrastructure environment for vCloud Air by OVH & optimizing Health , through Hyperic and Log Insight
• Evaluating performance of SAN-backed VMware ESX infrastructure to direct resource allocation
• Implementing New Cloud Infrastructure for commercial entities, government clients and corporate enterprises
• Installing & configuring VMware vSphere 5 & 6 environments with vCloud Director 8 , DRS, HA, DPM & vMotion
• Providing client support by utilizing best practices for availability , reliability , computing performance, network & storage
• Enabling the clients to manage Edge gateways, Firewalls & segmented network by installing and configuring VCNS & NSX
• Forming Public/Private catalogs for successfully uploading and publishing templates
• Rendering backup and restore services by deploying VMware Data Protection and EMC Avamar
• Achieved optimum virtualization ratios while effectively maintaining SLAs & surpassing disaster recovery RTOs/RPOs
• Played a critical role in a team of 5 and interfaced closely with the Manager to effectively execute the project
• Demonstrated enhanced infrastructure to amplify customer acquisition spanning availability , manageability & revenue
• Ensured an error-free cloud instance & achieved full integration with all services & components
• Designed & deployed custom configuration cloud & assessed the infrastructure & automation requirements of the client
• Boosted cloud infrastructure for clients like Pfizer , Kohl ’ s , MIT , Harley Davidson , Tesla, etc.

We bring you the best technical resume guide for 2022. We made sure to include the newest trends for writing the tricky parts of your technical resume.

Be it the technical summary or the technical work section, we have included all the tips and tricks in one place.

To make it easier for you, the professionals at Hiration have built a super cool resume builder. With 25+ customized resume templates to match your job profile, you can build your tech resume instantly. Check it out here .

You can also check out our blog on:

Key Takeaways

Be sure to use this checklist for your technical resume:

• Read the job offer carefully to identify the set of skills required for the job position
• Highlight important words/numbers to grab the recruiter's attention immediately
• Use one-liner bullet points instead of paragraphs for easy readability
• Quantify your achievements with performance figures wherever possible to showcase the depth of your contribution in the previous organizations
• Use power words and action verbs to begin all your points

Not sure about how to write this technical resume? Think of your technical resume as an opportunity to stand out!*

Go to Hiration career platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at [email protected] and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.

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Technical Writer Resume: Tips and Tricks for Writing a Great One

by Nathan Eddy Jun 21, 2022 6 min read

Technical writers serve a valuable function within any organization. By composing instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and supporting documents, they convey technical information in an easy-to-understand way to both internal and external stakeholders. In light of that, a technical writer resume should emphasize the candidate’s mastery of communication.

But how do you demonstrate that mastery? Which skills should you highlight? That depends on whether you’re a new technical writer or an experienced one, as well as your background and specialization (if any).  

From the perspective of Danielle Fish, director of product documentation at Stibo Systems, it’s important for a technical writing resume to communicate that the applicant is a critical thinker. “Some of the best writers I’ve seen have a business analyst or program manager background,” she explained. “These people can bring in info, analyze it, investigate, and produce. These hard skills always lead to a person being flexible, too.”

She noted the best-laid plans go awry when dealing with projects, so technical writers should use their resume and other application materials to show how they can pivot quickly to handle the unexpected. “You must ‘bob and weave’ as you go—priorities change, resources get shuffled around, and timelines get shifted,” Fish said.

Above all, a technical writer resume should highlight their dependability, communication skills, show that they are excellent team players, display critical thinking capabilities, and prove that they are adaptable. Work ethic is also incredibly important. If you have all those skills and aptitudes, you can potentially unlock a high salary , as well.

Technical Writer Resume Template

Curious about what a technical writer resume actually looks like? Take a gander at this template:

Things to Keep in Mind as You Write

“A resume must quickly convey skills, experience and accomplishments,” said Ger Doyle, senior vice president, Experis, Digital and Business Innovation at Manpower group. “These should be highlighted and summarized at the top of the resume.”

Teamwork , communication, research and analysis, and writing and editing are among the key skills and experiences a technical writer needs to include on any resume. “Similar to other creative roles, a technical writer should have an online portfolio demonstrating a diverse set of sample work with a short summary of the project or outcome that was delivered,” Doyle added.

Art Denman, lead technical recruiter at Kelly Technology, said technical writer candidates should highlight previous job experiences in which they successfully created and delivered technical documentation. Depending on the field in which the technical writer specializes (for example, software development or hardware engineering), candidates should also include experiences that demonstrate their familiarity with that specific subject matter. 

Technical writers should structure their resume by following the general rule of including the most relevant information at the top. “However, because employers are increasingly using applicant tracking systems to scan resumes for keywords that match the job description of the role for which they are hiring, the order in which information is included is not as important as prioritizing information that is directly applicable to the role,” Denman said.

A good practice is for candidates to identify keywords in the job description and incorporate those in the appropriate places throughout their resume. “It’s not enough for a candidate to list on their resume the technical writing projects they have worked on and delivered,” Denman added. “Candidates should be prepared to provide hiring managers with a body of work in the form of a digital portfolio.”

Above all, hiring managers want to ensure candidates can deliver on any experiences they have included in their resume.

Listing Your Technical Skills

Another key part of a technical writer’s role is gathering requirements from technical experts, Denman added. “Doing so requires strong communication and comprehension skills,” he said. “To translate technical requirements into easy-to-comprehend documentation, technical writers must also demonstrate empathy for the end user.”

It’s also helpful if you can use the experience section of your resume to show how your efforts have positively impacted your previous companies; including traffic and engagement numbers, for example, can help sell you as someone who contributes mightily to an organization. “Often technical writing is seen as a necessary evil of product support,” Doyle said. “Being able to identify measurable impact, say by reducing support calls by X% created by their deliverables, will set them apart from other candidates.” 

Technical writers can also stand out by using industry-specific lingo in their resume. “Do you have experience with content management tools or help authoring tools, and do you know the difference between the two?” Fish said. “Because we do tend to hire technical writers without tons of experience in technical writing, I look for ways that applicants have worked to familiarize themselves with technical writing prior to applying for an open position.”

Do you have comparable work experience that makes a transition pretty seamless, or are you making a big career change—and if so, have you educated yourself in your new industry? Use your resume, cover letter, and other application materials to make the case that you’re knowledgeable about the organization’s (and broader industry’s) purpose, issues, and underlying technologies.

“In summary, I want to know what an applicant brings to the team that we do not already have,” Fish added. “Make that stand out on your resume. Tell me enough that I can understand what you are looking for in a position and what you bring to the table. Then, I can start painting the picture in my head around how we can work together.”

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Related Technical Writer Jobs Resources:

Technical Writer Degree

How To Become a Technical Writer

Technical Writer Salary

Technical Writer Skills

Curious to find out more about the state of the tech job industry? You’ve got the questions and we’ve got the answers. Tune in here.

Nathan Eddy

Nathan Eddy is a business technology writer and a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He has written for FierceMarkets, Popular Science, eWeek and other publications.

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100+ Essential Technical Skills for Your Resume & Tips to Showcase Them

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Video: Soft Skills and Hard Skills

In today’s competitive job market, possessing the right technical skills can significantly enhance your chances of landing your dream job. Whether you are an experienced professional or a recent graduate, this page is designed to provide you with valuable insights and strategies to effectively highlight your technical expertise on your resume.

From programming languages to software proficiency, we will explore the variety of technical skills for a resume that potential employers value. By leveraging this knowledge and showcasing your technical skills on your resume effectively, you can create a compelling resume that sets you apart from other candidates. 

In this guide, we will provide examples of technical skills and we’ll answer these burning questions: 

What are technical skills?

Why are technical skills important.

• What are good technical skills for a resume?
• What are the best technical skills to list on a resume for top jobs?
• What are key technical skills for a resume by industry?
• How to write technical skills in a resume?

So what are we waiting for? Let’s dive in and discover how to make your technical skills shine on your resume!

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Technical skills refer to a specific set of abilities and knowledge that are related to a particular field or industry. These skills are typically acquired through formal education, training programs, certifications or hands-on experience. Technical skills are practical and tangible, allowing individuals to perform specific tasks or functions within their respective domains. They are often specific to a particular job or industry and can range from proficiency in programming languages, software applications, data analysis, project management, to operating machinery or equipment.

In the professional world, technical skills are highly valued by employers as they demonstrate an individual’s ability to effectively perform job-related tasks and contribute to the success of an organization. Having technical skills on your resume shows potential employers that you can solve complex problems, execute specialized tasks and adapt to technological advancements within your field. 

Technical skills not only enhance productivity and efficiency but also contribute to innovation and growth. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, possessing relevant technical skills is crucial for staying competitive and securing employment opportunities in various industries.

Technical skills are crucial in today’s rapidly evolving job market for several reasons. 

Technical skills demonstrate your ability to navigate and utilize the latest technologies and tools relevant to your field. In an increasingly digital world, employers seek candidates who can adapt to new software, programming languages and emerging technologies. By showcasing your technical skills on your resume, you convey your proficiency in these areas, making you a valuable asset to potential employers.

Technical skills also enhance your problem-solving capabilities. Many technical roles require individuals to troubleshoot issues, analyze complex data and develop innovative solutions. Possessing strong technical skills equips you with the knowledge and expertise to tackle challenges efficiently and effectively. Potential employers value candidates who can think critically and find practical solutions to problems, and highlighting your technical skills on your resume demonstrates your ability to do just that.

By showcasing your technical skills on your resume, you position yourself as a competent and valuable candidate in today’s competitive job market.

Good technical skills for a resume 

As technology continues to advance, the demand for professionals with strong technical expertise is on the rise. Whether you are a software developer, data analyst, or IT specialist, having a solid foundation of technical skills can make a significant difference in your career prospects. 

From programming languages and database management to cloud computing and cybersecurity, we will delve into the key technical skills that can make your resume stand out from the competition. By highlighting these in-demand skills, you can demonstrate your ability to navigate complex technological landscapes and contribute effectively to any organization. Let’s explore the world of good technical skills and discover how they can elevate your resume to new heights.

The following is a broad list of 20 highly sought-after general technical skills for a resume for today’s competitive, technologically-driven job market. 

• Programming Languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
• Web Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Database Management (SQL, MySQL, Oracle)
• Cloud Computing (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
• Network Administration (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP)
• Cybersecurity (Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems)
• Data Analysis (Excel, R, Tableau)
• Machine Learning (TensorFlow, scikit-learn)
• Mobile App Development (iOS, Android)
• Agile Methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)
• DevOps (Continuous Integration, Docker)
• UI/UX Design (Adobe XD, Sketch)
• Project Management (PMP, Agile Project Management)
• Quality Assurance (Test Automation, Bug Tracking)
• Big Data Technologies (Hadoop, Spark)
• Linux System Administration
• IT Support and Troubleshooting
• Virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V)
• Robotics and Automation
• Technical Writing and Documentation

Technical skills by job title

No matter what job you’re going for, displaying technical skills on your resume can give you a competitive edge in today’s job market. 

Technical skills are highly valued in the workplace because they:

• Enhance productivity and efficiency
• Enable problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Facilitate innovation and adaptability
• Improve collaboration and teamwork
• Increase job opportunities and career growth

Don’t just add any technical skills to your resume. Only add your most job-relevant technical skills. Your resume technical skills will depend on the job title, industry and level of expertise needed for the job. Some technical skills can be applied across industries.

We’ve divided the following list of technical skills for a resume by job title so you can find the best technical skills for your resume. 

Software Developer

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, C++, or JavaScript
• Experience with software development frameworks like React, Angular, or Django
• Knowledge of database management systems such as MySQL or MongoDB
• Familiarity with version control systems like Git or SVN

Data Analyst:

• Proficiency in data analysis tools such as SQL or R
• Experience with data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI
• Knowledge of statistical analysis techniques and tools such as Excel or SPSS
• Familiarity with data cleaning and manipulation using Python or Pandas

Network Administrator:

• Proficiency in network protocols such as TCP/IP, DNS, or DHCP
• Experience with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools like Wireshark or Nagios
• Knowledge of network security principles and technologies such as firewalls or VPNs
• Familiarity with network configuration and administration using Cisco or Juniper devices

Web Designer:

• Proficiency in HTML, CSS and JavaScript for front-end development
• Experience with responsive design frameworks like Bootstrap or Foundation
• Knowledge of graphic design tools such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator
• Familiarity with user experience (UX) principles and usability testing techniques

Systems Administrator:

• Proficiency in operating systems like Windows Server or Linux
• Experience with virtualization technologies such as VMware or Hyper-V
• Knowledge of server hardware and network infrastructure components
• Familiarity with scripting languages like PowerShell or Bash for automation tasks

Cybersecurity Analyst:

• Proficiency in cybersecurity frameworks and standards such as NIST or ISO 27001
• Experience with vulnerability assessment and penetration testing tools like Nessus or Metasploit
• Knowledge of network security protocols and technologies such as IDS/IPS or SIEM
• Familiarity with incident response procedures and forensic analysis techniques

UX/UI Designer:

• Proficiency in user interface (UI) design tools like Sketch or Adobe XD
• Experience with user research techniques such as interviews or usability testing
• Knowledge of interaction design principles and information architecture
• Familiarity with prototyping tools like InVision or Figma

Database Administrator:

• Proficiency in database management systems such as Oracle, SQL Server, or MySQL
• Experience with database design, normalization and optimization techniques
• Knowledge of backup and recovery procedures and database security measures
• Familiarity with SQL scripting and query optimization

IT Project Manager:

• Proficiency in project management methodologies such as Agile or Waterfall
• Experience with project management tools like Jira or Microsoft Project
• Knowledge of risk management and change control processes
• Familiarity with budgeting and resource allocation in IT projects

Cloud Engineer:

• Proficiency in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform or CloudFormation
• Knowledge of containerization technologies like Docker or Kubernetes
• Familiarity with cloud security best practices and monitoring tools

Stay updated with emerging technologies in your field and continuously learn new technical skills for your resume to increase your employability.

Technical skills by industry

The technical skills required for an industry depend on the individual needs of the industry, the job title and the level of expertise needed. Some resume technical skills can be applied across industries. 

We’ve compiled the most in-demand examples of technical skills for a resume and categorized them by industry, below. 

Information Technology (IT):

• Programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++)
• Cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Azure)
• Cybersecurity and network security
• Data analysis and visualization (e.g., SQL, Tableau)

Health Care:

• Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems
• Medical imaging and analysis software
• Health informatics and data management
• Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring
• Financial modeling and analysis
• Risk management and compliance software
• Algorithmic trading and quantitative analysis
• Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency

Engineering:

• Computer-aided design (CAD) software
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools
• Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded systems
• Robotics and automation technologies

Marketing and Advertising

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Social media analytics and advertising platforms
• Marketing automation tools
• Data-driven marketing and analytics
• Learning Management Systems (LMS)
• Educational software development
• Virtual and augmented reality in education
• Gamification and interactive learning technologies

Manufacturing:

• Computer Numerical Control (CNC) programming
• Industrial robotics and automation
• Supply chain management software
• Quality control and Six Sigma methodologies
• Point of Sales (POS) systems
• Ecommerce platforms and website development
• Inventory management software
• Customer relationship management (CRM) tools

Energy and Sustainability:

• Renewable energy systems and technologies
• Energy management and monitoring software
• Environmental impact assessment tools
• Smart grid and energy storage solutions

Media and Entertainment:

• Video editing and production software
• Animation and visual effects (VFX) tools
• Content management systems (CMS)
• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) development

Looking for remote IT jobs ? Our sister company, FlexJobs, updates listings daily with verified remote jobs. Find full-time and part-time IT jobs with FlexJobs.

How to list technical skills on a resume

When writing a resume, you must tailor it to the target job , so read the job description closely and highlight the technical skills that match your proficiencies. You can mention technical skills throughout your resume. How you showcase them depends on where you list them. 

How to add technical skills to a resume professional summary

When mentioning technical skills in a resume summary or objective statement , provide a concise and impactful overview of your technical expertise. 

Here are seven tips to effectively include technical skills in a resume summary:

• Be specific. Instead of simply stating “technical skills,” mention the exact skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. These keywords will help your resume get past ATS software and into the hands of a hiring manager. For example, if you are applying for a software developer job you could mention skills like Java and MySQL.
• Highlight proficiency. If you have advanced proficiency in certain technical skills, mention it in your summary. For example, you could say “Highly skilled in Java programming and MySQL for  web applications and database management.”
• Quantify your experience. Whenever possible, quantify what you’ve accomplished with technical skills for your resume. For example, you could mention the number of years of experience you have in a specific programming language or the number of projects you have completed using a specific tool or framework.
• Include certifications or training. If you have obtained relevant or completed training programs in specific technical skills, mention them in your resume. Certifications can give you credibility and help you stand out. 
• Keep it concise . Remember that a resume summary should be brief and to the point. Focus on the most relevant technical skills for a resume in your field and avoid listing skills that may not be directly related to the job you are applying for.
• Use action verbs to describe how you made an impact with your technical skills. Action words help your skills shine because they describe how you used the skills, showing potential employers what you’re capable of doing for them. 
• Show you’re up to date . Mention your efforts to stay current with the latest technology trends. This could include attending workshops, participating in online courses or joining professional organizations.

Resume examples are excellent tools for generating ideas for your resume summary or objective statement. They can provide content and formatting guidance, industry language and creative inspiration.

How to list technical skills in a resume skills section 

No matter which resume format you choose, every resume template includes a dedicated section for displaying skills.

Here are five tips for highlighting your technical skills in your resume skills section effectively. 

• Pay attention to formatting: Organize your resume technical skills clearly and concisely so they are easy to read. Use bullet points to highlight each skill.
• Tailor your technical skills to the job description: Review the job description and identify the specific technical skills for your resume that are relevant to the position. Include those skills prominently in your resume.
• Categorize your technical skills on your resume: Group your technical skills into categories such as programming languages, software applications, operating systems or technical skills. This helps employers quickly identify your areas of technical expertise.
• Specify proficiency levels: Indicate your level of proficiency for each technical skill on your resume. You can use terms like basic, proficient and advanced to describe your skill level. Be honest and accurate in your self-assessment.
• Be specific: Highlight specific software and tools. For example, “Proficient in Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.”

A great way to make your technical skills stand out from your hard skills and soft skills is to create a separate category for them within your resume skills section. Our Resume Builder makes it easy to customize your resume skills section.  

How to add technical skills in a resume work experience section 

The work history section of a resume is an opportunity to showcase your technical skills in action. By providing specific examples on your resume of how you have used your technical skills in previous jobs and focusing on results, you can effectively highlight your technical skills in your resume job history section and demonstrate your potential to hiring managers.

• Format your employment history section with bullet points. Displaying your work experience this way makes it easier for hiring managers to scan your resume for specific technical skills, highlight key technical skills and achievements so they stand out and provide clarity so potential employers can identify your qualifications quickly.  
• Highlight relevant projects or achievements. If you have completed any projects or achieved notable results using your technical skills, mention them in your work experience section. This demonstrates the practical application of your skills.
• Focus on results. Emphasize how your technical skills directly contributed to achieving business goals or solving problems. For example, mention how you used your programming skills to automate a manual process, resulting in time or cost savings for the company.
• Use numbers to show your impact. Numbers provide context and demonstrate your impact in former jobs with your technical skills. For instance, mention the size of datasets you worked with, the percentage of performance improvement you achieved, or the number of users impacted by your work.
• Mention relevant projects. If you have worked on special projects that required specific technical skills, provide a brief description of the project, your role in it and the technical skills you used to complete it. Highlight the technologies, tools and methodologies you utilized to successfully complete the project.
• Write short, punchy statements . While it’s important to provide enough detail, be mindful of keeping your bullet points concise and easy to read. Use bullet points instead of lengthy paragraphs and focus on the most relevant and impactful information.

Key takeaways

Now that you know the best technical skills for your resume, you’re probably eager to build your resume. Before you do, don’t forget the following important points.

• The technical skills on your resume must be relevant to the job you’re applying to. 
• Distributing your technical skills throughout your resume can help you stand out.
• Display hard and soft skills along with your technical skills on your resume.
• An excellent way to highlight specific technical skills on your resume is to group them into categories.  
• Use numbers in your professional summary and work history section to emphasize the impact you have made with your technical skills.
• Stay up to date on the latest technological trends in your industry.

What common technical skills should I include on my resume?

The technical skills for your resume should be relevant to the job you are applying for. This may include computer programming, robotics, augmented reality or cryptocurrency.

How do I showcase my technical skills on a resume?

Here’s how to put technical skills on a resume. First, compile a list of technical skills for your resume based on the job requirements, then add them to your resume summary or objective statement, throughout your job history section and in a separate resume skills section. In your skills section, you can use bullet points to highlight specific skills and their level of proficiency, such as “Advanced Excel skills” or “Proficient in Adobe Photoshop.”

Should I include basic technical skills on my resume?

Yes, basic technical skills for a resume are important if they are relevant to the job. Basic technical skills such as technical writing, project management and data analysis can demonstrate your overall technical prowess.

Should I mention certifications or training related to technical skills in my resume?

Absolutely! Including certifications or specialized training related to technical skills on a resume can add credibility to your resume. Mention any relevant certifications or training programs you have completed.

How can I demonstrate my technical skills in my resume work experience section?

Incorporate your technical skills into your work experience by describing specific projects or tasks where you utilized those skills. For example, mention how you used data analysis tools to analyze and present findings.

How important is staying updated with the latest technology trends?

Staying up to date with the latest technology trends is crucial in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. Employers value candidates who are willing to learn and adapt to new technologies.

Do I need a cover letter if I showcase my technical skills in my resume?

Yes! Always write a cover letter as a complement to your resume. Cover letters tell hiring managers that you’re serious about the job because you’re willing to go the extra mile.

How to describe resume technical skills in a cover letter?

To explain your technical skills when writing a cover letter , it is important to highlight your proficiency and relevant experience with various software, tools and technologies. 

To describe your resume technical skills in a cover letter:

• Be specific: Mention the job-relevant technical skills and tools you possess that are relevant to the job you are applying for. For example, your proficiency in programming languages, software applications, data analysis tools or project management software.
• Provide examples: Back up your claims by providing specific examples of how you have used your technical skills in previous roles or projects and what the result was. Don’t hold back! Highlight any achievements or outcomes demonstrating your proficiency and the value you can bring to the position, but don’t regurgitate your resume. 
• Match job requirements: Just like you should when writing resume technical skills, tailor your technical skills to the job requirements mentioned in the job posting. This shows that you have taken the time to understand the specific needs of the role and can effectively contribute to the organization.

How do I highlight my technical skills in a job interview?

Hiring managers will likely ask you about your resume technical skills when you make it to the job interview . 

Here’s how to talk about your technical skills when interviewing for a job:  

• Prepare: Before the interview, review the job description and identify the specific technical skills that are mentioned or required. Make a list of your own technical skills and experiences that are relevant to the role.
• Put them in contect: During the interview, provide specific examples of the technical skills you possess. Instead of simply stating that you are proficient in a certain software or programming language, elaborate on how you have used it in previous roles or projects and the outcomes you achieved.
• Showcase your experience: Highlight any projects or accomplishments where your technical skills played a significant role.
• Soft skills: Besides resume technical skills, mention any soft skills that complement your technical skills, such as problem-solving, attention to detail or effective communication. These skills demonstrate your ability to apply your technical skills in a practical and efficient manner.

Provide references: Before you end the interview, offer references who can vouch for your technical skills (and other qualifications). This can add credibility to your claims and reassure the interviewer of your abilities.

How we reviewed this article

Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process .

Captain, Sean, “The Technology Skills Every Employee Should Have Today,” The Wall Street Journal

Yate, Martin, Technology Skills That Increase Job Security and Growth, Society for Human Resource Management

Rate this article

4.5/5 stars with 4 reviews

Kellie Hanna, CPRW

Career advice expert.

Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 20+ years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.

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‡ Results derived from a study responded by 1000 participants of which 287 created a resume online.

*The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with MyPerfectResume.

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• Resume Examples
• Technical Writer Resume Example & Guide (20+ Tips)

Technical Writer Resume Example & Guide (20+ Tips)

Our customers have been hired by:

Smartphones, tablets, software, and even kitchen appliances—how they work is as clear to you as the sky on a hot summer day. And you can easily translate the technical mumbo-jumbo into easy-to-follow lines. And, with the current pace of technological development, your skills are in high demand.

But there’s one catch—you need a great technical writer resume to grab recruiters’ attention. Since you’re great at writing precise instructions, you’re also good at following them. 

This guide will show you: 

• A technical writer resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a technical writer resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a technical writer resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a technical writer to get any job you want.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here .

Create your resume now

Sample resume made with our builder— See more resume examples here .

Not technically looking for a technical writing resume? See our guides:

• Writer Resume
• Freelance Writer Resume
• Editor Resume
• Consultant Resume
• Business Resume
• Journalism Resume
• Interpreter Resume
• Content Writer Resume
• Creative Writer Resume
• Sample Resumes for 500+ Jobs

Sample Technical Writer Resume

Jennifer Ocampo, Technical Writer

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/jenniferqocampo

601-303-7166

Professional Summary

Strong technical writer with 3+ years of experience writing end-user documentation for high-end consumer electronics. Seeking to grow brand loyalty and customer satisfaction at LG. At Ampere Communications, wrote 60% of the technical manuals for 15 flagship products. Received company “Standout Employee” award for contribution including an estimated 25% customer satisfaction boost.

Work Experience

Technical Writer

• Ampere Communications

Feb 2017–June 2019

• Wrote 60% of all end-user manuals for 15 flagship products, including phones and tablets.
• Worked directly with 25+ subject matter experts to build understanding of product operation best practices.
• Received “Standout Employee” company award for dedication and efficiency. Contributed materially to a 25% increase in customer satisfaction.
• Trained 2 other technical writers in research and writing process.

Freelance Technical Writer

Jan 2016–Jan 2017

• Wrote 110,000 words of end-user documentation in the communications space.
• Commended 5x by clients for clarity and work process.

Bowdoin College

2011–2015

BS in Writing

• Majored in writing
• Gardiner Scholar
• 30+ credit hours in math and engineering
• Ampere Communications Star 15 Phone Manual (70% of all content)
• Ampere Communications Star 12 Tablet Manual (65% of all content)
• See full portfolio online at jenniferqocampo.com
• Technical Skills:  Tech knowledge, research, visual communication, computer skills
• Soft Skills:  Empathy, communication, interpersonal skills, efficiency, teamwork
• ASME Conference 2017—Gave talk on technical writing techniques.
• Lead weekly yoga classes.

Here’s how to write a technical writer resume that gets jobs:

1. Start With the Best Technical Writer Resume Format

Technical writers use written words to explain complex topics in a simple way. Technical writers often write repair manuals, end-user documentation for consumer products and electronics, and medical studies. Technical writer resumes must show strong communication skills as well as deep technical savvy.

They’ll judge your technical writing skills from the writing in your resume!

Use the best layout for a resume for technical writing jobs.

That’s the chronological resume layout . This standard resume format lists your freshest tech writer achievements near the top.

Why does that matter?

Because that’s where most hiring teams look before moving on.

• Make a professional header with name, title (Technical Writer), email, phone, and LinkedIn.
• Don’t write an address on your resume unless you want to. City & state are enough.
• List the categories of information found in a resume  as header, summary, work experience, education, and others like certifications or conferences.
• The best font for a resume for tech writers is Calibri, Garamond, or anything clear and simple.

Pro Tip: Send a resume format for job PDF as long as the posting doesn’t tell you not to. PDFs look cleaner than MS Word resumes on various machines.

2. Write a Technical Writer Resume Objective or Resume Summary

Technical writers do one thing well:

So, do it in your technical writer resume.

Start with a professional resume profile . That’s an elevator speech . We also call it a resume summary .

Write yours with:

• An adjective (clear, strong)
• Title ( Technical Writer )
• Years of experience (3+, 4+)
• Goal (grow customer satisfaction)
• Skills evidence w/ measures (wrote 60% of 15 technical manuals)

Wondering how to write a resume with no experience ?

Ditch the summary and write a good objective for your resume .

That’s the same, but with transferable skills from other jobs.

Examples: you worked in engineering or wrote marketing content.

Pro Tip: How long should resumes be for technical writers? The rule of thumb is a single page. The hiring manager isn’t likely to read even that much.

3. Bolt Your Resume to the Technical Writer Job Description

“This is the one.”

Want the hiring team to say that about you?

They won’t unless you fit the job exactly.

Knowing how to describe work experience on a resume means tailoring a resume to a job description :

• Select business position titles that fit. If they want a “Medical Technical Writer,” don’t say you were a “Technical Writer, Medical Field.”
• Show things you did with your technical writer skills, with numbers.
• Example: They want someone who can write manuals for phones. You wrote 15 of those. So, say it in your resume.

Pro Tip: Write with resume action verbs like wrote, worked, received, trained, and commended. Don’t just say, “responsible for” or “handled” because that doesn’t prove you helped.

4. Tune Up Your Technical Writer Resume Education Section

You can build your resume education section one of two ways in a technical writer resume.

State your school name, dates, and name of degree.

Use way #1 plus academic achievements that show technical writer qualifications.

Example: They need someone versed in engineering and you took 30 engineering credits.

Which method do you think the hiring team will respect more?

Pro Tip: You don’t need to be an engineer to be a technical writer. You just need to be able to talk their language, then translate it so everyday mortals can get the gist.

5. List Technical Writer Skills in Your Resume

Here are some skills to put on a resume for technical writer jobs.

Technical Writer Resume Skills

Use this list of skills in your technical writer resume.

First, add technical skills to list on resumes for tech writers:

• Technology knowledge
• Visual communication
• Engaging writing
• Problem solving
• Understanding the audience
• Computer skills
• Troubleshooting
• Working with subject matter experts (SMEs)
• Technical skills

But don’t forget the soft skills:

• Interpersonal skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Written & oral communication
• Self-motivated
• Active listening
• Organization skills
• Professionalism
• Multitasking
• Time management

Pro Tip:  Never ever use all the hard skills for a resume from the list above. Let the job ad guide you toward the skills that work the best for this job.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a  professional resume template here for free .

When you’re done, our easy resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add “Other” Sections to Your Technical Writer Resume

You’re not a machine.

Can you believe you have to prove it?

Employers want to know you’re versatile.

Show them with added technical writer resume sections.

For instance:

• Associations like STC
• Professional or personal projects
• Volunteer work
• Conferences
• Certifications
• Compliments from employers
• Publications

Pro Tip: Not sure how to put languages on a resume for technical writers? If your SMEs are ESL, say it big and loud, in your skills list and in your bullet points.

7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Technical Writer Resume

Should I include a cover letter with my tech writer resume?

It’s true that more than half of employers don’t read them.

But then, more than half of customers won’t read your manuals.

Write them for the other half.

Follow these cover letter writing tips:

• Here’s how to format a cover letter : in the 3-paragraphs layout.
• What about how to start an application letter ? Use a big hook. Example: “Writing most of Ampere Communications’ manuals was a great experience...”
• Show how you’ll fill the job requirements in the center of your technical writer cover letter.
• Next, how to conclude a cover letter : Offer a perk. Example: “I’d love to explain how I contributed to a 25% customer satisfaction boost.”
• How long should a cover letter be ? 350 words.

Don’t skip the follow up email for a job application. You can simply say, “I’m following up on my application for the technical writer position.” But it helps to add a memorable detail from your resume.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.  Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

That’s it!

That’s how to write a technical writer resume.

What’s your favorite part about being a technical writer? Does your resume for technical writer jobs really show you at your best? If not, what’s missing? Give us a shout in the comments. We’d love to talk!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines . We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

• https://www.stc.org/

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Technical Support Resume—Example and 25+ Writing Tips

You’re sending out tech support resumes, but there are no replies in your inbox? Have you tried turning it on and off again?

You have the knowledge, the skills, and you’re a natural talker.

If you could just get them on the phone, you could surely talk yourself into that tech support specialist job.

Nobody’s calling.  

Your tech support resume is piling up somewhere with the others, like overdue user tickets after a Labor Day weekend.

Just like there are tricks to get immediately dealt with or escalated to management, there are resume tips and tricks that will escalate your resume to management.

There are also mistakes you can make that make sure your query never gets dealt with.

In this guide: 

• A tech support resume sample better than 9 out of 10.
• The definitive guide on the resume format.
• How to list your education, certifications, and skills.
• Tricks that will allow you to write the best possible tech support job description. 

First, let’s open this attachment.

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Technical Support Resume Sample You Can Make Your Own

Lillie M. Brown

Technical Support

Personal Info

4058 Green Street

Nashville, TN 37201

390-042-0092

[email protected]

linkedin.com/lbrown

Meticulous IT support technician with 3+ years of experience in providing Tier 2 technical support. Regularly handled 200+ tickets per week, and solved 98.5% of issues without seeking the help of Tier 3 support. Commended 3 times for best monthly ticket response times in a team of 60 support techs. Seeking to apply dynamic skills to a position as Tier 3 tech support at XWare Inc.

Experience 

IT Support Technician (Tier 2)

10.2018–10.2020

• Regularly handled 200+ user tickets per week, solving 98.5% of issues without T3 assistance.
• Commended 3 times for best monthly ticket response times in a team of 60.
• Gained recognition 2 times by DevTeam for precise case documentation allowing for better and faster fixes.
• Assisted T1 technical support with tickets outside their scope of responsibility.
• Trained and onboarded 12 new T1 and T2 tech supports.

IT Support Technician (Tier 1)

10.2017–0.2018

• Handled 150+ T1 tickets per week.
• Suggested 8 improvements to common problem scripts.
• Maintained a client satisfaction rate of 99%.

Education 

BS in Computer Science

Chicago University

2014–2018

Certifications

• ITIL Foundation
• MCSA: Windows 10
• HDI Customer Service Representative
• Spanish – Conversational
• French – Conversational
• Logical Thinking
• Active Communication
• Active Listening
• Customer Service Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Problem-Solving
• Creative Thinking
• Jira Service Desk

Ready to start troubleshooting?

1. Troubleshoot Your Tech Support Resume Format

Everything is easier with a clear script, right? When you are guided through, step by step, it is easier to get cooperative. You literally have seconds of the recruiter’s attention. Don’t waste it by making someone wonder what made you use that font.

Here’s the script for your resume format :

Tech Support Resume Format

• List your experience in the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s a resume style recruiters are most familiar with.
• Don’t go crazy with the fonts on your resume , Calibri or Arial in 10–12pt is fine.
• Set 1-inch margins for your resume , and space out your sections.
• The one-page resume is usually enough. A resume with 2 pages is fine, as long as you have enough great accomplishments to fill up the extra space.
• Order your resume sections like this: Header , Objective or Summary, Experience, Education, and “Additional.”
• Send a PDF resume file, unless instructed otherwise. 

Get your headset plugged in.

2. Write a FAQ: The Tech Support Resume Summary or Objective

In technical support, and recruitment alike, certain questions get asked very frequently. Having a short and concise answer is key to an effective outcome. In your resume profile , you should answer a few questions in one sentence each:

• Start with a power adjective that describes you, job title, years of experience, and Tier.
• In the next sentence, describe your relevant experience using numbers and accomplishments , using resume keywords from the job ad for reference.
• Follow that up with one super-achievement.
• Refer to the employer in the last sentence, to show that you’re seeking a tech support position at that specific company. 

This is how you write a resume summary statement .

Tech Support Resume Summary—Example

The first one says I’m optimized for maximum performance , while the bad example says don’t bother scanning the rest .

And what if your experience is scarce and you need an entry level resume or maybe you’re writing a career change resume ?

Instead of a summary, write a resume objective statement . In it, talk up your skills and achievements as they relate to tech support.

Tech Support Resume Objective—Example

Expert Hint : How to write a resume profile? It is best to do this once you have completed the other sections of your technical support resume, especially your job description.

3. Write Faultless Tech Support Job Description and Skills Sections  

Move on to your resume job description .

You may think it is hard to stand out amongst other tech supports. Most tech support resumes will not quantify the impact of their work. They don’t know how many tickets they deal with, and what their average response times and satisfaction rates are.

Don’t worry if your metrics aren’t super good. Just knowing them shows you care about your performance at work. Try to build up to 6 bullet points that are varied and relevant to your next position.

Check out this job description from one of our tech support resume samples:

Technical Support Job Description for a Resume

• Assisted T1 tech support with tickets outside their scope of responsibility.

10.2017–09.2018

Tech Support

2011–present

• Independently handling Tier 1 and Tier 2 tickets relating to hardware and software issues. 
• Experienced in providing in-depth guidance to elderly customers.
• Always remaining calm and measured on the phone. 
• Handling all tickets within time constraints.

Once you have your metrics and achievements, don’t then flood them with a list of empty statements about being calm on the phone. If you want to list some interpersonal qualities, do so in a list of  skills for a resume . This can be especially useful if you are writing a first resume with no experience .

Tech Support Skills for Resume

• IT Service Management (ITSM) Software (e.g., TOPdesk, ServiceNow, Spiceworks, Jira Service Desk, SolarWinds Service Desk, CA Service Desk Manager)
• Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) 
• Up To Date on Technological Understanding
• Knowledge of Product or Service Offered
• Computer Skills
• Technical Skills & Savviness
• Project Management Skills
• Troubleshooting Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Friendliness
• Energetic & Enthusiastic
• Compassionate & Empathetic
• Verbal & Written Communication Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Teamwork Skills
• Collaboration
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Detail Oriented
• Dependability
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Perceptiveness
• Self Motivated

Expert Hint: Struggling on what to include in your resume ? The CompTIA A+ certification is the gold standard for establishing a career in IT, and provides baseline skills for IT support staff.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

4. Make Your Education Section a Reason To Hire You

Tech support attracts people from all walks of life. Some get in through their education, others on their knowledge, others—who knows how they get through? If you have a bachelor’s degree, you should display it appropriately and make it another reason to get hired.

If you have substantial experience and are a Tier 3 support already, feel free to only list your school, degree name, and graduation date. If you’re just starting out, list your GPA, and beef up this section with relevant coursework or Achievements sections. 

Here’s how to list education on your resume :

Technical Support Engineer Resume Sample—Education

Relevant Coursework:  Database Administration, .NET Development, Data Management, Introduction to Data Science

Achievements:

• Dean’s List Student
• 2nd place in the Illinois Colleges Coding Olympics

Expert Hint: A good LinkedIn profile can go a very long way. If someone goes to that extent to find out more about you, make sure you reward them with something interesting, so they reward you with that job. Check out our LinkedIn career advice .

5. Escalate Your Tech Support Resume With Added Sections

To keep things clean and easy to navigate, you may want to break up all the additional information, such as your CompTIAs, your JIRA skills, and your French proficiency into different sections. Your list of certifications on a resume  should come first. 

You can also add other bonus resume sections:

• Additional Activities
• Foreign Languages
• Hobbies and Interests
• Volunteering
• Professional References
• Skills—if you haven’t included them as part of your other sections

Just see how different these two tech support resume examples are:

Technical Support Specialist Resume Example—Extra Sections  

• Spanish—Conversational
• French—Conversational
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• JIRA, TOPdesk, Windows 10
• MCSA, CompTIA A+, HDI-CSR, ITIL
• Effective verbal & written communicator

And just like that, you should be ready to put that headset on, once you’ve written a cover letter , that is. It won’t take you more than 15 minutes or so, but will help to make your resume stand out. Also, about 50% of all hiring managers expect one.

Expert Hint: Got the technical know-how, but not good on the phone? Update your confidence with a HDI Customer Representative certification , and expand your certifications section.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

Before you send off your technical support specialist resume:

• Check your resume format —margins, fonts, 1 page, reverse chronological.
• Begin by reworking our tech support resume sample . 
• Stud your tech support job description with achievements and numbers regarding your performance. 
• Add your certifications, skills and other bonus sections to round off. 
• Write a tech support cover letter. You can get started with this  IT cover letter example  and, if you want to highlight your excellent customer service skills, check out also this customer service rep cover letter guide . 

Got questions on how to write a great resume for tech support jobs? Did we help you get your tech support resume right? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Dave is a career expert delivering a wide range of well-researched advice regarding the job hunting and application process. At ResumeLab, his data-driven resume and cover letter guides help readers capitalize on their potential.

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Technical Project Manager Resume: Examples and Writing Tips

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing job market, having a well-written resume can make all the difference in landing your dream job. This is especially true for Technical Project Managers, who require a unique set of skills and experiences to succeed in their roles.

Overview of Technical Project Managers

Technical Project Managers are responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and tracking of technical projects from start to finish. They work alongside cross-functional teams to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet the requirements of stakeholders. This requires a deep understanding of technical concepts, project management methodologies, and strong communication skills.

Importance of a Well-Written Resume

A well-written resume is crucial for Technical Project Managers because it serves as a representation of their skills, experiences, and achievements. It is often the first impression that potential employers have of a candidate, and can determine whether or not they are selected for an interview. A well-crafted resume showcases the candidate’s strengths, highlights their achievements, and provides a clear picture of their potential value to the organization.

Key Components of the Technical Project Manager Resume

When it comes to standing out amongst the competition for a technical project manager role, it’s crucial to have a well-crafted resume that highlights both your technical expertise and project management skills. Below are key components that help make a great technical project manager resume.

A. Personal Information and Contact Details

First and foremost, your resume should include your personal information and contact details. This information should be easily visible at the top of the page and should include your name, phone number, email address, and location.

It’s important to ensure that your email address is professional and appropriate for a job search. Avoid using nicknames or cutesy email addresses and opt for something simple, such as your first and last name.

B. Resume Summary Statement

Your resume summary statement should grab the attention of the hiring manager and quickly summarize your overall experience and qualifications. Make sure to highlight your technical abilities and any relevant certifications, as well as your project management skills and experience.

It’s also a good idea to tailor your summary statement to the specific job posting and company you’re applying to. Use keywords and phrases from the job description to help your resume stand out even more.

C. Technical Skills

As a technical project manager, your technical skills are paramount to your success. Be sure to include a section on your resume that lists your technical competencies, including any industry-specific tools or software you are proficient in.

When listing your technical skills, be sure to provide specific examples of how you used your skills to complete a project or solve a problem. This will showcase your expertise and help validate your qualifications.

D. Professional Experience

Your professional experience section should be detailed and examples-driven. In this section, highlight your project management experience and accomplishments, as well as any technical projects you may have led or participated in.

Use bullet points to list specific achievements, such as meeting project deadlines, exceeding expectations, or introducing process improvements. Be sure to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible to demonstrate the impact you had on the organization.

E. Education and Certifications

Finally, your education and certifications should be listed at the end of your resume. List your highest level of education first, followed by any relevant certifications or industry-specific training.

If you are in the process of obtaining a certification, include a line indicating that and when you expect to receive it.

A well-crafted technical project manager resume should include personal information and contact details, a strong summary statement tailored to the job posting, a detailed list of technical skills, examples-driven professional experience, and education and certification information. By highlighting your technical prowess, project management skills, and specific accomplishments, you can stand out amongst the competition and get one step closer to landing your dream job.

Formatting and Layout Guidelines for Technical Project Manager Resume

As a technical project manager, your resume should be well-written and properly formatted to showcase your abilities and experience. In this section, we will discuss some important guidelines to follow when it comes to formatting and layout.

A. Length of the Resume

When it comes to the length of your technical project manager resume, it is important to keep it concise and to the point. Aim for a one-page resume whenever possible, but if you have extensive experience, it is acceptable to have a two-page resume. Avoid going over two pages as hiring managers may not have the time to read through a lengthy resume.

B. Font and Typeface

Having a readable font and typeface is crucial in ensuring your technical project manager resume is easy to read. Choose a professional font such as Calibri, Times New Roman or Arial, and use a font size between 10-12. In addition, avoid using bold or italicized text in excess as it can be distracting to the reader.

C. Consistency in Layout

Consistency in the layout of your technical project manager resume is important as it helps to make the document visually appealing and easy to read. Use the same font and typeface throughout the document, and be consistent in the use of headings and subheadings. Keep the heading and subheadings style consistent, and maintain a consistent indentation throughout.

D. White Space and Margins

White space and margins are important elements to consider when formatting your technical project manager resume. Use equal margins on all sides of the document, and ensure there is enough white space between the sections to make it easy to read. Avoid cramming too much text into a small space, as it can make the resume difficult to read.

E. Bullet Points and Keywords

Using bullet points is an effective way to highlight your achievements and experience as a technical project manager. Utilize strong action verbs and keywords related to your industry to make your resume stand out. Focus on your specific accomplishments rather than just your responsibilities, and quantify your achievements whenever possible.

Following these guidelines can help you create a polished and professional technical project manager resume that will impress hiring managers and showcase your abilities effectively.

Writing Tips for Technical Project Manager Resume

If you are looking to land a job as a technical project manager, your resume should be well-crafted, concise, and effective in highlighting your skills and experience. A good resume should tell your story, showcase your strengths, and demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job. In this section of the article, we will discuss some tips that can help you create a compelling technical project manager resume.

A. Writing a Compelling Professional Summary

Your professional summary serves as an introduction of yourself to the employer, so you want to make sure that it’s compelling and engaging. Instead of just listing your skills and achievements, try to tell your story in a concise and well-written way.

In your summary, highlight your key strengths, experience, and achievements. Use this opportunity to showcase how you are different from other candidates and why you are the best fit for the job. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point.

B. Highlighting Relevant Technical and Soft Skills

As a technical project manager, you should have a mix of technical and soft skills. The technical skills are those specific to the job or industry, while the soft skills are those that relate to communication, leadership, and problem-solving.

Be sure to highlight both types of skills in your resume. Use bullet points to list your technical skills, such as familiarity with software development processes, experience in project management, and proficiency in project management tools. For your soft skills, demonstrate how you’ve used them in your work experience, such as conflict resolution, collaboration, and team leadership.

C. Showcasing Achievements and Results

Your resume should not only list your experience, it should also showcase your achievements and results. Employers want to see specific examples of how you have contributed to the success of your previous projects.

Be sure to include numbers and specifics in your achievements. For example, you could highlight the percentage of cost savings you achieved on a project or the number of new features you delivered on time and within budget.

D. Using Metrics to Quantify Performance

Using metrics and quantifying your performance can help your resume stand out from the crowd. Employers want to see numbers that show how you have contributed to the success of previous projects.

Use metrics that are specific to your industry or job function. For example, if you work in software development, you could highlight the number of bugs you were able to fix in a certain amount of time, the number of lines of code you wrote in a given timeframe, or the percentage of project milestones you were able to meet.

E. Action Verbs and Power Words

Finally, use action verbs and power words to create a compelling and engaging resume. Action verbs are verbs that describe an action you took, such as “led,” “managed,” or “implemented.” Power words are words that create an emotional response, such as “innovative,” “creative,” or “dynamic.

Technical Project Manager Resume Samples

As a technical project manager, your resume is a critical part of your job search. Your future employers need to see that you have the experience and knowledge necessary to oversee complex projects and deliver successful results.

Sample 1 – Beginner Level Resume

If you’re just starting out in your career as a technical project manager, you will need to focus on highlighting your skills and education. You may not have a lot of practical experience, but you can demonstrate your potential by emphasizing your coursework, certifications, and any internships or entry-level positions you’ve held.

Summary: Motivated and detail-oriented technical project manager with a strong educational background in project management. Possesses coursework and certifications that demonstrate a solid foundation in project planning, team collaboration, and problem-solving. Eager to apply theoretical knowledge and gain hands-on experience to contribute to the successful delivery of projects.

Bachelor of Science in Project Management University Name, City, State Graduation: Year

• Relevant Coursework: Project Planning, Risk Management, Team Leadership, Quality Control.
• Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.

Experience:

Intern – Technical Project Management ABC Company, City, State Dates

• Assisted senior project managers in project planning and coordination.
• Conducted research and analysis to support project decision-making.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to track project progress and milestones.
• Participated in team meetings and provided support in documenting meeting minutes and action items.
• Project planning and coordination
• Team collaboration and communication
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Proficient in project management software

In this sample resume, you’ll see how a beginner level technical project manager can showcase their skills and experience to stand out to potential employers.

Sample 2 – Experienced Technical Project Manager Resume

For mid-level technical project managers, the focus of your resume should shift to highlight your experience managing complex projects and delivering demonstrable results. You’ll want to show potential employers your strong leadership skills, your ability to work with a team, and your experience managing budgets and timelines.

Summary: Results-driven technical project manager with X+ years of experience in successfully delivering complex projects. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage budgets, and ensure timely project completion. Strong track record in stakeholder management and driving continuous process improvements. Adept at leveraging technical expertise to drive project success.

Technical Project Manager XYZ Corporation, City, State Dates

• Successfully managed multiple projects concurrently, overseeing project initiation, planning, execution, and closure.
• Led cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives, ensuring on-time delivery within budget.
• Developed and maintained project plans, schedules, and budgets, tracking project progress and providing regular updates to stakeholders.
• Implemented process improvements to enhance project efficiency, resulting in X% cost savings.
• Project management and leadership
• Budgeting and resource allocation
• Stakeholder management and communication
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Quality control and process improvement

This sample resume demonstrates how an experienced technical project manager can highlight their accomplishments and past successes to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Sample 3 – Senior Technical Project Manager Resume

As a senior technical project manager, you will need to have extensive experience managing diverse teams, handling complex projects with large budgets, and delivering exceptional results on time and on budget. Your resume should reflect your experience and achievements, as well as your exceptional leadership and strategic planning skills.

Summary: Highly accomplished senior technical project manager with X+ years of experience delivering complex projects on a global scale. Proven expertise in leading large cross-functional teams, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and ensuring project success. Strong strategic planning skills, driving innovation, and achieving business objectives.

Senior Technical Project Manager ABC Enterprises, City, State Dates

• Led and managed multimillion-dollar projects, overseeing end-to-end project lifecycle from initiation to delivery.
• Directed teams of X+ professionals, providing guidance and support in achieving project goals.
• Developed and executed project strategies aligned with organizational objectives, resulting in successful project outcomes.
• Implemented best practices, process improvements, and methodologies to drive operational efficiency.
• Leadership and strategic planning
• Budgeting and financial management
• Team management and collaboration

In this sample resume, you will see how a senior technical project manager can convey their extensive experience and expertise to potential employers to secure a six-figure position in a top-tier organization.

With these samples and writing tips, you can create a powerful technical project manager resume that highlights your skills, experience, and achievements. Whether you’re a beginner or a senior professional, mastering the art of resume writing can take your career to the next level.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Technical Project Manager Resume

Your technical project manager resume is your ticket to landing an interview with your dream company. But before your future employer scans through your skills and experiences, they’ll look for spelling and grammatical errors.

A. Spelling and Grammatical Errors

To avoid this mistake, have someone proofread your resume before submitting it. You can also use online tools like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor to check for any mistakes.

B. Listing Irrelevant Experience or Skills

Another common mistake is listing irrelevant experience or skills. It’s essential to include only what’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. Highlight your technical skills and experience in project management. Don’t forget to mention your achievements, too.

C. Being Too Generic or Vague

Avoid being too generic or vague in your resume. Your future employer wants to know your accomplishments in your previous roles. Be specific and use metrics. For example, instead of saying “Managed project teams,” write “Led a team of ten software developers and completed the project two weeks ahead of schedule.”

D. Overselling or Underselling Skills

Another mistake is overselling or underselling your skills. Be honest with your experiences and skills. Don’t oversell your achievements, but don’t undersell them either. Provide concrete examples and match your skills with the job requirements.

E. Not Tailoring the Resume for the Job

Lastly, not tailoring your resume for the job is a mistake. Customize your resume for each job you’re applying to. Read the job description carefully and adjust your resume accordingly. Highlight the skills and experiences that match the requirements.

Avoiding these five common mistakes can help you land the job you’ve been dreaming of. Remember, your technical project manager resume is your first impression, so make sure it’s flawless.

Best Practices for Technical Project Manager Resume

As a technical project manager, your hiring managers expect you to have a certain set of skills and talents which prove your ability to manage complex projects. However, having all these skills is not enough if you cannot market yourself effectively to potential employers. Therefore, it is essential to follow some best practices when writing your technical project manager resume.

Below are the best practices that you should consider when crafting your technical project manager resume:

A. Researching the Job Requirements and Company Culture

Before you start writing your technical project manager resume, take time to research the job requirements of the position you are applying for, and know the company culture. Knowing the job requirements will enable you to tailor your resume to show that you are the right candidate for that position by highlighting your relevant skills and experience. Understanding the company culture can help you use the right language and show your understanding of the company’s mission and values.

B. Customizing the Resume for a Specific Job

Customizing the resume for a specific job means tailoring the resume to show that you are the perfect candidate for the job in question. Highlight only the skills and experience that relate to the job requirements. You can do this by selecting a few keywords from the job description and making sure your resume highlights those aspects.

C. Using Keywords and Relevant Jargon

Using keywords and relevant jargon in your resume increases the chances of it passing through an ATS (applicant tracking system). ATS is software that some organizations use to filter the resume they receive. You need to use relevant keywords and jargon that relate to the position you are applying for as well as the industry.

D. Proofreading and Editing the Resume

Proofreading and editing your resume ensure that your deliverable is error-free and of high quality. Poor grammar, typos, or formatting errors can prevent you from getting shortlisted despite having the right skills and experience.

E. Seeking Feedback from Peers and Mentors

It’s always beneficial to get feedback from peers and mentors before submitting your final resume. You can request feedback on the content, tone, format, and overall quality of the deliverable. Getting feedback can help you identify any gaps, inconsistencies, or areas for improvement that you may have missed.

The best practices for writing a technical project manager resume involve research, customization, keyword usage, proofreading, and feedback. Following these best practices will set you on a path towards making a favorable impression to potential employers, while showcasing your abilities and expertise effectively.

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Writing a Technical Resume

How is a tech resume different from a regular resume?  A technical resume is a list of your education, skills, job/project experience and that highlights your ability to perform in a technical role. There is a very big focus on hard skills such as the ability to code, create databases, and do many other highly technical tasks.

General Tips:

• It is important to remember that a resume is a subjective document and there is no one “correct” way to craft one.
• One of the biggest things to keep in mind is that the document is consistent, clean, and correct (remember the three C’s!). 
• Try to keep it to one page if you are an undergraduate student. The average employer looks at a resume for 20-30 seconds .
• It is very important to keep in mind that each position, whether that is a full-time role or internship, is going to have different requirements. With this in mind, it is important to tailor your resume to the exact jobs for which you are applying, even if that means changing a few words. Additionally, it can be helpful to even match some of the verbiage of your resume to a job posting, however, never falsify any information or write what was written verbatim from the posting.

Technical Resume Samples

Using ChatGPT/GenAI for your resume:

• The short answer is, it depends. ChatGPT can be useful for creating a “draft” of your resume. Then, make sure to have a personal and professional review of it to ensure the accuracy of the information. A recent survey suggested that 9 out of 10 companies prefer candidates who have ChatGPT skills. Check out this article from Dice , for more insight into using AI to develop a solid tech resume.
• It is not a perfect technology, so there are likely errors/hallucinations on your resume. Make sure to review your document for any potentially incorrect data.
• Using prompts such as “Write a resume for a [TITLE] based on this job description. [Copy/paste the job description.], and “Write a resume based on this [TITLE] position at [COMPANY] and include bullet point achievements that show impact and metrics. [Copy/paste the job description.]”

Core sections: Even though you should curate your resume to be specific to the roles that you are interested in, there are a few key elements that a tech resume should have, in order:

• Contact Information: Make sure that you include an email that you check frequently and your cell phone number , at the bare minimum. The optional information you can include your physical address (city and state are fine), a customized LinkedIn URL (strongly recommended) , and your GitHub repository link. Take a look at this document for more information about GitHub .
• Education: List the name of your university (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), degree type (BA or BS), your major (s) , minor (s) , month and year of graduation , any relevant honors and awards (Dean’s List, etc.), and GPA if it is 3.0 or above. If you are a sophomore or younger, you can leave your high school information on your resume until you become a junior or go over one page. Also, list any relevant coursework here that might be helpful in an internship or full-time role (Ex: Data Structures and Algorithms).
• Skills: This is one of the most important sections on a tech resume. You will list your “hard” tech skills here such as, but not limited to: programming languages, operating systems, frameworks, and foreign languages. This is typically placed beneath “Education” on the resume since the two often go hand-in-hand.
• Relevant Experience: This section is going to look different for every candidate, depending on years of studying computer science as well as other factors. However, if you have had an internship or job that was related to tech in some way, then this is where you would list it here. You also want to use bullet points as your descriptions within each experience listed beginning each with what we call “ action verbs “. See the tech resume sample for more.
• Projects: Having a “Projects” section on your resume, particularly as a student, is incredibly important. This is where you can showcase class projects, others from hackathons, or personal ones. Like with your experiences, you want to use bullet points here as well. Mention programming languages, or other software used in this section.
• Volunteer/Leadership/Other Experience: If you are involved with clubs and/or have any leadership roles, this is the section to list those. Additionally, if you have volunteered on- or off-campus, this is the place to put that experience as well.

Formatting Your Resume:

• Fonts should be all consistent, somewhere between 10-11.5pt. is standard.
• Dates should be the most recent activity first
• Generally should fit 1 page. If it’s difficult to fit it into one page, see if your bullet points (descriptions of your activity) can be more concise to save space.

Other Information: 

• Personal Summary: This section becomes more important as you grow into your career, but it can be helpful to use as a summary of your major accomplishments and a brief snapshot of your career. This is recommended for seniors or graduate students at the earliest.
• Quantify (if you can): It can be helpful to show real data and numbers that you worked with, as it builds credibility with recruiters and hiring managers. You have already given context to your skills and experiences, so now take it to another level and elaborate on your successes. (Ex: increased SEO ranking by 35%).

Want your resume reviewed? Make an appointment with a CS Career Assistant!

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Additional Resources: 

Technical Resume Writing: Tips and Tricks

Resume Writing Tips from Google

Power Verbs for Technical Work

The Worst Tech Resume Mistakes You Can Possibly Make

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• Highlighting Writing Skills...

Highlighting Writing Skills on Your Resume

11 min read · Updated on April 22, 2024

Do you know how to prove your writing skills in a resume?

In today's competitive labor market, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate yourself from other job candidates. To successfully compete, you need to make sure that your resume delivers a powerfully compelling message that makes a positive first impression on hiring managers. One way to enhance your resume narrative is to include your relevant writing skills.

In this post, we will explain the following: 

Why writing skills are important in so many different industries

We'll examine the different types of writing abilities that employers may be looking for

We will also help you learn how to match your skills to your desired job role

We'll show you how to use achievements to highlight writing skills in your resume

We'll provide some examples showing you how to include writing skills in a resume and offer some tips you can use to enhance your writing ability

What are writing skills, and why are they important?

Many job seekers assume that they only need to include writing skills in a resume if they're seeking a job that involves a lot of writing. Obviously, the ability to communicate through the written word is an essential skill for people who create marketing presentations, reports, legal briefs, and similar documents. At the same time, though, those same skills are invaluable assets in many other fields as well.

That's because writing skills enable you to communicate ideas in a convincing way. People who possess these skills are often proficient in a wide array of communication styles, including everything from persuasive writing to the use of descriptive, technical, or creative writing. Effective writers also tend to excel in the use of good writing structure, grammar, punctuation, and messaging tone.

Employers who see writing skills on a resume will recognize you as someone whose communication skills can provide real value to any team. That's true whether you're seeking a job as a copywriter or pursuing a role in marketing, accounting, or management. 

The bottom line is clear: even if you're not seeking a job that regularly requires great writing skills, highlighting them in your resume can help set you apart from rival job seekers.

Types of writing skills for a resume

At this point, you might be wondering just how detailed you should be when describing your writing skills in your resume. The reality is that there are a host of distinct writing skills that can benefit you in various job roles. Let's take a moment and review some of the most common writing skills that employers might want to see:

Fundamental writing skills like grammar, punctuation, etc.

Business writing

Creative writing

Content writing

Technical writing

Email composition

Report writing

Grant writing

Collaborative writing

Media content creation

Social media writing

Presentation writing

Brand management

How to identify the right writing skills for the job

Before you just start listing different writing skills on your resume, it's important to ensure that you're aligning those skills with the employer's needs. The easiest way to do that is to use your research skills to examine the job posting and any role description you can find. 

Which specific writing skills are listed as required qualifications? 

What terms are used to describe those abilities? 

Create a list of all those skill requirements and focus on including them in your resume's skill section.

It can also be helpful to search the Internet for similar job resumes to see which skills are typically listed as core competencies. That can provide useful insight into what employers want to see from candidates in your field.

It's also vital to make sure you're using the same terms the employer used in their job posting since those terms may be keywords needed to satisfy applicant tracking systems, or ATS. 

You'll want to include those keywords throughout your resume to ensure the ATS software finds them during the automated screening process. That can improve your resume's chances of being seen by a hiring manager.

Use achievements to demonstrate your writing skills on a resume

As you create your list of writing skills, always focus on skills that you can demonstrate by referencing specific experiences and accomplishments. Employers understand that anyone can claim to possess certain skills. However, only truly skilled individuals will be able to back up those claims with real-life achievements. By citing those skills in the summary and work experience sections of your resume, you can more effectively demonstrate how your writing skills create real value for employers.

The following tips can help you create powerful achievement statements that demonstrate your writing skills in your resume.

Select writing skills that have achieved real results

Make sure that you include achievements that show how the writing skills in your resume were used to produce real results for employers. Your focus should be on using achievements to prove your skills. For example, if you've used those abilities to create client presentations that helped close deals, create an accomplishment statement that highlights that achievement.

Quantify the value your skills have provided

It is also vital that you quantify your achievements by including real numbers that reflect the value your skills can bring to any organization. Those numbers can demonstrate the amount of revenue that your writing skills helped to generate, increases in online engagement, time savings, cost reductions, or any other measurable achievement that contributed to your employers' profitability, productivity, and operational efficiency.

Create achievement statements

If you really want to make sure that employers understand the value of your writing skills, you can highlight those abilities throughout your resume. Obviously, you'll want to include some of the most prominent writing skills within your core competencies section, and in the bullet point achievements that you include in your professional experience section. For maximum impact, you can also include an achievement statement in your summary that emphasizes those skills.

Below, we'll show you how to highlight your writing skills in each of those key sections.Writing skills in your core competencies section

As you might imagine, your core competencies, or skills section, can be a great place to highlight these writing abilities. You can include some of your core writing skills in this section, along with other key technical abilities and relevant soft skills. Remember to use bullet points for your list and use two or three columns to format the section. 

Some of the key soft skills that complement writing expertise include:

Communication

Search engine optimization

Adaptability

Research techniques

Time management

Social media management

The ability to connect with audiences

Try to include a mix of these hard and soft skills. That will help employers understand that you not only have the technical abilities to perform the job but also possess the interpersonal skills you'll need to work effectively with others.

Related post : Soft Skills Explained - and the Top 7 for Your Resume

Writing skills in your resume summary

Your resume summary is another fantastic place to highlight writing skills in your resume. Obviously, it's one of the first things many employers read, and serves as your introduction to the reader. If writing skills are an important part of your resume narrative, you need to include some mention of them in this vital summary paragraph. 

The best way to do that is to add an achievement statement that demonstrates those talents. For example:

Dynamic Marketing Manager with 9 years of experience in strategic campaign development, team building, and project implementation. Skilled content creator with proficiency in online branding, search engine optimization strategies, and increased website traffic and sales engagement. Created multi-tiered email and social media content that reached 20,000 new customers monthly, increasing customer engagement by 22% and leading to a 17% boost in sales.

In that sample summary statement, the last sentence highlights the candidate's writing skills, providing hard numbers that quantify how their content provided real benefits to the employer. If you can create solid achievement statements that demonstrate this type of value, your accomplishments will help to convince employers that you have the skills you claim to possess.

Related post : Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)

Writing skills in your work experience section

It will come as no surprise that the best place to highlight and prove writing skills on your resume is in your work experience section. Here, you will want to use bullet-point achievement statements that quantify your results. For each job title you've included in this section, add between four and six of these bullet-point accomplishments using real numbers that demonstrate your value proposition.

Related post : 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

How to list writing skills on a resume: examples

Below are some examples of the types of achievements you can include in these bullet point statements.

• Wrote ABC Corp. Sales Training Manual, revising onboarding and training techniques to reduce onboarding time by 17%; improved new salesperson sales results by 22% in their first six months on the job.
• Created presentation content for Alpha Bank proposed merger, helping overcome M&A negotiation barriers and facilitating $100 million acquisition.
• Crafted more than 500 blog posts, website landing pages, and email campaigns in two years, credited with 130% increase in customer online traffic and 12% increase in sales revenue.

You get the point. The key is to focus on your writing contributions, describing the challenge you faced, what you did to overcome that obstacle, and defining the results. 

If you find yourself struggling to condense those narratives into brief achievement statements, check out a related post: How to Create an Effective STAR Method Resume (With Examples) .

Tips to improve your writing skills

You may find it interesting to know that even professional writers actively work to further develop their writing skills. The reality is that everyone can benefit from continuing to develop their written communication skills, and that includes those who only use these skills on an occasional basis. 

So, how can you develop your writing skills to ensure that you have the abilities needed to make a great impression on employers? Below are some tips to guide you in that question.

1.     Return to the basics

Spend some time reacquainting yourself with writing fundamentals like grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You can find free resources online or take a class at a local community college if you need additional help.

2.     Read more

Believe it or not, regular reading is one of the biggest secrets to effective writing. Immerse yourself in the written word and pay attention to how other writers communicate to their audiences.

3.     Learn to use outlines

Another secret to effective writing is to learn how to create outlines. Before you begin to write any complex document, always start with an outline that provides a clear structure for your narrative.

4.     Practice writing

This cannot be emphasized enough: if you want to be a better writer, you have no choice but to write. Write something every day to ensure that your skills are constantly being used. Practice won't make you perfect, but it will make you better.

5.     Get used to creating drafts

Never assume that the first words you write will be your finished product. Instead, take your ideas and get them out of your head and into your document to create a first draft. Once that's done, you can go back and revise that content as much as needed to create the right message.

6.     Always do your homework

Don't underestimate the power of research. By doing your homework before you start writing, you can ensure that you write with conviction and authority. Readers are drawn to authentic content.

7.     Don't be afraid to delete unnecessary content

Never be afraid to delete words, sentences, or entire paragraphs that contribute little to your narrative. The best writers are always willing to abandon content that isn't achieving their goals.

Enhance your job search by including writing skills in your resume

When you want to highlight your writing skills on a resume, it's not enough to just say that you possess those abilities. Instead, you need to demonstrate those skills by providing real examples of measurable achievements. If you can do that, you'll have an easier time proving those writing skills to employers – which can help differentiate you from rival job seekers and improve your odds of landing an interview and job offer!

Want to make sure that the writing skills in your resume effectively convey your writing talent? Get a free resume review from our team of experts today!

Recommended reading:

Seven Key Resume Sections and How to Organize Them

11 Key Things to Put on Your Resume

17 Resume Tips to Get Seen and Hired Faster

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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How do I update my resume to help land that job? Ask HR

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society and author of "Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval.”

Have a question? Submit it here .

Question: Since leaving a job I have had for almost a decade, I have primarily conducted my job search online. I have used the same resume design since I started working 12 years ago. Should I update my resume design to be more effective? What do you recommend for building a modern resume? – Sandra

Answer: Updating your resume design can indeed be a wise move, especially if you've been using the same format for a long time. A fresh, modern design can help your resume stand out and leave a positive impression on recruiters and hiring managers. Here’s what I recommend for building a modern resume:

◾ Clean, professional layout: Opt for a layout that’s visually appealing and easy to read. Avoid cluttered designs and overly decorative elements that may distract from your content.

◾ Font selection: Stick to standard, easy-to-read fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. These fonts are widely accepted and compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), ensuring your résumé is easily scannable by both humans and software.

◾ Incorporate keywords: Tailor your resume to each job application by incorporating industry-specific keywords and phrases relevant to the position. Many companies use ATS to screen résumés, so this will increase the likelihood of your resume being noticed.

◾ Organized sections: Structure your resume into clear sections, including Contact Information, Summary or Objective, Work Experience, Skills, Education and any additional relevant sections such as Certifications or Volunteer Work. This organization makes it easy for recruiters to quickly find the information they need.

◾ Summary/objective statement: Start your résumé with a summary that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. Keep it concise, focusing on what sets you apart and what you aim to achieve in your career.

◾ Accomplishment-oriented experience: When listing your work experience, focus on highlighting your accomplishments, rather than just listing job duties. Use quantifiable achievements whenever possible, to demonstrate your impact, such as increasing sales by a certain percentage or leading successful projects.

◾ Skills section: Dedicate a section to showcasing your key skills and competencies, including both technical skills and soft skills relevant to the job. This section provides recruiters with a quick overview of your capabilities.

◾ Proofreading: Before submitting your resume, thoroughly proofread it to ensure there are no grammatical errors, typos, or formatting issues. Consider having someone else review your resume for feedback and additional insights.

By updating your resuméewith a modern design and incorporating these key elements, you can increase your chances of making a strong impression in today’s competitive job market. Good luck with your job search!

Ghosting a job Is it bad to ghost low priority potential employers? Ask HR

I've been denied PTO requests on multiple occasions, which is becoming increasingly frustrating. Most of them are denied on the grounds of staffing needs. Do I have any recourse in fighting these denials? What can I do to ensure PTO approvals? – Chanette

You may indeed have some recourse in addressing these denied paid time off requests. Start by reviewing your company's PTO policy and procedures. Many employers have specific guidelines regarding PTO requests, including deadlines for submission and limits on the number of employees who can be on leave simultaneously, to ensure adequate staffing levels.

First, check if your PTO requests were made in accordance with company policy. If they were not, ensure that you adhere to the established procedures for future requests, to increase the likelihood of approval.

However, if you followed company policy and your requests were still denied, consider discussing the matter with your manager or the human resources team. Seek clarification on the reasons for the denials and inquire about potential strategies to improve the approval rate for your requests.

It's also essential to consider whether your state mandates sick leave, and if your company uses PTO to fulfill those requirements. If so, your employer may be obligated to approve leave requests that align with qualifying reasons for sick leave under the law. If you’re uncertain about your state’s sick leave requirements, consult your HR team for clarification.

Ultimately, unless there is a contractual agreement or policy stating otherwise, employers typically have discretion in managing PTO usage. However, by following company procedures and addressing your concerns with management or HR, you may increase the likelihood of having your PTO requests approved more frequently.

Salaried, nonexempt What does that mean? Ask HR